WELLS H.G.: (1866-1946) English writer, remembered for his science fiction novels. A good A.L.S., H. G. Wells, one page, small 4to, Easton Glebe, Dunmow, n.d. (annotated 1916 in another hand at the head), to Huntly Carter. Wells writes in response to Carter's letter in which the journalist had posed some questions to Wells, asking what his opinion of the industrial situation regarding Labour, capital and the nation as a commercial entity was, as well as the best policies to be followed. Wells answers by stating, in part, '1a Labour will be after some fool's grievance about the C[onscience] O[bjectors] or suchlike, under the guidance of Fenner Brockway, Ramsay MacDonald & so forth......Labour will be unaware that there is an economic problem. Labour will be sheep in a narrow road. 1b. Capital will be scrambling back towards the old conditions in a stupid instinctive way under cover of an Irish row. 1c. Nonsense! Do you mean economic? 2a. 2b. 2c. Think hard. But this is Utopian'. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and a few very small pinholes to the upper left corner, otherwise VGHuntly Carter (1862-1942) British author, journalist and critic of the performing and visual arts.Fenner Brockway (1888-1988) British socialist politician, humanist campaigner and anti-war activist who served as Chairman of the Independent Labour Party (1931-33) and then as its General Secretary (1933-39).James Ramsay MacDonald (1866-1937) Scottish politician who first belonged to the Labour Party. British Prime Minister 1924, 1929-35.
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EDWARD VI: (1537-1553) King of England and Ireland 1547-53, the only surviving son of King Henry VIII, by his third wife Jane Seymour. A fine ink signature ('Edward') as King, to the head of the remaining portion of a vellum document, approximately 53 x 5 cm, with one partial line of Latin text, commencing with the King's name ('Edwardus Sextus') in an attractive secretarial hand. Autographs of King Edward VI are extremely rare in any form as a result of his very early death at the age of fifteen. Some light overall dust staining and minor creasing, G
ASTOR MARY: (1906-1987) American actress, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in 1941 for her role as Sandra Kovak in The Great Lie. A good vintage signed and inscribed sepia 8 x 10 photograph of Astor in a head and shoulders pose. Photograph by Elmer Fryer of Hollywood and bearing his blind embossed stamp to the lower left corner. Signed by Astor in dark fountain pen ink to a light area at the base of the image. VG
ISHERWOOD CHRISTOPHER: (1904-1986) British-born American novelist and playwright. Vintage signed and inscribed 4 x 7 photograph of Isherwood standing in a half-length pose. Signed in bold black fountain pen ink to the base of the image and dated 8th November 1962 in his hand. Very slightly neatly trimmed and with a couple of very light, minor surface creases, otherwise VG
REEVE CHRISTOPHER: (1952-2004) American actor, remembered for playing the title character in the superhero film Superman (1978) and three sequels. An excellent signed 8 x 10 photograph of Reeve in a profile head and shoulders pose, tipping his hat, in costume as Clark Kent from Superman III (1983). Signed by Reeve in bold blue fountain pen ink with his name alone to a light area at the base of the image. One very slight, extremely minor crease to the upper left corner of the white border, otherwise EX
LEIGH VIVIEN: (1913-1967) English actress, Academy Award winner for Best Actress in 1939 for her role as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind and again in 1951 for her role as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. An excellent vintage signed sepia 7.5 x 9.5 photograph of the actress seated in a half-length pose. Signed by Leigh in blue ink with her name alone to a light area at the base of the image. About EX
MALONE DOROTHY: (1924-2018) American actress, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in 1956 for her role as Marylee Hadley in Written on the Wind. Signed 8 x 10 photograph, the original vintage publicity portrait depicting the actress reclining in a three-quarter length pose. Photograph by Jack Woods for Warner Bros. and bearing his credit stamp to the verso. Signed by Malone in bold black ink with her name alone to the centre of the image. Some light, minor surface creasing to the lower right edge and corner, about VG
STOWE HARRIET BEECHER: (1811-1896) American author and abolitionist whose most famous work was Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852). A.L.S., H B Stowe, one page, 8vo, Mandarin, Florida, 11th February 1870, to a gentleman, on feint ruled stationery featuring an attractive blind embossed decorative initial S at the head. Stowe writes, in full, 'I have allowed your request to wait some time unattended because I had no photographs of myself. Having just received some I hasten to fulfil your request' (The photographs no longer present). With blank integral leaf. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG
DONITZ KARL: (1891-1980) German Grand Admiral of World War II who briefly succeeded Adolf Hitler as head of state, serving as President of Germany from April – May 1945. Knight's Cross winner with Oak Leaves. A.L.S., Donitz, one page, 4to, Aumuhle, Schleswig-Holstein, 24th August 1979, to Hans Rossbach, the aviation philatelist, in German. Donitz thanks his correspondent for their letter and confirms that he is ready to sign the 100 commemorative covers and asks 'Please specify the size of the signature (name only, with or without first name? With or without date?)' as well as enquiring as to how much he will be paid. A few very light, extremely minor creases, VG
RAO RAJA: (1908-2006) Indian-born American writer of English-language novels and short stories. A.Q.S., Raja Rao, one page, 8vo, n.p., 4th August 1948, in French. The head of the page is annotated in the hand of a collector Maximes de vie des Grands Ecrivains Contemporains ('Maxims from the Great Contemporary Writers') and beneath Rao has penned a two-line quotation which he identifies as being from Les Upanishads, 'Quand de la totalite vous enlevez la totalite ce qui reste c'est toujours de la totalite' (Translation: 'When you take away the whole, what's left is still the whole'). Immediately beneath Rao's quotation appears another A.Q.S. by the Indian poet and author Baldoon Dhingra, being two-lines in English taken from The Light of Asia by Edwin Arnold, 'Know ye, who suffer, ye only suffer from yourself; none else compels' and attributed to the Buddha by Dhingra. Some very minor, light staining and age toning to the edges and lower left corner, otherwise VG
JAMES SID: (1913-1976) South African-born British comedy actor, remembered for his numerous roles in the Carry On film series. A good signed 6.5 x 9.5 photograph of James in a head and shoulders pose speaking on a telephone. Signed ('Cheers! Sid James') in blue ink to a light area at the base of the image. About EX
BORGNINE ERNEST: (1917-2012) American actor, Academy Award winner for Best Actor in 1955 for his role as Marty Piletti in Marty. Signed 8 x 10 photograph, the cardstock image depicting Borgnine standing in a half-length pose happily holding his Oscar statuette in his hands. Signed in bold black ink with his name alone to a light area of the background. VG
RIEFENSTAHL LENI: (1902-2003) German film director. A significant and interesting correspondence collection comprising two A.Ls.S. and nine T.Ls.S. (several with holograph additions), Leni Riefenstahl, sixteen pages (total), 4to, various places (Munich etc.), January 1952 - December 1958, the majority to Christian Bourcier de Carbon (and, indirectly, Henri Langlois), in German. Riefenstahl writes on a variety of subjects, including her work and the efforts she made to recover her films reels, which had been confiscated by the French government at the end of World War II and retained at the Cinematheque Française, thanking De Carbon for supporting her in the return of her films, explaining that she intends to go to Paris personally 'as soon as possible to bring about the handover there and I would be happy if I could ask for your help. In order to obtain my French entry permit, it is necessary for me to receive an official invitation….from you as soon as possible (by express) so that I can receive my entry visa from the French consulate in Munich in a few days' (26th January 1952), further stating, in part, 'Many weeks have now passed since my stay in Paris and unfortunately the return of my material to the Austrian Embassy has still not become a fact…..If all these efforts are unsuccessful, then the last resort I see is either a civil suit against Monsieur Petitjean, a French film officer who at the time brought the material to France without permission and without a mandate from the French military government, or that I have to file a complaint with the International Court of Justice in The Hague' (19th March 1952), 'On 4th April I finally have my world premiere of 'Blauen Licht' in Munich….I wanted to go to Kitzbuhel over Easter and from there to Breuil to test the ski area there for my film 'Die roten Teufel'' (1st April 1952), 'Unfortunately I haven't received any sign of life from you since we were last together in Munich and wonder whether you are in Paris and whether you are aware of the outrageous article about me in the magazine 'Samedi Soir' of 10th May 1952. This article took over the pictures of the Munich 'Revue', made the same claims and published more fictional and forged Streicher letters. As a result, the already officially confirmed transfer of my films to the Austrian Embassy was thwarted at the very last hour…..I ask you to treat the contents of this letter as confidential. It is only intended to show you the base means by which my enemies in France are trying to prevent the return of my property. This new setback has made my current situation even more difficult, but I hope to be able to resolve the matter through a lawsuit. For this process I now need an absolutely flawless translation of the article from 'Samedi Soir' and I would be particularly grateful if you would have the same made, as I have no money to pay for the translation…..I will give you back your expenses after the case has been won…..My lawyer will ask the newspaper 'Samedi Soir' to bring a correction. If the newspaper does not do this, I will be forced to sue 'Samedi Soir' and again I would like your advice on which French lawyer I should hire?' (1st June 1952), 'Above all, I would like to tell you that your faith and the trust you have placed in me have given me a lot of strength. On the day of your visit in Munich I was really completely devastated by the mean slanders of the 'Revue'. Your encouragement helped me a lot. The next day I flew to Berlin and had the strength to face a big public hearing in Berlin to refute all allegations against me, although the chairman of the court was a Jew, he possessed the necessary objectivity to conduct the proceedings fairly, I was acquitted on all counts and fully rehabilitated. This was a great victory and will also help me to fend off further attacks. For your information I am enclosing a newspaper report from which you can see the means by which an attempt was made to destroy me. I am also enclosing the copy of the Berlin verdict, which is of particular value because the most severe verdicts are pronounced in Berlin. As a result of this Berlin verdict, I am now in a position to sue the illustrated magazine 'Revue' for defamation and professional damage. So I will once again have to endure a lawsuit, but I am convinced that I will win it and then the way for my future work will be free….I wrote to Mr. Borst today to find out how far my 'Tiefland' affair has progressed…..I cannot understand why the handover has still not taken place. If you are still in Paris, I would be indebted to you if you would ask Mr. Borst, or even better, Mr. Langlois directly, when the handover will take place, It can't be that my life's work is destroyed by the French' (5th June 1952), 'It has been a long time since we last spoke. In the meantime my 'Tiefland' film has begun in Germany and Austria with a very strong response from the press and so far I am very satisfied with the artistic success. If you don't have the opportunity to see it in a cinema somewhere, it will be my great pleasure to show you the film on your next visit to Munich. Only now can I fully immerse myself in the realisation of my ski film 'Die roten Teufel'…..I would now be interested, dear Mr. de Carbon, whether you are still interested in any way in co-financing the film…..I think it's going to be big business and it's worth investing capital in, It would also make the work easier because, if francs are available to me, I could finance French skiers and workers and possibly also some outdoor shots in French territory' (9th June 1954), the later letter of 1958 regarding a proposed ballet based on Das blaue Licht (1932, 'The Blue Light') in which Riefenstahl had appeared as an actress in the role of Junta, with Rosella Hightower suggested for the same role, Riefenstahl asking 'Is this prima ballerina a household name?'. Together with a few associated carbon copies of letters, two original envelopes, a small series of handwritten notes by Riefenstahl, and several French newspaper articles relating to the director. Some light overall age wear and a few letters with small tears and creasing to the edges, G to generally VG, Sml. Qty.Christian Bourcier de Carbon (1912-?) French civil and industrial engineer who invented the de Carbon hydraulic shock absorber in 1953, also establishing the De Carbon Company in the same year.Henri Langlois (1914-1977) French film archivist and cinephile, a pioneer of film preservation and co-founder of the Cinematheque Française.Towards the end of World War II the French government confiscated all of Riefenstahl's editing equipment, along with the production reels of Tiefland. After years of legal wrangling, these were returned to her, but the French government had reportedly damaged some of the film stock whilst trying to develop and edit it, with a few key scenes missing. Riefenstahl edited and dubbed the remaining material and Tiefland premiered in Stuttgart in 1954, however it was denied entry into the Cannes Film Festival. In the 1950s and 1960s the director attempted to make many other films, but was continually met with resistance, public protests and sharp criticism. Although both film professionals and investors were willing to support her work, most of the projects she attempted were stopped owing to ever-renewed and highly negative publicity about her past work in Germany, and Tiefland would subsequently remain as her last feature film.
CUSHING PETER: (1913-1994) English Actor, famous for his roles in the Hammer Films, as well as portraying Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes and Grand Moff Tarkin in Star Wars. A good vintage signed 6 x 8 photograph of Cushing in a head and shoulders pose. Signed in bold, dark fountain pen ink with his name alone to the base of the image, his surname running across a slightly darker area. A few very minor traces of former mounting to the verso and a couple of light corner creases, otherwise VG
DULEEP SINGH VICTOR: (1866-1918) Crown Prince of Punjab, eldest son of Sir Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. A.L.S., Victor Duleep Singh, three pages, 8vo, n.p., 30th August 1888, to Mr. Drewitt, on the printed stationery of the Royal Dragoons. Duleep Singh explains that he has invited a couple of officers to a shoot on Saturday and asks Drewitt how much is to pay, adding that 'I will send you a cheque direct' and further referring to some guns before concluding 'I sail for Canada on the 15th. I am very much cut up at leaving England - & I fear I can never hope for anything ever to come right again'. A newspaper clipping relating to Duleep Singh and his financial affairs is lightly tipped to an inside page of the bifolium. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG
NICHOLAS II: (1868-1918) Emperor of Russia 1894-1917. Autograph Note, unsigned, one page, oblong 12mo (the upper half of what would originally have been an 8vo bifolium), n.p., n.d., apparently to his sister Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, featuring the blue printed heading of The Imperial Train of the Nikolaevsky Railway Station, in Cyrillic. The Tsar writes four lines of text in pencil, 'If you are ready. come here right now. It's time to drink coffee. Mother has already left'. With the remnants of the blank integral leaf. The lower edge is a little irregularly torn as a result of the removal of the lower half of the page. Together with an unsigned 4.5 x 6 photograph (later printing) of the young infant Grand Duke Nicholas standing in a full-length pose alongside his mother, Maria Feodorovna, who is seated in a three-quarter length pose at his side. Contained in a decorative antique frame with modern glazing (some light age wear). Also including an unused sepia printed paper wrapper intended for Military Life chocolate distributed to the Tsar's Russian Army officers in 1896 and featuring an image to the centre of artwork by George Borman. G to VG, 3According to information supplied by the vendor, the Tsar's pencil note was considered to be one of the last messages that Nicholas would write to his sister, Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna (1875-1960), and was retained by her eldest child and only daughter, Princess Irina Alexandrovna (1895-1970), wife of Prince Felix Yusupov (1887-1967).
PUTIN VLADIMIR: (1952- ) Russian politician who served as Prime Minister of Russia 1999-2000, 2008-12 and as President of Russia 2000-08 and again since 2012. A rare signed and inscribed colour 4 x 6 photograph of Putin seated in a head and shoulders pose. Signed by Putin in blue ink, in Cyrillic, to the verso (Translation: ‘Best of luck to Nastia, V. Putin’) and dated 8th July 2011 in his hand. Some very light, extremely minor scuffing to the verso, only very slightly touching the signature, otherwise VGProvenance: The present photograph was signed by Vladimir Putin during a class reunion of former students of the Leningrad State University on 8th July 2011. Included in the lot is a colour 6 x 4 photograph taken at the event and showing Putin signing the photograph for the recipient, Nastia, who can be seen seated to Putin’s right at their dining table. Nastia is the daughter of Yuri Grigorievich Matyushin, a fellow student of Putin’s at the Leningrad State University. The two graduated together from the Law Faculty of the university in 1975.
GERONIMO: (1829-1909) Bedonkohe Apache leader and medicine man, noted for his raids and related combat actions during the Apache Wars (1849-86). An excellent, bold pencil signature (‘GERONIMO’) to the verso of the personal printed oblong 12mo Visiting Card of Burns Durbin Caldwell and featuring his printed name to the centre of the recto. Accompanied by the original folio page to which the visiting card was originally loosely affixed. The page, removed from a contemporary album, features a vintage illustrated newspaper clipping laid down to the centre, the text stating, in part, ‘From Warpath to Poker Table – Old Geronimo, the famous fighting chief of the Apaches, is now a prisoner of the government at Port Sill…..it is said that the wily old chief has developed such skill at bluffing and “playing a hand” that he is rapidly getting rich…..Recently Geronimo deposited $1425 in a bank at El Reno as the result of a single week’s play’. Autographs of Geronimo are extremely rare and highly desirable. Some light age wear and two small traces of former mounting to the upper corners, not affecting the signature. About VG Burns D. Caldwell (1858-1922) American businessman, president of the Wells Fargo Express Company and chairman of the board of the American Railway Express Company. Geronimo attained celebrity status during his lifetime and he became a regular attraction at events and fairs including the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, New York in 1901, the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904 and Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Shows, where he appeared under Army guard. Geronimo dressed in traditional clothing on such occasions, posed for photographs, provided autographs and souvenirs, and sold his crafts. The present signature links two of the major household names of America’s Wild West – Geronimo and Wells Fargo, the latter being the company that handled express service to western states, and were often robbed. Provenance: From the autograph collection of Frank Dyche (d.1944) and his wife Grace Scripps Dyche (1863-1924). Frank Dyche, a prominent Chicago attorney, married Grace Scripps in 1896. Grace was the daughter of John Locke Scripps (1818-1866), editor of the Chicago Tribune, and his wife Mary E. Scripps (1825-1866). The Scripps have been described as ‘one of the oldest and most influential families of American journalism’ who ‘occupied a unique place in nineteenth-century America’.
HITCHCOCK ALFRED: (1899-1980) English film director. An excellent vintage signed and inscribed 8 x 10 photograph of Hitchcock, the image showing the director standing in a three-quarter length pose and holding a shooting script in his hands as he discusses a scene with actress Doris Day (Josephine 'Jo' Conway McKenna) who is seated in a three-quarter length pose at his side on the set of the American mystery thriller film The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956). Signed by Hitchcock in bold blue fountain pen ink to a largely light area of the image, also adding his famous profile caricature in his hand alongside his signature. About EXProvenance: The present photograph originates from the collection of Pierre Goulliard, a French gentleman who, for over 50 years, dedicated himself to obtaining in person autographs of British, American and European movie stars, always obtaining the signatures in fountain pen ink.
DE FOREST LEE: (1873-1961) American inventor, an important early pioneer in electronics. A.L.S., Lee de Forest, to the verso of his personal printed oblong 12mo Visiting Card, featuring his printed name ('Lee De Forest, PH.D') to the centre of the recto, and address at the Radio Telephone Co., Wall Street, New York, at the base, n.d., to Madame Mazarin 'to whom I owe the most pleasant hour I have ever spent with my wireless telephone. All my labors are well repaid!'. A French translation of the text, in light pencil and in another hand, appears at the head of the recto. Some very light, minimal staining and age wear, about VG
ADDAMS JANE: (1860-1935) American settlement activist & reformer, an important leader in the history of social work and women's suffrage in the United States. T.L.S., Jane Addams, one page, 8vo, South Halsted Street, Chicago, 23rd May 1921, to Henry E. Smith ('My dear Mr. Smith'), on the printed stationery of Hull House. Addams thanks her correspondent for their kind letter and remarks 'I am sure that if the mistake were corrected in a later edition, the harm done was a minimum, and that there is no need for a correction in the paper, but I should like to express my appreciation of your courtesy'. A few very light, minor creases, otherwise VGHenry E. Smith - Editor of the Chicago Daily News.
LOWE HUDSON: (1769-1844) Anglo-Irish soldier and colonial administrator who served as Governor of Saint Helena 1816-21 where he was the 'gaoler' of Emperor Napoleon. An intriguing A.L.S., H Lowe, four pages, 8vo, London, 20th September 1822, to a gentleman, marked 'Private'. Lowe announces 'The Solicitor General gave it to me as his decided opinion that I ought not to publish anything in my own name pending the question as to a prosecution' and also makes a reference to John Stoddart who has begun to make use of some documents, further remarking 'Mr. Goldsmith of the British Monitor had something in his last Tuesday's paper and is I believe a little mortified to find that it was not copied with the Courrier or some of the other papers. He means to go on, I believe, with the subject, and perhaps some of his articles may merit to be repeated or at least commented upon. It might perhaps be of use also if the articles in the New Times were repeated in some of the other papers, particularly the Sunday ones. When the documents come out they will have enough to comment upon without borrowing reflections from others'. Lowe concludes his letter by writing 'Dr. Stoddart threw a fresh, but not a new light on the true origin of all the attack against Govt. & against me. I believe the parties to, in some degree, regret it, but they are not less the cause of almost all that has ocurred'. VGJohn Stoddart (1773-1856) English journalist and lawyer who served as editor of The Times and later established The New Times as a rival daily newspaper. Lewis Goldsmith (c.1763-1846) Anglo-French publicist who undertook secret service missions for Napoleon Bonaparte, although later became strongly anti-republican and, through his British Monitor, denounced the French Revolution. The content of Lowe's letter is undoubtedly associated with Barry O'Meara's book Napoleon in Exile, or A Voice from St. Helena which charged Lowe with mistreating Napoleon and caused something of a sensation on its publication in 1822.
FROST ROBERT: (1874-1963) American poet. An unusual vintage signed colour 7 x 9 photograph, the candid (possibly unique?) image showing Frost seated outdoors in a full-length pose on a stone wall within the grounds of Middlebury College, alongside his friend Harold J. Baily. Signed by Frost in bold fountain pen ink to the lower mount of the card presentation frame, 'Robert Frost (on the fence) sitting pretty with Harold J. Baily sitting prettier' and dated at Ripton, August 1958 in Frost's hand. Some very light, minimal age wear, VGHarold James Baily (1887-1964) American lawyer and art collector, a friend of the poets Frost and Archibald MacLeish whose poetry Baily also collected. From 1921-62 Frost spent almost every summer and autumn teaching at the Bread Loaf School of English of Middlebury College at its mountain campus at Ripton, Vermont, and was a major influence on the development of the school and its writing programmes.
HAYWARD SUSAN: (1917-1975) American actress, Academy Award winner for Best Actress in 1958 for her role as Barbara Graham in I Want to Live! A good vintage signed and inscribed sepia 8 x 10 photograph of Hayward in a smiling head and shoulders pose with a number of sunflowers in the foreground. Signed by the actress in bold black fountain pen ink to the image, 'To Johnny, Best Wishes, Susan Hayward'. A few very light, extremely minimal surface and corner creases, VG
![LOUIS II: (1870-1949) Prince of Monaco 1922-49. A very interesting A.L.S., `Louis P[rin]ce de Monaco´, three pages, small 4to](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/4da1536e-f8ee-466a-a857-b11b00a2e0f9/437a0604-141b-490f-8000-b11b015b98ca/468x382.jpg)
LOUIS II: (1870-1949) Prince of Monaco 1922-49. A very interesting A.L.S., `Louis P[rin]ce de Monaco´, three pages, small 4to, in green ink, Monaco, 23rd March 1925, to tMonsieur Begue, Prefect of the Aisne, in French. The letter bears a red embossed crowned heading ''Palais of Monaco''. Louis II forwrds to the Prefect a letter which he considers inadmissible, stating in part `Les circonstances qui nous ont fait nous rencontrer avant que vous ne soyez nommé Préfet de l´Aisne, m´autorisent à vous communiquer en toute franchise la lettre ci-incluse que je juge inadmissible, son contenu n´est qu´un tissu de mensonges inventées, non pas par le maire de Laon, mais par ceratin personnage haineux habitant Marchais et dont volontiers je vous donnerai le nom verbalement. Jamais je n´aurais cru que la récente nomination de Mr. Barbier dans l´ordre de la Légio d´Honneur eut pu liu créer de telles jalousies de la part d´un individu qui essaie, par-dessus la tête du maire, de présider aux destinées du village et de nuire l´excellent français et au fonctionnaire modèle qui a donné à ma famille près de trente années de dévouement, notamment de 1914 à 1918.´ (Translation: "The circumstances which made us meet before you were appointed Prefect of Aisne, authorize me to communicate to you in all frankness the enclosed letter which I consider inadmissible, its content is nothing but a number of lies invented, not by the mayor of Laon, but by a certain hateful character living in Marchais and whose name I will gladly give you verbally. I would never have believed that the recent appointment of Mr. Barbier to the order of the Legion d´Honneur could have created such jealousies on the part of an individual who tries, over the head of the mayor, to preside over the destiny of the village and harm the excellent Frenchman and the model civil servant who gave my family nearly thirty years of dedication, notably from 1914 to 1918") Louis II further says `Je suis parfaitement sûr de l´estime et de l´affection de la population qui ne manque aucune occasion de m´en donner des preuves; les quelques communistes qui résident dans le village le sont par ordre (toujours du même) et pas bien dangereux. Je suis désolé de vous importuner avec cette lettre, mais j´ai cru ne pas devoir en dissimuler le contenu au Préfet du Département dans lequel nous vivons depuis 1856, nous efforçant de faire le plus de bien possible aux habitants du village ...´ (Translation: "I am perfectly sure of the esteem and affection of the population who miss no opportunity to give me proof of it; the few communists who reside in the village are there by order (always from the same one) and are not very dangerous. I am sorry to bother you with this letter, but I thought I should not conceal its contents from the Prefect of the Department in which we have lived since 1856, striving to do as much good as possible to the inhabitants of the village...") Paper with Imperial watermark. Accompanied by the original envelope, addressed in the Prince´s hand, postmarked and stamped, and bearing to the verso beneath the red crwon embossed seal a red wax seal in fine condition. Some words have slightly light ink. G to VG
O'TOOLE PETER: (1932-2013) British actor, the recipient of an Academy Honorary Award. Signed colour 8 x 10 photograph of O'Toole in a head and shoulders pose, wearing a mortarboard, in costume as the Greek and Latin instructor Arthur 'Chips' Chipping from the British musical film Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969). Signed by O'Toole in bold blue ink with his name alone to a light area of the background. VG
LANDAU MARTIN: (1928-2017) American actor, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor in 1994 for his role as Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood. Signed 10 x 8 photograph of Landau in a head and shoulders pose, the Columbia Pictures publicity portrait dating from 1973 at which time Landau starred in the American neo-noir crime thriller film Black Gunn in the role of the mafia caporegime and used-car dealer Russ Capelli. Signed by Landau in bold black fountain pen ink with his name alone to a largely light area at the base of the image. VG
WIEST DIANNE: (1948- ) American actress, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in 1986 for her role as Holly in Hannah and Her Sisters and again in 1994 for her role as Helen Sinclair in Bullets Over Broadway. Signed 8 x 10 photograph of Wiest in a head and shoulders pose in costume as Isabelle from the American romantic drama film Falling in Love (1984) in which she starred alongside Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep. Signed by the actress in black ink with her name alone to a largely light area at the base of the image. About EX
TERESHKOVA VALENTINA: (1937- ) Soviet cosmonaut, the first woman ever to fly in space during her solo mission on Vostok 6 (1963). Signed 8 x 10 photograph, the cardstock image depicting Tereshkova in a close-up head and shoulders pose wearing her space helmet. Signed in bold blue ink to a light area at the head of the image, also adding the mission name Vostok 6 in her hand beneath her signature. About EX
BARRYMORE ETHEL: (1879-1959) American actress, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in 1944 for her role as Ma Mott in None but the Lonely Heart. An excellent vintage signed and inscribed 8 x 10 photograph of the actress in a head and shoulders pose. Signed in blue ink to a light area of the background at the head of the image. About EX
KOMAROV VLADIMIR: (1927-1967) Soviet cosmonaut, commander of Voskhod 1 (1964) and pilot of Soyuz 1 (1967). A rare vintage signed colour 4 x 6 postcard photograph of Komarov in a head and shoulders pose wearing his uniform and various medals. Signed in black ink with his name alone to a light area of the image. The signature is a touch light in places, although legible. Signed photographs of Komarov are rare as a result of his tragic death at the age of 40 during the Soyuz 1 mission, thereby becoming the first human to die in a space flight. VG
VERDI GIUSEPPE: (1813-1901) Italian opera composer. A.N., unsigned, to the recto of his personal printed oblong 12mo Visiting Card, featuring his printed name to the centre, Genoa, 1st January 1889, to Giuseppe Auteri De Cristofaro, in Italian. Verdi thanks Auteri De Cristofaro for their kind wishes which he heartily reciprocates. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Verdi to Auteri De Cristofaro in Catania. A few very light, minor traces of former mounting to the verso, otherwise VGGiuseppe Auteri De Cristofaro was a young Sicilian composer with whom Verdi corresponded from 1885.
BAXTER WARNER: (1889-1951) American actor, Academy Award winner for Best Actor in 1928/29 for his role as the Cisco Kid in In Old Arizona. Vintage signed 7.5 x 9.5 photograph of the suave and dapper actor seated in a half-length pose. Photograph by George P. Hommel of New York and bearing his credit stamp to the verso. Signed by Baxter in dark fountain pen ink to a light area of the image. VG
YOUNG GIG: (1913-1978) American actor, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor in 1969 for his role as Rocky in They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? Vintage signed 7 x 9 photograph of Young seated in a half-length pose. Photograph by Bert Six and bearing his (feint) credit stamp to the verso. Signed by the actor in fountain pen ink to the image with slightly poorer contrast. A few light surface and corner creases, about VG
FUENTES CARLOS: (1928-2012) Mexian novelist. Small correspondence collection of two T.Ls.S. and two A.Ls.S., Carlos Fuentes (and one with his first name only), each one page, 4to, various places (Paris, London etc.), 1968-92, all to Tom Maschler. The earliest letter is dated shortly after Jonathan Cape Ltd. had published A Change of Skin in 1968 to mixed reviews, and Fuentes eloquently responds by writing 'I have now seen the Observer and Sunday Times Reviews. What can I say? My mental health forces me to bannish (sic) the English critics from my head. I have come to believe that if, for one instant, I wrote a single line that would please them, I would be prostituting myself. I really wonder why a novel that has had such good critical notices in Italy, the USA and Latin America fails so miserably in Britain.....Once I have bannished (sic) Britannia Literaria from my head, what really hurts me is that your great courage and sympathy and conviction in publishing this book have met with this reception. I cannot tell you how sad this makes me feel. But all this is not important. What is important is your friendship, your warmth and intelligence' (1st November 1968). Although Cape did not publish any further works by Fuentes, his friendship with Maschler did endure, as reflected in the later letters, 'I am going to be in Mexico until mid-February and was remembering our old project to see a bit of the country together. If your travels between now and February bring you near Mexico, do please hop over' (7th September 1969), 'My mother, a rather imperious (and capricious) 84 year old dowager, has decided that this is the last summer she will be able to travel in Europe. We are taking her tomorrow for two weeks (or more) in Spain & Italy, which makes it impossible to go to you in France' (5th August 1992), 'Sorry about the numerous changes and delays - it has not been a peaceful summer - Oaxaca and its Gods are angry for forsaking them' (19th August 1992). Together with a few carbon typed copies of letters from Maschler and his secretary to Fuentes and also including a postcard with two amusing pen and ink caricatures, one of Harold Wilson. Some light age wear, generally VG, 5Tom Maschler (1933-2020) British publisher who, from 1960, was head of the publishing company Jonathan Cape for more than three decades. Maschler was also instrumental in establishing the Booker Prize in 1969.
EASTWOOD CLINT: (1930- ) American actor and film director, Academy Award winner. An excellent signed colour 10 x 8 photograph of Eastwood in a head and shoulders pose, holding his .44 magnum gun in the hand of his outstretched arm, in costume as Inspector Harry Callahan in a scene from the American neo-noir action thriller film Magnum Force (1973), the second of the five Dirty Harry film series. Signed by Eastwood in bold blue ink with his name alone to a light area of the image. About EX
BURLEIGH HARRY: (1866-1949) American composer and baritone, known for his musical arrangement of the African-American spiritual song Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, since adopted by English rugby players and fans. A printed 8vo programme for the Fourth Annual Concert of the Boy Choir of St. Andrew's Memorial Church, assisted by the men of the choir and accompanied by Harry Burleigh and others, held at Parish House, Yonkers, New York, on 24th May 1928, featuring an A.M.Q.S. by Burleigh to a clear area at the head of the final page, in bold pencil, representing two bars of music which he identifies as being from the song Deep River, popularised by Burleigh. Signed ('H T Burleigh') in bold pencil alongside the quotation. Some very light creasing and minor age wear, otherwise VG
HUGO VICTOR: (1802-1885) French novelist, poet and dramatist. A remarkable, lengthy A.L.S., Victor, four pages, 4to, n.p., 2nd November 1829, to Charles Nodier, in French. Hugo writes an impassioned letter, commencing by stating that much of him wishes he had not read La Quotidienne yesterday, and continuing ‘Car c'est une des plus violentes secousses de la vie que celle qui deracine du coeur une vieille et profonde amitie. J'avais perdu depuis longtemps l'habitude de rencontrer votre appui pour mes ouvrages. Je ne m'en plaignais pas. Pourquoi donc auriez-vous continue de vous compromettre dans une amitie publique avec un homme qui n'apporte a ses amis qu'une contagion de haines, de calomnies et de persecutions? J'ai vu que vous vous retiriez de cette melee, et, vous aimant pour vous-meme, j'ai trouve cela bien. Peu a peu, du silence et de l'indifference pour moi je vous ai vu passer a l'eloge, a l'enthousiasme, a l'acclamation pour mes ennemis, meme pour les plus ardents, les plus amers, les plus odieux. Rien que de simple encore en cela; car, apres tout, ce n'est qu'une chose personnelle a moi, et mes ennemis peuvent fort bien avoir de l'esprit, du talent et du genie. Cela est tout simple, dis-je, et loin de moi l'idee de m'en plaindre un seul instant. Je ne vous en aimais pas moins, et (vous auriez tort de ne pas me croire, Charles) du fond du coeur. Je n'avias pas prevu, de la ma tranquillite parfaite, que c'etait une transition naturelle, irresistible peut-etre pour vous-meme, a une guerre contre moi. Vous en voila donc aussi, L'attaque d'hier est sourde, obscure, ambigue, j'en conviens, mais elle ne m'en a pas moins frappe au coeur, elle n'en a pas moins eveille brusquement, comme une secousse electrique, plus de vingt personnes qui sont venues s'en affliger avec moi. Et quel moment avez-vous pris pour cela? Celui ou mes ennemis se rallient de toutes parts plus nombreux et plus acharnes que jamais, ou les voila ourdissant sans relache et de toutes mains un reseau de haines et de calomnies autour de moi, le moment ou je suis place seul entre deux animosites egalement furieuses, le pouvoir qui me persecute, et cette cabale determinee qui a pris poste dans presque tous les journaux. Ah! Charles! dans un instant pareil j'avais droit du moins de compter sur votre silence. Ou bien, est-ce que je vous ai fait quelque chose? Pourquoi ne me l'avez-vous pas dit? Ce n'est pas que je reclame contre votre critique. Elle est juste, serree et vraie. Il y a singulierement loin des Orientales a Lord Byron: mais, Charles, n'y avait-il pas assez d'ennemis pour le dire en ce moment? Vous vous etonnerez sans doute, vous me trouverez bien susceptible. Que voulez-vous? Une amitie comme la mienne pour vous est franche, cordiale, profonde, et ne se brise pas sans cri et sans douleur. Puis, je suis fait comme cela. Je ne m'occupe pas des coups de stylet de mes ennemis; je sens le coup d'epingle d'un ami. Apres tout, je ne vous en veux pas, dechirez cette lettre, et n'y pensez plus. Ce que vous avez voulu rompre est rompu, j'en souffrirai toujours, mais qu'importe! Si quelqu'un m'en reparle, je vous defendrai comme je vous ai defendu hier. Mais, croyez moi, c'est une chose bien triste pour moi, et pour vous aussi, car de votre vie, Charles, jamais vous n'avez perdu d'ami plus profondement et plus tendrement et plus absolument devoue’ (Translation: ‘Because it is one of the most violent shocks of life, that which uproots an old and deep friendship from the heart. I had long since lost the habit of receiving your support for my works. I wasn’t complaining about it. Why then would you continue to compromise yourself in a public friendship with a man who only brings to his friends a contagion of hatred, slander and persecution? I saw that you were withdrawing from this melee, and, loving you for yourself, I found it good. Little by little, from silence and indifference for me, I saw you pass to praise, to enthusiasm, to acclamation for my enemies, even for the most ardent, the most bitter, the most odious. Nothing but simple in this; because, after all, it is only a personal thing to me, and my enemies may very well have wit, talent and genius. It’s quite simple, as I said, and far be it from me to complain about it for a single moment. I loved you no less, and (you would be wrong not to believe me, Charles) from the bottom of my heart. I did not foresee, from my perfect tranquillity, that it was a natural transition, irresistible perhaps for you yourself, to a war against me. So here you are too. Yesterday’s attack is dull, obscure, ambiguous, I agree, but it no less struck me in the heart, it no less suddenly awakened me, like an electric shock. More than twenty people came to grieve with me. And what time did you take for this? The one where my enemies are rallying everywhere, more numerous and fiercer than ever, where they are snarling relentlessly and with all hands hatching a network of hatred and slander around me, the moment when I am placed alone between two equally furious animosities, the power that persecutes me, and this determined cabal that has taken up posts in almost all the newspapers. Ah! Charles! In a moment like this I had the right at least to count on your silence. Or did I do something to you? Why didn’t you tell me? It’s not that I’m complaining about your criticism. It is fair, tight and true. It is singularly far from Les Orientales to Lord Byron: but, Charles, were there not enough enemies to say so at this moment? You will no doubt be surprised, you will find me very touchy. What do you want? A friendship like mine for you is frank, cordial, deep, and does not break without tears and without pain. Then, I am made like that. I don’t mind the stilettos of my enemies; I feel the pinprick of a friend. After all, I don’t blame you, tear up this letter, and think no more about it. What you wanted to break is broken, I will always suffer from it, but what does it matter! If anyone talks to me about it again, I will defend you like I defended you yesterday. But, believe me, it is a very sad thing for me, and for you too, because in your life, Charles, you have never lost a friend more deeply and more tenderly and more absolutely devoted’). A letter of astonishing content marking the dramatic end of what had been a solid ‘father and son’ relationship between the two writers. Some very light, extremely minimal age wear, VG Charles Nodier (1780-1844) French author and librarian who introduced a younger generation of Romanticists to the conte fantastique, gothic literature and vampire tales. Hugo and Nodier had enjoyed a strong friendship (the former declaring it as a ‘friendship of brothers’) since 1823 when the critic devoted an article to Han d’Islande, Hugo’s first novel, likening Hugo to Walter Scott. The novelist was a regular attendee of Nodier’s soirees and together the two men made a memorable trip to Reims in 1825 to attend King Charles X’s coronation. However, dissensions erupted in 1829 (the year that Hugo published his collection of poems Les Orientales, inspired by the Greek War of Independence) with the publication by Nodier of an article in La Quotidienne about an edition of the poems of Lord Byron and Thomas Moore. It is this article which gave rise to the present celebrated breakdown letter. Carefully composed, Victor Hugo displays all of his eloquence and sets the tone from the outset. No use of ‘Mon cher Charles’, or ‘Cher ami’, but instead ‘Et vous aussi, Charles!’
POPULAR MUSIC: A good, small selection of vintage signed album pages by various rock groups and popular singers of the late 1960s and 1970s comprising Mungo Jerry (Ray Dorset, Paul King, Colin Earl [two signatures] and John Godfrey; Dorset's page signed to the verso by Cat Stevens and Alun Davies), The Grease Band (Joe Cocker, Chris Stainton, Henry McCullough, Bruce Rowland and Alan Spenner), The Rockin' Berries (Geoff Turton, Chuck Botfield, Clive Lea, Terry Bond etc.), Cliff Richard and Alan Faith. Some light staining to a few corners and minor age wear, G, 11
REDGRAVE VANESSA: (1937- ) English actress, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in 1977 for her role as Julia in Julia. Signed 10 x 8 photograph of Redgrave in a close-up portrait study from her Oscar winning performance as Julia from the Holocaust drama film Julia. Signed by the actress in black ink with her name alone to a light area of the background. Together with Maggie Smith (1934- ) English actress, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in 1978 for her role as Diana Barrie in California Suite. Signed 8 x 10 photograph of Smith in a head and shoulders pose with one hand gently raised to her pearl neacklace. Signed in bold blue ink with her name alone to a light area at the base of the image. VG to EX, 2
HAWKINS JACK: (1910-1973) English actor. A good vintage signed and inscribed sepia 7.5 x 9.5 photograph of Hawkins in a head and shoulders pose holding a pipe in one raised hand. Signed in blue fountain pen ink to a clear area of the background, 'My dear Harold, Thank you! - and here's to the next! Jack Hawkins'. A couple of very light, extremely minor corner and surface creases, VG
PIAF EDITH: (1915-1963) French singer, one of the most celebrated performers of the 20th century. Vintage signed sepia 7 x 9.5 photograph of The Little Sparrow in a head and shoulders pose. Photograph by Endrey of Paris. Signed ('Bien cordialement, Edith Piaf') by Piaf in fountain pen ink across a largely light area at the head of the image. A few drawing pin rust stains and small holes to the four corners and centre of the right edge, G
ALBERTSON JACK: (1907-1981) American actor, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor in 1968 for his role as John Cleary in The Subject Was Roses. Signed 8 x 10 photograph of Albertson in a smiling head and shoulders pose holding a cigarillo in one raised hand. Signed in blue ink with his name alone to a light area of the image. VG
KEYSER AGNES: (1852-1941) English humanitarian and courtesan, the longtime mistress of King Edward VII. Keyser was also the matron of King Edward VII’s Hospital for Officers. A.L.S., Sister Agnes, two pages, 8vo, Grosvenor Crescent, London, n.d., to Mrs. Batten, on the printed stationery of King Edward VII’s Hospital for Officers. Keyser writes in bold pencil and states, in full, ‘The important thing is what is [in] the throat? He would be in a ward with others (serious caeses) & we cannot take anything infectious. Of course I shall hear from the doctor’. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed in ink by Keyser. Some very light, extremely minimal age wear, VG
WOMACK BOBBY: (1944-2014) American singer and musician. Signed colour 10 x 8 photograph of Womack seated in a three-quarter length profile pose. Signed in bold blue ink with his name alone to a light area of the background. A pencil note in the hand of a collector to the verso indicates that the signature was obtained in person at the Grand Hotel in Vienna at the time of Womack's appearance at the Jazz Fest in the Vienna State Opera in July 2013. EX
GANDHI RAJIV: (1944-1991) Indian politician who served as Prime Minister of India 1984-89. Assassinated. Signed 6 x 9 photograph of Gandhi in a formal head and shoulders pose. Signed in fountain pen ink to the lower white border and dated 24th August 1985 in his hand. Some light staining to the right white border, only very slightly affecting the signature and date, G
MALDEN KARL: (1912-2009) American character actor, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actor in 1951 for his role as Harold ‘Mitch’ Mitchell in A Streetcar Named Desire. Signed 8 x 10 photograph, the original vintage Warner Bros. publicity portrait depicting the actor in a head and shoulders pose. Signed in blue ink with his name alone to a light area of the background. About EX
DALTON TIMOTHY: (1946- ) British actor, famous for his portrayal of the fictional British secret agent James Bond in The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence to Kill (1989). Signed 8 x 10 photograph of Dalton standing in a full-length pose in costume as Prince Barin from the superhero film Flash Gordon (1980). Signed by Dalton in bold dark fountain pen ink with his name alone to a light area of the image. VG
MADONNA: (1958- ) American singer and actress. Signed colour 8 x 10 photograph of Madonna in a head and shoulders pose, captured at around the time of the release of her Dick Tracy soundtrack album I'm Breathless (1990) and supporting Blond Ambition World Tour. Signed ('Love, Madonna') in black ink to a light area of the image. VG
ADAMS NICK: (1931-1968) American actor who starred in both Rebel Without a Cause (1955) and Giant (1956) alongside James Dean. A scarce signed 10 x 8 photograph, the composite image featuring two different studies of Adams in three-quarter length poses in costume as Johnny Yuma alongside an actress in scenes from one of the episodes of the American Western television series The Rebel (1959-61). Signed by Adams in bold black ink to the lower white border, 'Good Luck Always - your friend - Nick Adams', further adding the title of the series in his hand beneath his signature. Signed photographs of Adams are scarce as a result of his untimely death at the age of 36 in somewhat mysterious circumstances. A few very light, minimal corner creases to the white borders, otherwise VG
FELDMAN MARTY: (1934-1982) British comedy actor. A scarce signed and inscribed 7.5 x 9.5 photograph of Feldman in a full-length costume pose wearing white overalls and lying on the bonnet of a motor car. Signed in blue ink to the image with an amusing inscription, 'Happy birthday Eva! from the extremely sexy, fantastically virile Marty Feldman'. Signed photographs of Feldman are scarce as a result of his untimely death at the age of 48. Some light surface and corner creasing, about VG
BEERY WALLACE: (1885-1949) American actor, Academy Award winner for Best Actor in 1931/32 for his role as Andy ‘Champ’ Purcell in The Champ. Vintage signed and inscribed sepia 8 x 10 photograph, the image showing Beery seated outdoors in a three quarter-length pose with a pensive expression on his face. Signed in bold white fountain pen ink to the dark background at the head of the image, 'To "Ham", What a sailor you are pal, don't forget Holland, Wally Beery'. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG
TURGENEV IVAN: (1818-1883) Russian novelist. A fine, charming A.L.S., I. Tourgueneff, one page, 8vo, Rue de Douai, Paris, 10th December 1871, to Princess Orloff, on Turgenev's monogrammed stationery, in French. Turgenev informs the Princess that he has been in Paris for more than a fortnight, and intends to spend the winter in the city, adding that 'une rechute de goutte (Helas, oui) et une agglomeration de travaux litteraire m'ont empeche de vous ecrire' (Translation: 'a relapse of gout (alas, yes) and an agglomeration of literary work have prevented me from writing to you') and further asking 'quand (je me permets d'omettre le si) je pourrai venir vous voir Rue Bellefontaine-Abbey' (Translation: 'when (I take the liberty of omitting the if) I shall be able to come and see you in Rue Bellefontaine-Abbey'), explaining 'Je serai libre vers la fin de cette semaine - a partir de jeudi, indiquez moi un jour et l'heure du chemin de fer, s'il vous plait - et je viendrai reveiller les souvenirs de "auld lang syne"' (Translation: 'I will be free towards the end of this week - from Thursday, please give me a day and time by train - and I will come to revive the memories of "auld lang syne"') before concluding 'Mille amities au Prince, a Mlle. Marianne et a toute la maison. Toute la famille Viardot se rapelle a votre souvenir' (Translation: 'A thousand regards to the Prince, to Mlle Marianne and to the whole house. All the Viardot family remember you'). In a brief postscript Turgenev asks 'Orloff vient decidement a Paris - n'est ce pas?' (Translation: 'Orloff is definitely coming to Paris - isn't he?'). With blank integral leaf. A couple of very minor, extremely light creases, VGCatherine Troubetskoy (1840-1875) Russian Princess, wife of Prince Nicolas Orloff (1827-1885) Russian diplomat who served as Ambassador of the Russian Empire to France 1871-84.Pauline Viardot (1821-1910) French mezzo-soprano and composer, the great love of Turgenev's life.
GORBACHEV MIKHAIL: (1931-2022) Soviet politician who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union 1985-91 and as President of the Soviet Union 1990-91, Nobel Peace Prize winner 1990. Book signed and inscribed, being a hardback edition of How it Was: The Unification of Germany, the Cyrillic text edition published in Moscow, 1999. Signed and inscribed by Gorbachev in blue ink to the title page. Together with a loosely inserted unsigned business card for Gorbachev in his capacity as President of The Gorbachev Foundation (printed in English). Some light age wear and minor scuffing, otherwise VG, 2
CARTER HOWARD: (1874-1939) English archaeologist and Egyptologist, discovered the Tomb of Tutankhamun in 1923. An excellent group of three typescript manuscripts, unsigned, by Howard Carter, with many annotations, additions and corrections in his hand, being the text for three lectures (two on the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb and a third on the subject of colour), forty-eight pages (total), small 4to, n.p. (London?), n.d. (c.1924, 1930 & 1934). The first typescript manuscript commences 'We had almost given up in dispair (sic), and would have done, were it not for the fact that in nearing the tomb of Ramses VI (sic) we found a very intriguing buried heap of flint boulders which suggested the proximity of a tomb. Why had they been placed there?......They were of a kind usually selected by the Ancient Egyptians for filling in the entrance of a tomb, but there was nothing of the kind underneath them......In October, 1922, I returned to Luxor to make this final effort.....I set my Egyptian staff to work, about 120 men and boys in all.....When in four days we made the discovery which surpassed our wildest hopes. How well I remember that fourth day. I arrived early in the morning on the scene of the action......the work of clearing continued feverishly throughout the rest of the day......then, with ill-suppressed excitement, I watched the descending steps, one by one, as they were revealed, Our work progressed, and at the level of the twelfth step there was disclosed the upper part of a doorway, blocked, plastered and sealed. It was a thrilling moment for an excavator, alone, save for his native workmen, after years of unproductive labour, on the threshold of what might prove to be a magnificent discovery. Amything, literally anything, might lie beyond that sealed door and it needed all my self control to keep from breaking down the blocking of that doorway, and investigating then and there......I sent a runner into Luxor with a cable telling Lord Carnarvon, then in London, the good news. Little knowing that had I gone a few centimetres deeper in that excavation, the name of Tut.ankh.Amen upon the seals of that doorway would have told me the secret - that almost ephemeral king, Tut.ankh.Amen......had made his grave in the Valley of the Tombs of the Kings' and continues 'The decisive moment had arrived. With almost trembling hands I made a tiny breech in the upper left hand corner.....A lighted candle was then applied, the ever necessary test and precaution against possible foul gasses, and then, widening the hole a little, I inserted the candle and peered in.......gradually ones eyes became accustomed to the dim light, details of the room within emerged slowly, strange animals, statues and gold - everywhere the glint of gold. For the moment - an eternity it must have seemed to others standing by - I was amazed, when Lord Carnarvon, unable to stand the suspense any longer, inquired anxiously, "Can you see anything?" it was [all] I could do to answer, "Yes, wonderful things"'. The second typescript manuscript is entitled The Royal Burial and Innermost Treasury and dated May 1930, and states, in part, 'Our work in the Antechamber was finished.....We were ready at last to penetrate the mystery of the sealed door.....When a hole sufficiently large was made to see in, an astonishing sight was revealed, for there, within a metre of the doorway, stretching as far as one could see, and blocking the entrance of the chamber, stood what to all appearances was a wall of gold. We were at the entrance of the actual Burial Chamber of the King, and that which barred our way was the side of an immense gilt shrine, built to cover and protect the sarcophagus......before us, was one of the Great Golden Shrines beneath which Kings of Egypt were laid.......a surprise awaited us, for an open door, leading eastwards from the Burial Chamber, led to yet another chamber......this proved to be the Innermost Treasury. From where we stood, a glance sufficed to tell us that there within this small chamber lay perhaps the greatest treasures of the tomb'. Interspersed between the text of both manuscripts are a number of pages detailing the slides which Carter used to illustrate his lectures, including images of the Valley of the Tombs of the Kings, the excavations, the discovery of the tomb, the more important objects found in the antechamber (including a painting of a hunting scene, Carter noting in his own hand that 'Such scenes are naturally the works of a Court painter - doing homage to the young monarch. For such a slender youth, un-armed, save for the bow and arrow, to attack a group of fierce lions & lionesses, is hardly tenable'), the coffins, the raising of the lid of the sarcophagus, and much more. The final, third typescript manuscript is for a lecture entitled Colour which Carter delivered at the Victoria and Albert Museum on 17th October 1934 and commences 'The normal visual apparatus of the eye enables us to distinguish not only differences of form of objects looked upon, but difference in character of the light received from them, which we name colour. Form is intellectual; colour emotional. Colour is the property of form, that is to say, only decorative. Colour does not define an object, but it instils a sensation and a feeling. Thus, in art and ornamental design, form is perhaps more important than colour, but excellence in both is the most important' and continues with a fascinating discussion of colour from artistic and scientific perspectives, also making a reference to the Valley of the Kings, and quoting Sir Joshua Reynolds. The manuscripts are contained together within a limp bound ring leaf binder and a few of the pages are loose. A wonderful series of manuscript lectures, particularly for their first-hand accounts of the most famous discovery in the history of Egyptology. Some light staining and minor age wear, otherwise generally VGIn 1924 Howard Carter made a tour of Great Britain, France, Spain and the United States of America, delivering a series of illustrated lectures on the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb. In New York and other American cities Carter's meetings were attended by large and enthusiastic audiences, sparking American Egyptomania, and President Calvin Coolidge requested a private lecture.
REED DONNA: (1921-1986) American actress, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in 1953 for her role as Alma Burke in From Here to Eternity. Signed 8 x 10 photograph of the actress in a head and shoulders pose. Signed in black ink with her name alone to the image. A few very light, minimal surface and corner creases to the upper white border, VG
SMYTHE REG: (1917-1998) British cartoonist, creator of Andy Capp. A good signed and inscribed 8 x 6 photograph of Smythe in an outdoors head and shoulders pose with a ship and dockyard in the immediate beackground. Signed by Smythe in bold black ink to a light area at the base of the image, 'For Jim - Cheers! from Andy Capp & Reg Smythe'. To a clear area of the upper left corner of the image Smythe has drawn a small black ink head and shoulders portrait of Andy Capp smoking a cigarette. One very slight, minor paperclip indentation only just touches the sketch. VG
MCEWAN IAN: (1948- ) British novelist and screenwriter. Signed colour 8 x 10 photograph of McEwan standing in a three-quarter length pose. Signed in blue ink with his name alone to a light area of the image. A pencil note in the hand of a collector to the verso indicates that the signature was obtained in person at the Wiener Konzerthaus in Vienna (May 2022). EX
BROD MAX: (1884-1968) Austro-Hungarian author, composer and journalist, best remembered as the friend, literary executor and biographer of Franz Kafka. Bold black ink signature ('Max Brod') and one additional word, in German, in his hand to the recto of his personal printed oblong 12mo Visiting Card, featuring his printed name (lightly struck through in ink) to the centre and address at Untere Augartenstrasse, Vienna, to the base. Unusually the card also features an oval portrait of Brod in a head and shoulders pose. Some light creasing and minor age wear and some heavy traces of former mounting to the verso, otherwise about VG
ALCOCK JOHN: (1892-1919) English pilot, a Captain with the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force who, with navigator Arthur Whitten Brown, completed the first successful non-stop transatlantic flight, June 1919. An extremely rare A.L.S., Jack (and also 'signed' Capt. J. Alcock in the address panel at the head), two pages (written to the first and third sides of the feint ruled bifolium), Kedos, Ouchak, Turkey, 11th September n.y. (1918), to Captain S. H. Gaskell ('Dear Old Buster'). Alcock writes from the Turkish Prisoner of War camp where he was being held and acknoweldges receipt of his friend's letter ('after all these long months of waiting'), further stating 'Well old bean I was delighted to hear of the successes of my machine, as regards its unfortunate end, I was very relieved to hear that it was no fault of the machine but of some "B" "F" who I should like to meet. Starbuck seems to have been nuts on her, I wish he had been able to have done a little work with it. Hick & Piper arrived here last May & told me of her first trials which bucked me up a lot. Do you happen to know what the Admiralty are doing about her? Well old dear you might let me have news of the R.A.F. re rank, pay & uniform etc. Do you happen to know if I was promoted to Flt. Com. about March or later? as I had a letter from old Ashford (e) dated March 1st congratulating me on my promotion & honour. Before I forget, let me congratulate you on your escape from being my shipmate on the last stunt, also on your Greek honour (what do you call it). I was very surprised at the few they dished out'. Alcock concludes his letter in reasonably high-spirits given his situation, although also demonstrates a hint of the loneliness he must have been experiencing, 'Your sister Violet kindly wrote me a long letter which I received a few days ago. I hope she carries on with the good work for we simply live for the mail. Well old boy, look after yourself & give seaplanes a trial, you will be better off. Love from the "Boys" to all the "Boys" & tell them to write. Send lots of snaps!'. With address panel in Alcock's hand to the final page. Autograph letters of Alcock are extremely rare owing to his tragically early death at the age of 27 following an air crash. Some very light, minimal age wear, about VGOn 30th September 1917 Alcock was piloting a Handley Page bomber on a raid against the Turkish capital Constantinople, when one engine failed. The aircraft managed to limp on for more than 100 kilometres before the other engine quit and it had to be ditched in the sea near Suvla Bay. Alcock and his two crew members swam for about an hour to reach the Ottoman army-held shore, only to be promptly captured. This ended Alcock’s participation in World War I and he spent the next fourteen months as a prisoner of war in Turkey. He was finally released on the Armistice of 11th November 1918, exactly two months to the day after the present letter was written.Alcock was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross 'For the great skill, judgment and dash displayed by him off Moudros.....in a successful attack on three enemy seaplanes, two of which were brought down in the sea', which had occurred earlier on the same fateful day of 30th September 1917.
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