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 ]
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 ]
Joanna
“TO PREVENT FOREIGN MOORS, ENEMIES OF THE FAITH, FROM CAUSING THE DAMAGE, LOSS AND ROBBERIES THEY HAVE BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO DO” JOANNA LA LOCA. Queen Joanna of Castile; daughter of Ferdinand V and Isabella I. An official royal document, signed in the name of the Queen by the Councillors of Castile, one page folio, (15 … [ Read More ]
Leigh, Vivien
VIVIEN LEIGH’S CONTRACT FOR ‘GONE WITH THE WIND’ VIVIEN LEIGH. Motion picture actress. Four Typewritten Documents, forty-two pages, legal folio, January 16 to November 8, 1939. Concerning Vivien Leigh’s role in the production of Gone With The Wind. Together with an Autograph Letter Signed. Typewritten Document, seventeen pages, legal folio, Culver City, California, January 16, … [ Read More ]
Maria Theresa
MARIA THERESA. Arch-Duchess of Austria; Queen of Hungary and Bohemia. Mother of Marie Antoinette. Document Signed Maria Theresa, one page, large folio, [171/2 by 21-3/4 inches], n.d. With the Queen’s large paper and wax seal. An ornate document commending Don Francesca de Magan “for his long-rendered service and steadiness and bravery in wartime,” and … [ 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 ]
Piaf, Edith
EDITH PIAF. French singer and actress whose interpretation of the Chanson, or French ballad, made her internationally famous. A close-up, head-shot Photograph of the legendary chanteuse in a wistful gaze, her hand on her cheek, Signed Edith Piaf and Inscribed in the dark upper portion, “Pour Monsieur Maurice Croifer / Sympathique… / Edith Piaf”. The black … [ 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 ]
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 ]