ENGLISH ESSAYIST, POET AND STATESMAN; WITH RICHARD STEELE PRODUCED THE NON-POLITICAL SPECTATOR. Document Signed, one page, quarto, Whitehall, January 29, 1717/18. Addison, signing on the verso of an account of Henry Worsley’s extraordinary expenses on behalf of the King, makes a two-line statement authorizing payment. The lower left corner has been torn off, affecting … [ Read More ]
literature
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett
ENGLISH POET Autograph Letter Signed, two pages, octavo, 43 via Bocca di Leone [Rome], Friday, undated. To “My dear Reverend Hanna.” With the original black-bordered mourning envelope addressed in her hand. “Will you allow us to introduce to you Mrs. Hamilton and her daughter, country-women of your own, who will commend themselves to you, … [ Read More ]
Browning, Elizabeth Barrett
ROBERT BROWNING WROTE… “THE PORTRAIT IS…THE BEST IN EXISTENCE, PERHAPS” BROWNING, ELIZABETH BARRETT. A highly important photograph of her portrait painted in 1859 by Field Talfourd, now in the National Portrait Gallery in London, Signed by her on the mount below. Eleven inches by seven inches. Elizabeth Barrett Browning never owned the original of … [ Read More ]
Browning, Robert
ROBERT BROWNING. English poet. Autograph Letter Signed, three pages, octavo, London, February 14, 1882. To “My dear Leighton,” the British painter Sir Frederic Leighton. “I do more indeed than ‘care to have’ a copy of that address which I certainly had ‘interest enough in to listen to.’ I think, did the case relate to any … [ Read More ]
Christie, Agatha
“….THE WORLD IS ALREADY PARTIAL TO DETECTIVE FICTION AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME. HAMLET COULD CERTAINLY QUALIFY AS A DETECTIVE DRAMA….” English mystery writer; creator of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. Typewritten Letter Signed, Agatha Mallowan, one page, octavo, Churston Ferrers, near Brixham, South Devon, June 12, 1972. To Dear Mrs. Frink. “As … [ Read More ]
Clemens, Samuel
Mark Twain. American author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Autograph Quotation Signed, Truly yours Mark Twain, two lines on an oblong octavo sheet, dated “Dec./05.” “Taking the pledge will not make bad liquor good, but it will improve it.” Matted in beige and cocoa with a bust-length portrait photograph of Samuel … [ Read More ]
Collins, Wilkie
ENGLISH NOVELIST; WROTE “THE WOMAN IN WHITE”. Autograph Quotation Signed, one page, octavo, London, February 17, 1883. From The Woman in White, Collins writes: “Women can resist a man’s love, a man’s fame, a man’s personal appearance, and a man’s money; but they cannot resist a man’s tongue when he knows how to talk … [ Read More ]
Coward, Noel
English actor, playwright and composer. Autograph Musical Quotation Signed, one page, on a 3 by 8 inch sheet, undated. Noel Coward writes seven measures of his song, “I’ll Follow My Secret Heart,” with words to the refrain, “I’ll follow my secret heart my whole life through.” Inscribed to Lionel Aucoin. Noel Coward’s song, “I’ll Follow … [ Read More ]
Coward, Noel
“…THE BIGGEST SMASH HIT IN NEW YORK.” English actor, playwright, and composer best known for highly polished comedies of manners. Typewritten Letter Signed, May 21, 1958, octavo, on stationary with the address 404 East 55th Street, New York. To “My dear Bink” (Hugh Beaumont). “Thanks ever so for your letter. “Yes, I am very keen … [ Read More ]
Fielding, Henry
THE VERY RARE AUTOGRAPH OF THE AUTHOR OF “TOM JONES” HENRY FIELDING. English novelist and playwright. Document Signed, H Fielding, one page, oblong octavo, June 27, 1750. Fielding attests that “William Moncke late of Northend in the parish of Fulham and county of Middlesex Esq. maketh oath that his son John Moncke and his daughters … [ Read More ]
Greene, Graham
English writer. Collection of 8 Mimeograph Manuscripts for the motion picture, The Third Man, based on the novel by Graham Greene, comprising the Treatment, the Screenplay, the Second Draft Script, the Synopsis and Dialogue Screenplay, Dialogue Cutting Continuity Script, Release Script Reels 1 – 12, Narrator Portuguese Script, and Spanish Script. The 1949 London Film … [ Read More ]
Harte, Bret
“IT WAS A DAMNABLE BIT OF FEUDALISM WHICH OUGHT TO BE EXPRESSED TO A CIVILIZATION THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE LEFT SUCH THINGS FAR BEHIND.” BRET HARTE. American short story writer. Autograph Letter Signed, one and one-half pages, octavo, [Scotland], July 14, 1880. To M. D. [Conory]. “Many thanks for your flattering and most kind … [ Read More ]
Hawthorne, Nathaniel
American novelist; author of The Scarlet Letter. Partly printed Document Signed, two pages, legal folio, Liverpool, November 22, 1853. “…I, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Consul to the United States of America, at the Port of Liverpool, do declare that the facts set forth in the preceding certificate subscribed by A.F.W. Maxwell…merchants, are in my opinion just and … [ Read More ]
Hawthorne, Nathaniel
American novelist; author of The Scarlet Letter. Autograph Letter Signed, Nathl. Hawthorne, one full page, octavo, Liverpool, October 17, 1853. To Thomas George Morton, in Philadelphia, sending his autograph. “Your note, addressed to me at Concord, has just reached me on this side of the Atlantic. I take pleasure in complying with your request.” Hawthorne … [ Read More ]
Millay, Edna St Vincent
EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY. American author. A Collection of twenty-eight Typewritten Manuscripts, twenty-eight pages, quarto, [ca. 1920 and earlier]. Three of the manuscripts are signed by Edna St Vincent Millay at the conclusion; one bears a holograph correction in the text; and in another she has changed the title. Accompanied by a typewritten letter … [ Read More ]
Mitchell, Margaret
THE PUBLIC REACTION TO “GONE WITH THE WIND” MARGARET MITCHELL. American author of Gone with the Wind. Typewritten Letter Signed, one page, quarto, Atlanta, Georgia, January 7, 1936. On her name-imprinted stationery, to Dr. Mayos. “Thank you so much for your New Year’s note and all your good wishes. I had it on my mind … [ Read More ]
Neruda, Pablo
PABLO NERUDA. Chilean poet; winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. Autograph Manuscript Signed, six pages, quarto, Paris, February 1972. In Spanish. Written in green ink. “Volcanoes and blizzards of the great south of America-of South America-all have been good teachers for us, little guards born in that distant silence. I will never … [ Read More ]
Porter, Katherine Anne
AN EXTRAORDINARY LITERARY LETTER ABOUT THE PROCESS OF WRITING “SHIP OF FOOLS” KATHERINE ANNE PORTER. American essayist, short story writer, novelist; wrote “Ship of Fools”. Typewritten Letter Signed, Katherine Anne Porter, three densely typed pages, on blue paper, quarto, August 18, 1958, Outpost Inn, Ridgefield, Connecticut. With corrections in her hand. To Mr. Clemons. “I … [ Read More ]
Richardson, Samuel
SAMUEL RICHARDSON. English novelist; author of Clarissa Harlowe. Partly printed Document Signed, one page, legal folio, January 2, 1743. Samuel Richardson signs a statement headed, “Tonnage, 1694 &c.”, saying that he has received six pounds from the Treasury, funds paid out to him as the assignee of George Churchill and Hugh Chudleigh and by virtue … [ Read More ]
Sayers, Dorothy Leigh
“…ONE STATEMENT OF YOURS…IS VENOMOUS, BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THOSE ACCUSATIONS, OF THE HAVE-YOU-STOPPED- BEATING-YOUR-WIFE VARIETY, AGAINST WHICH THERE IS NO CONCEIVABLE DEFENCE….” DOROTHY LEIGH SAYERS. English mystery novelist; creator of the memorable sleuth, Lord Peter Wimsey. Typewritten Letter Signed, Dorothy Leigh Sayers, three pages, quarto, Witham, Essex, July 25, 1947. To Dr. James … [ Read More ]
Service, Robert W
“I HAVE NO FAVORITE PASSAGES IN MY WORK AND I DISLIKE IT AS SOON AS WRITTEN” R. W. SERVICE. Canadian writer; author of The Shooting of Dan McGrew. Letter Signed, Robert Service, one full page, octavo, Monte Carlo, November 3, 1954. To W.C. Goodson, with original envelope. After thanking Goodson for his letter, Robert Service … [ Read More ]
Shaw, George Bernard
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW. British playwright, author, and critic. Typewritten Manuscript Signed twice, By Bernard Shaw, below the title, and with his initials at the conclusion, nine pages, large quarto, January 27, 1923. On green paper, entitled The Unprotected Child and The Law. With extensive revisions and corrections in George Bernard Shaw’s hand (shown in italic). … [ Read More ]
Simenon, Georges
GEORGES SIMENON. French novelist; creator of the series of detective novels featuring Inspector Maigret. Autograph Letter Signed, one page, octavo, January 31, 1959. On his name imprinted stationery to Albert-Jean. I apologize for being so late in replying to your letter. I was in the middle of working on my novel. I don’t know … [ Read More ]
Tocqueville, Alexis de
French author of Democracy in America. Alexis de Tocqueville. Autograph Letter Signed, two pages, quarto, April 17, 1841. “I received the last volume of the Academy of Caen as well as the yearbook of the Department of La Manche, which you announced to me by your letter of March 26. I cannot thank you too … [ Read More ]
Tolstoy, Leo
Russian author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Bust-length postcard Photograph of Leo Tolstoy, Signed and Dated, “Leo Tolstoy / 24 Febr. 1910” in the lower portion. The photograph by C. Kraft is captioned “Tolstoi.” The black and white photograph measures 3 ½ inches wide by 5 ½ inches high. Matted in ivory ad … [ Read More ]
Washington, Booker T
Black American educator; founded the Tuskegee Institute for practical training of blacks in trades and professions in 1881. Autograph Letter Signed Booker T Washington, one page, large quarto, Tuskegee, Alabama, March 13, 1897. On imprinted stationery of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, to a supporter, Ella Kent in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Booker T Washington, the … [ Read More ]
Wordsworth, William
English poet. Autograph Quotation Signed, three lines from his poem The Fountain, boldly penned on an oblong octavo sheet dated “Easter Sunday, 1843” from Rydal Mount. “Often glad no more/ We wear a face of joy because/ We have been glad of yore.” William Wordsworth wrote The Fountain, A Conversation in 1799 and published it … [ Read More ]
Wordsworth, William
English poet. Autograph Letter Signed, one page, quarto, Rydal Mount, September 21, 1846. To The Rev. Dr. Parkinson, introducing Mr. Pemberton Bartlett “a Student of St. Bees and recommend him to any attention which it may fall within your province to be able to give him the benefit of. He is a friend of Mr. … [ Read More ]
Yeats, William Butler
Irish poet and dramatist. Autograph Letter Signed, WBYeats, three pages, octavo, 3 Upper Ely Place, Dublin, September 4, no year [1890]. To [W. E.] Henley, the influential editor of the National Observer. “I sent you a book of sonnets by Rhys with drawings by my brother who is about 19 years old & means to … [ Read More ]
Yeats, William Butler
Irish poet and dramatist. Typewritten Letter Signed, WB Yeats, one-half page, quarto, Riversdale, Rathfarnham, Dublin, May 21, 1933. On his imprinted stationery, to [Derek] Verschoyle, editor of the Spectator. “I send you that review and it is the last I shall ever write. I havent that gift, my writings have to germinate out of each … [ Read More ]