Literature

Handwritten poems in Danish and French by the beloved fairy tale author

649. Hans Christian Andersen Autograph Manuscript Signed. Beloved Danish author (1805–1875) best known for

such classic fairy tales as The Ugly Duckling, The Red Shoes, and The Emperor’s New Clothes. Fantastic autograph poems in Danish and French, one page, 13 x 10.25, signed at the conclusion, “Souvenir de H. C. Andersen, Paris 26 April 1843.” Andersen pens four bilingual stanzas of one of his poems, headed “Le Soldat” on the French side. In very good to fine condition, with a trimmed left edge, some small edge tears, and reinforcement on the back of the separated central vertical fold. An impressive handwritten piece from the famed writer, whose literary manuscripts are very rare in the autograph market. Starting Bid $500

Hand-addressed envelope panel by the Russian master of the short story

650. Anton Chekhov Handwritten Envelope Panel. Es-

teemed Russian playwright and short-story writer (1860–1904). Exceedingly rare address panel from the front of a mailing envelope, 5.25 x 3.25, addressed in Anton Chekhov’s hand to Captain Alexander Ivanovitch of the 22nd East Siberian Front Regiment, 10th Company, with an affixed postage stamp and two postal cancellations, one dated April 13, 1904. Affixed to a slightly larger card and in very good condition, with a few tears and rough edges. Accompanied by a letter in French by his wife, signed “Olga Tchekhova Knipper,” sending her correspondent the front panel from her husband’s envelope, explaining that it was sent by Chekhov from the Crimea, in the south of Russia, while he was serving in the Manchurian Army in the war against Japan in 1904; on the reverse of the second page, she pens a translation of the address written by her husband. Starting Bid $300

651. Samuel L. Clemens Signature. Sought-after ink signature,

“Yrs Truly, Mark Twain,” on an off-white 3 x 1.75 card. In fine condition, with old mounting remnants on the back. Starting Bid $200

652. Joseph Conrad Signed Photograph. Uncommon early 4.25 x 6

matte-finish photo of Conrad by W. H. Jacob of England, affixed to its original 7.75 x 9.75 mount, boldly signed in ink, “With affectionate regard, Jph Conrad, 1903.” An annotation on the reverse in another hand states that the photo was presented to writer R. B. Cunninghame Graham, one of Conrad’s close friends. In very good to fine condition, with scattered light foxing and soiling, and creasing to the corners of the mount. Starting Bid $300

Sought-after first edition of The Hound of the Baskervilles, paired with a fine Conan Doyle signature

653. Arthur Conan Doyle Signature and ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ First Edition. Fantastic pairing of two items:

a choice ink signature, “Yours truly, Arthur Conan Doyle, May 3/10,” on an off-white 5 x 3 card, encapsulated and graded by PSA/DNA as “MINT 9”; and a first edition, first issue of his classic Sherlock Holmes book The Hound of the Baskervilles, hardcover, 5 x 7.5, 359 pages, published in 1902 by George Newnes of London. Bound in the publisher’s red pictorial cloth gilt, with points of issue including ‘you’ for ‘your’ on page 13, line 3. All 16 illustration plates by Sidney Paget are present. Autographic condition: very fine. Book condition: VG/None, with minor rubbing to boards, scattered foxing to textblock, and a small ownership inscription to first free end page. Starting Bid $200

654. Theodor Fontane Autograph Letter Signed. German

novelist and poet, regarded by many as the most important 19thcentury German-language realist writer (1819–1898). ALS in German, signed “Th: Fontane,” one page, 5.5 x 8.75, November 15, 1894. Beautifully penned untranslated handwritten letter by the great German realist. In fine condition, with a paperclip impression to the top edge. Starting Bid $200

655. Thomas Hardy Autograph

Letter Signed. ALS, one page both sides, 4.5 x 7, blindstamped Max Gate letterhead letterhead, November 29, 1894. Handwritten letter to John Lane, in part: “I am much obliged for your kind invitation. But I am, as you see, out of Town, & not likely to be there on the day of the dinner. From what you say of the evening’s programme I have no doubt that it will be interesting, though Barnes does not, as a rule, take with Londoners.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200

Impressive ‘Patria’ verse from the legendary French writer

656. Victor Hugo Autograph Quotation Signed. AQS in French on a 12.25 x 9.25 off-white cardstock sheet, signed and inscribed along the bottom in ink by Hugo, adding the date of December 16, 1876. Hugo writes the first verse of his poem “Patria,” in full (untranslated): “La-haut qui sourit? / Est-ce un esprit? / Est-ce une femme? / Quel front sombre et doux! / Peuple, a genoux! / Est-ce notre ame / Qui vient a nous?” Two images of the revered author are affixed to the card. In fine condition. A magnificent, large quote from one of Hugo’s classic poems. Starting Bid $300

Rare 1803 letter by the assassinated German dramatist

657. August von Kotzebue Autograph Letter Signed. German dramatist

and writer (1761–1819) who also worked as a consul in Russia and Germany and was murdered in 1819 by a militant member of the Burschenschaft, a revolutionary student organization. ALS in German, signed “Kotzebue,” one page, 8 x 9.75, September 10, 1803. Untranslated handwritten letter to lawyer and politician Ferdinand Beneke. In very good to fine condition, with scattered staining, overall wrinkling, and seal-related loss to the integral leaf. Starting Bid $200

“I had never heard of that discovery of Queen Catherine Parr’s corpse, & am ignorant of its having ever been published”

658. Horace Walpole Autograph Letter

Signed. English writer, art historian, man of letters, and antiquarian (1717–1797) whose literary reputation rests on the first Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, and his collected letters, which are of significant social and political interest. Scarce and significant ALS signed “Hor. Walpole,” one page, 6.5 x 8, September 16, 1784. Handwritten letter, in part: “I had never heard of that discovery of Queen Catherine Parr’s corpse, & am ignorant of its having ever been published. If it was not, it was depriving the public of a very singular event: and it is much pity that no drawing was made of her Majesty’s face; nor any precautions taken to preserve the body in the state it was found. I would by no means neglect an early opportunity of returning you my thanks, Sir, for so obliging a favour; but as I have a set of company with me for two or three days, I have not time to say more at present, tho perfectly sensible of your goodness.” In fine condition. Accompanied by a modern transcript of the letter sent to Walpole, describing the state of Parr’s body upon its discovery. The last of the six wives of King Henry VIII, Catherine Parr was buried in St. Mary’s Church at Sudeley Castle upon her death in 1548. The coffin was thought lost for years before being rediscovered in 1782. Starting Bid $200