155745 Preisdatenbank Los(e) gefunden, die Ihrer Suche entsprechen

[TREATY OF PARIS]: MURRAY GEORGE (1772-1846) British Soldier & Politician, Chief of Staff to the Army of Occupation in France following Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. L.S., G. Murray, three pages, small folio, Cambray, 4th June 1817, to 'My Lord'. Murray announces 'It has been agreed upon with Count Woronzaw [Voronstov] that the Russian Troops about to move towards the Coast in place of Encamping shall occupy Cantonments between Bailleul and Bergues' and further informs his correspondent 'These Troops are to march in 5 Divisions (or Columns) and it is at present intended that the movement shall take place so as that the first Division may arrive in its Cantonment upon the 27th of June, and the following Divisions on the next succeeding days', further enclosing a note of the Cantonments in which the troops will be accommodated in the march, asking that the arrangements be submitted to Sir Henry Fane ('in order that he may be so good as cause the British Cavalry to vacate in time') and concluding 'Should there be any particular Quarters in the Cantonments to be taken up by the Russian Troops which it may be desirable should not be occupied by them, I beg you will transmit me a memorandum on the subject, and I shall request Count Woronzaw to give orders accordingly'. Together with the enclosures referred to, being two manuscript documents, three pages (total), folio, n.p., n.d. (June 1817), in French. The first is headed 'Emplacement des Colonnes Russes' and the second 'Marche Route des Troupes Russes', naming various villages (situated in the hinterland around Dunkirk) and their populations etc., and how they will be divided between the five Divisions, both signed at the conclusion by a Captain Moore, certifying that they are true extracts from the originals. Some light foxing, a few small tears and minor age wear, most noticeable to the letter which also has a small area of paper loss to the upper right corner of the first page, not affecting the text or signature. G, 3   £100-120      The present letter was signed just six days before the Treaty of Paris of 10th June 1817, which, fulfilling the Articles of the Congress of Vienna, was the third and final treaty drawn following Napoleon Bonaparte's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo on 18th June 1815. The troops referred to in the present letter and documents were presumably being withdrawn from France. Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov (1782-1856) Russian Field Marshal, renowned for his success in the Napoleonic Wars.  Sir Henry Fane (1778-1840) British General who commanded brigades under the Duke of Wellington.

BONAPARTE MATHILDE: (1820-1904) French Princess of San Donato. Daughter of Jerome Bonaparte and niece of Napoleon Bonaparte. A.L.S., with her unusual full name autograph `Mathilde Bonaparte Demidof´, two pages, 8vo, n.p., 24th June, n.y., to an unidentified correspondent , in French. Princess Mathilde states in part `..I have met in Paris the person in charge of the new baths. Unfortunately the affair has been badly leaded near the Minister of war and therefore I have renounced and do not expect obtaining anything..´ She further refers to a list of names she has been given by Mr. Provost and asks who she should forward the list to. With blank integral leaf. Folded. VG  £60-90   

BONAPARTE JÉROME: (1784-1860) King of Westphalia 1807-13. Younger brother of Napoleon Bonaparte. A good A.L.S., `Jerome´, one page, 8vo, La Cerviosa, 4th September 1845, to his daughter, Princess Mathilde, in French. Bonaparte, in his usual small writing, refers to his stay at Florence, stating `I was gladly surprised to meet Lord and Lady Normanby who spent few hours with me..´, further referring to his son Jérome, he asks his sister to take him in charge, further again saying `Napoleon will be with you when this letter will reach you, because he has written to me saying that he will leave Paris on the 31st to join you at Anvers..´ With blank integral leaf. VG  £100-150      Constantine Henry Phipps, 1st Marquess of Normanby, (1797-1863) known as “The Earl of Mulgrave”. He served as Home secretary 1839-41 and British Ambassador to France 1846-52. Jérome (1805-1870) French-American illegitimate son of Jérome Bonaparte and Elizabeth Patterson (1785.1879).Napoleon (1822-1891) Prince Jerome, also known as Plon-Plon.

BONAPARTE CAROLINE: (1782-1839) Queen Consort of Naples 1808-15, wife of Joachim Murat. Younger sister of Napoleon Bonaparte. Fine L.S., 'Caroline', three pages, 8vo, Trieste, 27th January 1826, to Mr. Gerard, in French. Caroline wishes her correspondent happiness and states in part 'I am not surprised that Philippe has satisfied the government; I am certainly the person who knows him best and is most capable of appreciating his talents.' She informs him that Therese is serving as her secretary for the last time, further saying 'she is getting married in a few days with Mr. Collamarini of Ancona and will immediately leave to this city…'. She thinks that this person is 'full of talent, a very good musician, speaks four languages perfectly, and speaks with wit…' Before concluding, she announces that she is going to move to Campo Marzo although 'the general has been keeping the room for fifteen days, suffering from gout…' With address leaf bearing a partial remnants of a black wax seal, and a small hole as a result of the letter opening. Small overall age wear and creasing. G  £100-150      Thérèse Macdonald and Mr. Collamarini were servants of the Murat family at the Villa Paradis.

BONAPARTE LOUIS: (1778-1846) King of Holland 1806-10. Younger brother of Napoleon Bonaparte. A very good A.L.S., Louis Bonaparte, one page, 4to, Montpellier, 23rd May 1803, to a Commandant [Pryvé], in French. Bonaparte, in his capacity as Colonel of the 5th Dragons regiment, regretting in part his new appointment as General of Brigade, addresses this letter to his correspondent, the officer who will replace him at the head of his former regiment, stating in part `I do really care a lot to this regiment as I explained to you, and it is not because it is a nicer or better one but only because I do not consider any better grade, any better commandment, that the one of the Regiment where they know you. And because you have lost the one you were commanding, everything around you will be pleasant…´ With blank integral leaf. Folded, with very small creasing, otherwise VG  £300-400     

MARIE LOUISE DUCHESS OF PARMA: (1791-1847) Austrian Archduchess, the second wife of Napoleon. Empress of the French 1810-14. A good, large D.S., Marie Louise, as Regent Empress on behalf of Napoleon, one page (vellum), large oblong folio, Imperial Palace, St. Cloud, 3rd July 1813, in French. The partially printed document relates to Louis Pierre de Sainson, Lieutenant Colonel serving the King of Westphalia in his engineer topographic cabine, who is authorized to remain under the service of the King, having consulted a report given by the Minister of Justice, he `..Swears the oath to H.M. the King of Westphalia..´ under the rules given according to Imperial decree of the 6th April 1809 and 26th August 1811. Signed by the Empress at the foot, also bearing several countersignatures. A document in very fine condition. With the reputed Crawford collection ink stamp provenance to the bottom right corner. VG £1500-2000      €1800 - 2400 Jerome Bonaparte (1784-1860) King of Westphalia 1807-13 as Jerome I. Youngest brother of Napoleon I.   

Napoléon I to his brother Joseph, King of Spain, on his arrival to Spain.`..preside yourself the first victory, announcing your arrival to Spain with a major event, and making the battle be followed by words of peace..´And in his hand,`Do not worry, you will not miss any thing… Be cheerful, and most of all take care of yourself. Reach Madrid.´  NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. An exceptional and rare L.S., `Napoleon´, with a four lines autograph annotation in the hand of Napoleon at the conclusion, four pages, 4to, Bayonne, 13th July 1808, to his brother the King of Spain, Joseph Napoleon, in French. An excellent military content letter with an unusually lengthy annotation by Napoleon, signed with his full name, a good signature example. The Peninsular war started with the 2nd of May 1808 uprising, only two months before the present letter was written, when France turned on Spain, previously its ally. Napoleon states in part `.. One of the four millions that you have here has departed yesterday evening under the escort of Tascher. The other three will depart tomorrow, with an infantry escort. This way you will have on the 16th in Vitoria, four millions, 3 to 400 cavaliers, and one thousand infantry men. All necessary in Vitoria.´ Napoleon further refers to `Marshal Bessieres is today, with all his troops gathered at Medina de Rio Seco. Most probably on 15th May the battle against La Cuesta will take place..´, and to the French troops in Burgos, saying `..you will march with your reserve troops to Marshal Bessieres´ camp, to reinforce his position and to preside yourself the first victory, announcing your arrival to Spain with a major event, and making the battle be followed with words by peace..´ further again, Napoleon shows his discontent with General Savary, stating `..The military positions of the French armies in Spain was excellent. In the war a false positioning changes everything. It is still a good one; but, against my opinion, Savary has disseminated the division…You will find attached the orders which I have just dictated to General Bertrand for General Savary, where the army position is described considering all scenarios. Keep this copy. When you will learn that General Bessieres has defeated La Cuesta, your position will be better than ever.´ Napoleon further refers to the French armies and his Generals in several Spanish cities. And beneath his signature Napoleon, in his hand, adds a post-scriptum stating `Do not worry, you will not miss any thing. General Reille, my aide-de-camp, will send tomorrow 10.000 men to Figueres in Catalonia. Be cheerful, and most of all take care of yourself. Reach Madrid.´ One of Napoleon´s lengthier and most important letters to come to the autograph market, with exceptional content, showing how Napoleon was planning and considering meticulously any small eventuality, guiding his brother the King of Spain, step by step, instructing him how to act on each occasion, while still showing him his affection. Overall age wear and creasing. Professionally repaired with reinforced paper, only affecting the reading of few words. F to G   £6000-9000        Joseph Bonaparte (1768-1844) King of Naples and Sicily (1806-08) and later King of Spain (1808-13, as Jose I). Elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte.Jean-Baptiste Bessieres (1768-1813) Marshal of France, Duc d´ Istria.Gregorio Garcia de la Cuesta (1741-1811) Spanish General of the Peninsular War. Garcia de la Cuesta together with Lieutenant-General Blake, were defeated on 14th July at the Battle of Medina de Rio Seco. Napoleon had predicted on the present letter that the victory would take place a day later.Anne Jean-Marie Savary (1774-1833) French general under revolution and Empire and minister of Police. In 1805, shortly before the Battle of Austerlitz, he was sent by Napoleon with a message to the emperor Alexander I with a request for an armistice. In 1808, Savary induced Ferdinand VII, King of Spain, to cross the Pyrenees and go to Bayonne, a decision which cost him his crown and his liberty until 1814. In 1812, the day before the Malet coup d´etat, Malet arrested Savary who was close to be killed by General Guidal. Savary was among the last to desert the Emperor at the time of his abdication, and among the first to welcome his return.Henri-Gatien, Count Bertrand (1773-1844) French General. Grand Marshal of the palace since November 1813, title given to refer to the leader of the Military Household of the Emperor. The responsibilities of his position included: keeping accounts of the expenses and ensuring the security of the household. He exercised his duties during the last days of the Empire as well as in exile on the islands of Elba and Saint Helena, up until the death of the Emperor.    

DIETRICH MARLENE: (1901-1992) German-American Actress and Singer. A.L.S., Marlene, one page, 4to (square graph paper), n.p., 8th October 1973, to [Gene & Chic] Lovelle ('Dearests'). Dietrich writes, in full, 'The car will be at your hotel after he has taken me to the theatre at 7.30. You can leave the tray in the car if you want'. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Dietrich in French with the additional instructions 'Pas Frapper!' and 'Priere pousser en dessous de la porte'. VG  £100-120    Dietrich's correspondents were Chic Lovelle, her guitarist and his wife, Gene, who was the star's dresser during the 1960s and 1970s.

SOMMER ELKE: (1940- ) Baroness von Schletz. German Actress who starred in many Hollywood films in the 60´s & 70´s. Colour signed 8 x 10 photograph, the image depicting Sommer outdoors, in a top-less half-length artistic pose. Signed in bold blue ink to a clear area to the right border of the image. EX  £80-120    

LIVERPOOL FC: A multiple signed colour 11.5 x 7.5 photograph by all eleven members of the Liverpool FC team who won the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final comprising Jerzy Dudek, Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Djimi Traore, Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia, Steven Gerrard, John Arne Riise, Harry Kewell and Milan Baros, the image depicting the players together in two rows ahead of the match. All have signed in bold black inks with their names alone. Matted in silver and black alongside a printed 4to official souvenir programme for the final between AC Milan and Liverpool at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on 25th May 2005 and a ticket for the match (some vertical folds) and framed and glazed in a plain black frame to an overall size of 29 x 21.5. VG   £400-600     Liverpool’s dramatic comeback in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final to clinch victory over AC Milan has resulted in the match, regarded as one of the greatest finals in the history of the tournament, becoming known as the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’.

PIAF EDITH: (1915-1963) French Singer. An exceptional vintage signed and inscribed 7 x 9 photograph by Piaf, [1937], the close-up portrait depicting Piaf in a very early pose. The promotional Polydor image, dating from around 1935/36, bears the printed caption Môme Piaf ('Little Sparrow') and is signed and inscribed by Piaf with an early form of her signature in bold black fountain pen ink to a clear area at the head of the image. Piaf states `Si j´ai l´air réveuse sur cette photo, c´est que je reve au bonheur que m´a donné mon amour de Bichon. Piaf' (“If I look dreamy on this photograph, it is because I dream with the happiness that my love Bichon has given to me´. Piaf annotates to her forehead `avant´ (“before”), an accomplice message to her correspondent. Signed photographs of Piaf from this very early stage of her career are extremely rare. Inscription with very good association. Very small pinholes to the corners, otherwise about VG  £600-900    The present photograph is inscribed to “Bichon”, nickname of Raymond Asso (1901-1968) French lyricist and artistic agent. Piaf was Asso´s mistress in 1937, when she was only 22. Asso is credited as the creator of Piaf the artist, the one who took care of her, the one who put discipline and distance between Piaf and her former life and her not recommended friendships, the one who guided and taught her how to perform, to dress, to express and even to eat as he would say ''A rough diamond I had to size..''  Provenance from Asso´s personal collection.

POWELL KENNETH: (1885-1915) British Athlete and Tennis Player who competed in the 1908 & 1912 Summer Olympics as well as at the Wimbledon Championships. Killed in action at Ypres during the First World War. Rare A.L.S., Kenneth Powell, one page, 8vo, Reigate, 4th May 1913, to [Percy] Rootham. Powell informs his correspondent, in full, 'Please accept this (enclosure no longer present) from me as an expression of thanks for what you have done for the Surrey Clubs.' Annotated and initialled in pencil at the foot by Rootham, '(Enclosing a copy of the Redhill L.T.C. for 1913)'. Autographs of Powell are rare as a result of him being killed in action at the young age of 29. Some light overall age wear and minor traces of former mounting to the verso. Together with a multiple signed 8vo sheet of printed stationery from the Ranelagh Club, Barnes, by the original nine members of the University of Oxford crew who participated in the Boat Race of 1939, comprising Richard Burnell (Olympic Gold medallist in 1948), George Huse, J. L. Garton, A. G. Slemeck, R. R. Stewart, Frank Waldron, H. A. W. Forbes, R. M. A. Bourne (replaced by J. R. Bingham in the actual race owing to injury) and H. P. V. Massey. All have signed with their names alone in fountain pen inks. Neatly laid down to a page removed from an album. About VG, 2   £100-150   Percy Rootham (1872-1939) British Vice President of the Lawn Tennis Association 1923-39.

BAKER JOSEPHINE: (1906-1975) African-American Dancer and Singer. An exceptional vintage signed and inscribed sepia 8.5 x 11.5 photograph of Baker, the wonderful image depicting the naked dancer kneeling in a full length profile pose delicately holding a piece of shimmering fabric over her knees. Photograph by Madame D'Ora and bearing her name to the image and her blindstamp to the lower photographer's mount. Signed by Baker in fountain pen ink to the image, 'To Alma Rose, Sincerely, Josephine Baker', and dated Paris, 25th May 1927 in her hand. Signed photographs of this quality and association are rare and desirable. The upper and lower right corners of the photographer's mount are chipped resulting in a small areas of loss, otherwise VG  £2000-3000     Alma Rose (1906-1944) Austrian Violinist of Jewish descent, the niece of Gustav Mahler. During World War II Rose was deported by the Nazis to Auschwitz Concentration camp, where, for ten months, she directed an orchestra of female prisoners who played for their captors in an effort to stay alive. Rose died at the camp after a sudden illness, possibly the result of food poisoning. Dora Kallmus (1881-1963) Madame D'Ora. Austrian Fashion and Portrait Photographer.

‘….Stay Kool, Be Groovy….’      HENDRIX JIMI: (1942-1970) American Rock Guitarist & Singer. An excellent, rare vintage blue ink signature and inscription by Hendrix, 'To Michael, Stay Kool, Be Groovy, Jimi Hendrix', on a page contained in an autograph album. The album also features over thirty other signatures by various other popular musicians, a few television personalities, actors and sportsmen etc., including Cat Stevens (to the verso of the page signed by Hendrix), The Walker Brothers (Scott, John & Gary), The Californians (John O'Hara, Peter Abberley, Mick Brookes & Keith Evans), Engelbert Humperdinck, The Tremeloes (Chip Hawkes, Alan Blakley, Rick Westwood etc.), Marmalade (Dean Ford, Alan Whitehead, Graham Knight, Pat Fairley & Junior Campbell), The Settlers (Cindy Kent, Mike Jones, John Fyffe & Geoff Srdzinski), James Ellis, Julia Lockwood, John Noakes, Valerie Singleton, Tony Jacklin, Peter Oosterhuis etc. Some of the pages are multiple signed and a few of the less important signatures are on loosely inserted pieces or pieces laid down to the pages (a few tape stains etc.). Some of the pages are neatly annotated in the hand of a collector with various dates in 1967. A wonderful example of Hendrix's signature included in an original album alongside some of his contemporaries. Generally about VG  £2000-3000    Provenance: The present album is accompanied by a typed statement signed by the previous owner stating, in part, 'This autograph book has been my personal property since it was brand new in 1967 and has remained in my ownership ever since. As a nine year old boy at the time I was keen to obtain some autographs and I clearly remember my parents' neighbour offering to take it to his place of work, Newcastle City Hall, where he was on duty in a security role on the night of the now infamous Walker Brothers tour, visiting Newcastle on 21st April 1967 and featuring support bands The Californians, Engelbert Humperdinck, Cat Stevens and of course Jimi Hendrix. My autograph book was passed around backstage where it was signed by the Walker Brothers themselves, Engelbert and Cat Stevens. Quite clearly the best autograph of all is Jimi Hendrix himself, who signed for me a personal “To Michael, Stay Kool, Be Groovy, Jimi Hendrix”…..as a nine year old I can remember looking up Groovy in the dictionary and thought the spelling of Kool was indeed the most cool thing on earth…..'

LENNON & ONO: LENNON JOHN (1940-1980) English Musician, a member of The Beatles & ONO YOKO (1933-     ) Japanese Artist, Singer & Peace Activist, wife of John Lennon 1969-80. A rare signed and inscribed album record sleeve by both Lennon and Ono individually for Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins (1968), being the first of three experimental albums by Lennon and Ono released with Apple Records and parent company EMI. Contained in the original cellophane wrapper and signed by Lennon and Ono individually in black inks with their first names (Lennon adding an inscription in his hand, ‘Greg – love’) directly beneath the controversial front cover image depicting the couple standing together in full length naked poses. Framed and glazed in a plain black frame to an overall size of 15.5 x 15.5. Together with a selection of unsigned related material and printed ephemera including the Wedding Album (1969) box set, being the third and final experimental albums recorded by Lennon and Ono, a white vinyl Bagism slip sleeve containing a cardstock image of a single slice of wedding cake, two printed folding booklets of images and newspaper reports of Lennon & Ono entitled The Wedding and The Press, a printed double-sided folding booklet of Lennon & Ono’s cartoon drawings recounting the story of their wedding, two postcards of the couple, several single records, an 8vo printed War Is Over! Christmas card etc. Some light overall age wear, generally about VG, Sml. Qty.  £2000-3000     Provenance: The present album was signed and inscribed by Lennon and Ono for Greg Sams (1948-    ) American-born Fractal Artist, Author & Publisher who, in 1968, opened SEED, a macrobiotic restaurant in London which became popular in the psychedelic scene in the late 1960s and was frequented by John Lennon (who drew a cartoon about his experiences there) and Yoko Ono. 

SAINT-SAËNS CAMILLE: (1835-1921) French Composer. A good A.L.S., `C. Saint-Saëns´, three pages, 8vo, n.p., 18th December 1904, on Saint-Saëns printed stationery, to Pauline Viardot, in French. Saint-Saëns states in part `My dear friend, I have given a recommendation letter addressed to you for Mme B. Gianoli who has recently sang two of my works on concert. It is a small woman, with not a really great voice but who has a talent of first rank, an unusual musical intelligence and an even more extraordinary modesty. Her dream would be to get some advices from you…´  The letter bears to the upper left corner a blind embossed seal with the composer´s initials. One very small stain not affecting the text or signature, otherwise VG  £150-200    Pauline Viardot (1821-1910) French Mezzo-Soprano and pedagogue of Spanish descent. A leading figure opera singer figure.

GREEF ARTHUR DE: (1862-1940) Belgian Composer and pianist. Attractive signed and inscribed ink drawing, `Arthur de Greef´, a good and artistic signature example, one page, 4to, n.p., October 1934, to V. Heilier, in French. The inscription is to V. Heilier, the artist who drawn and signed beneath the  ink portrait of De Greef. The composer annotates in part `to the great artist V. Heilier with my warm congratulations and sincere thanks.´ Small overall age wear, mostly to edges. Two upper corners repaired. Otherwise G  £80-120    

ROSSINI GIOACCHINO: (1792-1868) Italian Composer. A prolific composer, known as 'The Italian Mozart', who until his retirement in 1829 had been the most popular opera composer in history. A very fine, large signed and inscribed sepia 9.5 x 12 photograph by Rossini, the oval image depicting the composer seated in a half length pose. Photograph by Numa Blanc, signed by him to the lower right margin of the image. Signed and inscribed in fountain pen ink by Rossini to the lower photographer's mount, in French, 'Offert a mon aimable confrere et ami Adolphe Blanc, G. Rossini', and dated Paris, 21st November 1859 in his hand. A wonderful signed portrait with an excellent association. Attractively framed in wood, matted in light caramel and glazed to an overall of 15 x 17.5. A couple of very light, extremely minor stains to the background of the image and some very light, minor age wear to the photographer's mount, largely to the extreme edges. VG  £2500-3500    Adolphe Blanc (1828-1885) French Composer of Chamber Music. Numa Blanc (1816-1897) French Photographer.

DONIZETTI GAETANO: (1797-1848) Italian Composer. An excellent A.L.S., G. Donizetti, one page, 4to, Naples, 28th July 1836, to Signor Severini, at Theatre Italien, in Italian. The composer refers to his opera Lucia di Lammermoor (1835), stating in part `I receive a letter from Paris informing me that you wish to perform this year my Lucia di Lammermoor and because the only owner is here in Naples, Sign Cottran, who reports not having received any request of the musical scores from Paris..´ further advising his correspondent to contact Cottran to negotiate the agreement on the Lucia´s scores. Hand-addressed by Donizetti to the verso, bearing several ink stamps. Overall creasing, with professional repairs to the verso. About G  £1500-2000     Lucia di Lammermoor (1835) is an opera by Donizetti, premiered at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. The present letter is written only 9 months after its first performance. The opera would not be performed in Paris until 1839.

PUCCINI GIACOMO: (1858-1924) Italian Composer. A.L.S., G. Puccini, to a postcard, Viareggo, 13th October 1922, to Maria Bianca Ginori, a noble close friend, in Italian. Puccini sends a short message full of deep sorrow, and in bold black ink states `A thousand thanks dear Maria Bianca for your good comforting words. My poor "monacchina" has died, little by little, and has left me with a void in my soul! Patience - so it is -´ Puccini refers to his sister Iginia (1853-1922), who passed away on 2nd October 1922, and calls her "monachina" as the "little nun". Post-stamped. With a fold across the card, not affecting the signature. G £500-600   Iginia Puccini was a nun at the monastery of Visitazione, Vicopelago. His sister and the monastery inspired the composer for his one act opera Suor Angelica (1918). It was premiered at the Metropolitan Opera House, with Geraldine Farrar in the main role.

CRESCENTINI GIROLAMO: (1762-1846) Italian Castrato. A sopranista Singer, Teacher and Composer. After a masterly execution in Vienna of the Romeo's Prayer aria, Napoleon conferred upon him the Order of the Iron Crown of Lombardy and appointed him singing teacher of the Imperial Family. Very rare A.L.S., `Crescentini´, in the third person to the heading, one page, 4to, Collegio di Musica, Friday 22nd May 1839, to F. Walehy, in Italian. Crescentini states `Crescentini presents his most respectful regards to Prof. Sign. F. Walehy, and assure him that he will make his best to please him with his request.´ With small area of paper loss to the address leaf as a result of the opening of the letter. G to VG  £400-600     Domenico Cimarosa composed the opera Gli Orazi e i Curiazi, creating the role of Curiazio for Crescentini, premiered at La Fenice theatre in Venice in December 1796. Nicola Zingarelli also composed the opera Giulietta e Romeo, creating the role of Romeo for Crescentini who composed himself the aria "Ombra adorata aspetta", also known as "La Preghiera di Romeo" ("Romeo´s Prayer") which would bring enduring success for the Italian castrato..

MAUREL VICTOR: (1848-1923) French Baritone. Rare A.L.S., `V.or Maurel´, four pages, 8vo, Paris, 15th August 1897, to Monsieur Litta, in French. Maurel first mentions the travelling that his correspondent´s letter did, stating `Your 2nd of August letter wandered from city to city before reaching me, first Paris, then Bayreuth, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart and finally Paris again, where I got it last night. It was stupid clerk the one who caused..´, further referring to a performance issue with impresarios and future plans, stating in part `I believe that you will not regret the decision you have made, since the Don Juan affair seems to have taken a good turn…. Right on the spot and within a few days we could work out a good libretto, and as you correctly state, we could return in Spring with a theatrical work which we could stage immediately.´ Maurel adds two post-scriptums, and states to the second `I have written an article about Wagner and Bayreuth. It will be published on Wednesday on the Le Gaulois. Read it. I think that you will find it interesting.´ VG  £200-300    

LIND JENNY: (1820-1887) Swedish Opera Singer, known as the Swedish Nightingale. A good A.L.S., Jenny L Goldschmidt, four pages, 8vo, Wimbledon Park, London, n.d. (‘Tuesday’, c.1884?), to Mr. Lanier (?). Lind announces, ‘How charming of you and Mrs. Lehmann to propose such a thing!’ and continues, ‘Fancy to get your voice in some of the choruses where really cultivated singers are mauled!’, further adding ‘Well – I would be delighted to have you close to me – so that we could sing together. It is too good to be true so I dare say something will occur which will prevent so charming a prospect to be carried out!’. In concluding Lind proposes meeting her correspondent and enquires if she will them at home on either Saturday or Monday afternoon. A couple of small areas of light staining, only very slightly affecting a few words of text and the signature, otherwise VG £150-200 Lilli Lehmann (1848-1929) German Soprano who performed in London in 1884.

DAGUERRE LOUIS: (1787-1851) French Artist and Photographer. One of the fathers of photography who created the daguerreotype process of photography. Best known as developer of the diorama theatre. A good L.S., `Daguerre´, one page, 4to, Paris, 27t November 1825, to Monsieur Guilbert de Pixérécourt, in French. The document bears the printed heading "Diorama", and printed address "Direction rue des Amrais -Maison du Diorama". Daguerre explains that he has received a letter with the approval to his Opera Comique tickets request, and thanks his correspondent knowing that he is the one that made this possible, and further states in part `I have the honour, by reciprocity, to inform you that Monsieur Bouton and I have included your name on the list of free entrances to the Diorama, regretting that we can only partially compensate your gesture because we only change every three months our exhibition..´ A letter of interesting contemporary content related to the Diorama. With blank address leaf bearing remnants of a former seal and a small area of paper loss due to the letter opening. G  £3000-4000   René-Charles Guilbert de Pixérécourt, director of the Theatre Royal de l´Opéra-Comique. Guilbert de Pixerécourt had assisted Daguerre in promoting his 1822 invention, the "Diorama", a method of projecting images with light.

MAN RAY: (1890-1976) American Artist who contributed significantly to the Dada and Surrealist movements. Brief A.L.S., Man Ray, to the verso of a picture postcard, Tunisia, 24th July 1972, to Mr. Janns, in French. The card features an image of the Grand Hotel de France restaurant at Hammamet, in Tunisia. Man Ray says to his correspondent `Dear friend, it is not our hotel. This one is for the antiquarians, regards.´ Bearing an attractive Tunisian stamp. Scarce. With an extremely small tear to the right edge, otherwise VG  £300-400    

DELACROIX EUGENE: (1798-1863) French Painter. Regarded as the leader of the French Romantic school, he is also considered one of the last old Masters of painting, and one of the few who was ever photographed. Rare A.L.S., `Eug. Delacroix´, one page, 8vo, n.p., 15th April 1857, to M. Goldschmidt, in French. Delacroix regrets not having been able to meet him and states in part `.. if by any chance you consider returning and visit me, I would kindly ask you to let me know the time and the day. I will only remain in Paris until Sunday..´ Accompanied by the original envelope addressed in his hand bearing an attractive red wax seal to the verso. EX  VG  £400-600    

‘the long study you dedicated to shining a light on my endeavours in painting’    CEZANNE PAUL: (1839-1906) French Artist & Post-Impressionist Painter. A good, rare A.L.S., Paul Cezanne, two pages, small 8vo, Alfort, 26th March 1894, to [Gustave Geffroy] ('Monsieur'), in French. Cezanne writes, in full, 'I have read yesterday the long study you dedicated to shining a light on my endeavours in painting. I wanted to express my gratitude for your kindness. Please accept my deepest thanks'. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG  £6000-8000     Gustave Geffroy (1855-1926) French Journalist & Art Critic, one of the earliest historians of the Impressionist Art movement.  In March 1894, as the present letter testifies, Geffroy wrote a sympathetic article in the periodical Le Journal championing the work of Cezanne, who until then had received little praise in critical circles. Their mutual friend, the painter Claude Monet arranged for a meeting between the two in November of that year which ended abruptly due to Cézanne's oft-noted erratic behaviour. Nevertheless, Geffroy continued to write favourably of Cézanne. As an expression of gratitude Cezanne painted Geffroy's portrait, which is now on permanent display in the Musee d'Orsay in Paris.

GUITRY SACHA: (1885-1957) French Actor & Director. An excellent and very interesting lengthy Manuscript in Guitry´s hand, n,p., n.d., eighty pages (80), 4to, in French. Written to front pages, either in pencil, or ink, or even some typed, the draft contains multiple side annotations, amendments, crossed paragraphs, etc.. The manuscript is a vibrant advocacy in favour of Theatre and actors, denigrating the cinema which he considers a threat. To the first page and sentence Guitry states `Ladies and Gentlemen, the Theatre according to me is neither a job nor a profession, not even an art… It is a passion!´ further saying in part `..imagine the anxiety of a man of theater who watches the spectators deserting the theatre halls.. they settle for cinematography, for this dying image, without relief, without colour, plane and which is in fact the reproduction of a travesty… The theatre at this time is only risking one thing, to become again an Art, as it was time ago… Why don´t you applaud a singer who has just sang on your television screen? Because he has not taken the risk to fail his natural G, and he can´t fail… Therefore no interest…And once the film is produced, you cannot change anything anymore… The cinema cannot replace the theatre in the same way the photography could not replace the painting…´ Guitry reproduces a dialogue of a playwright and states `Do you realize the difficulty of playing such an irresistible dialogue scene of Courteline in a film? An actor cannot know at which exact moment and for how long the spectators will be laughing…actors on scene can stop when they want..´ An extremely interesting and lengthy manuscript, full of curious and unexpected comments and comparisons, `..the best two actors who ever existed are Shakespeare and Moliere, both comedians. Because they were not actors playing their playwrights, no, they were comedians who realizing that the existing playwrights were bad, they decided, thanks god, to write them themselves!´, Guitry also refers on several occasions to his father´s comments and thoughts, mentioning playwrights, one of his own that he is about to play `Un homme d´hier et une femme d´aujourd´hui´ (`A man of yesterday time and a woman of today´), also referring to religion and actors `When Adrienne Lecouvreur died, this admirable tragedian passed away on the same week that a famous English actress died, Anna Oldfield. And while the English actress was buried at Westminster, the French tragedian was refused the ecclesiastical burial, and was buried during the night in a wasteland.´ Small overall age wear, otherwise G  £2500-3500

SISLEY ALFRED: (1839-1899) French-born British Impressionist Painter. A fine A.L.S., A. Sisley, one page, 8vo, Moret-sur-Loing, 9th January 1897, to [George] Viau, in French. Sisley announces that he is coming to Paris on Monday and would like to invite his correspondent to lunch in order that 'we will make out together this great list'. The artist concludes by sending his regards to Viau's wife and mother. With blank integral leaf. A letter of good association. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG  £600-900  George Viau (1855-1939) French Dentist and Art Collector who acquired works by many Impressionist painters including Claude Monet, Paul Cezanne, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Alfred Sisley

LUCE MAXIMILIEN: (1858-1941) French Neo-impressionist Painter. Also known for his engravings and graphic art. Luce was also an Activist Anarchist. A very attractive sketch together with an A.L.S., `Luce´, two pages, grid paper, on separate sheets, one being the A.L.S., and the second the sketch, n.p., Tuesday, n.d., to Monsieur Frederic, in French. To the letter, Luce refers to their trip and states in part `..Safely arrived. Marvelous weather. Seen Leon who will collect us on Friday to go to Riva Bella and see Georges, we will return to Rolleboise on August 16th..´ To the second page Luce has drawn an attractive sketch showing a group of persons in different poses, and annotates alongside in his hand `I have started a painting of Gauguin in Paris´. Folded. VG  £600-900    

TOULOUSE-LAUTREC HENRI DE: (1864-1901) French Painter and Illustrator. A rare A.L.S., H. de Toulouse Lautrec, two pages (separate sheets), 8vo, n.p., 2nd June 1893, to 'Honoured Sir' (apparently the French actor Benoit-Constant Coquelin), in French. The artist sends his correspondent the addresses of a few friends of his own and Bourges', 'who would be happy to enhance by their presence the brilliance of your reputation.' In concluding he states that he hopes he will not arrive too late. Given Toulouse-Lautrec's early death at the age of 36, his letters are extremely rare - particularly those bearing a full signature. VG  £2000-3000    

ENSOR JAMES: (1860-1949) Baron Ensor. Belgian Painter. An important figure on expressionism and surrealism, associated with the group "Les XX". A good A.L.S., `James Ensor´, one page, 8vo, Ostend, 31st March 1919, to Monsieur Henri Dornmartin, Royal Library of Belgium, in French. Ensor states in part `..the Director of Beaux Arts has asked you to provide all the necessary to Commandant de Gerlache in order to help him to organize an exhibition with works by Belgian painters which will most probably be held at Christiania next May, and you want me to book two or three of my works…´ further saying `.. let me know if drawings, etchings and watercolours are accepted at the exhibition, and if shipment costs are covered..´ VG  £250-350    Adrien de Gerlache (1866-1934) Belgian Navy Officer who led the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897-99.

JONGKIND JOHAN: (1819-1891) Dutch Painter. A good A.L.S., `Jongkind´, two pages, 8vo, Paris, 4th December 1864, to Monsieur Forget, Chief of the Ministry of war bureau, in French. Jongkind regrets that he cannot meet his correspondent as agreed earlier, stating in part `I am waiting for a friend who has to leave Paris shortly. I hope that when time will permit it, you will come to meet me..´ With blank address leaf in Jongkind´s hand. Postmarked and post-stamped. With small area of paper loss due to the opening of the letter. VG  £300-400    

KUSAMA YAYOI: (1929-     ) Japanese Contemporary Artist who has struggled for much of her life with mental illness and, since the mid-1970s, has lived in a mental hospital in Tokyo by her own choice. A scarce T.L.S., Yayoi Kusama, one page, 4to, New York, 18th January 1962, to Baldwin Bass. The artist thanks her correspondent for his wonderful photographs, in which she was very much interested, remarking 'I am happy that you are active in many ways and at the same time I have a great expectation in your future' and further adding that she would like to meet Bass when she has a chance to visit Germany and will send some of her portraits soon. Kusama also acknowledges having received a cheque for $75, commenting 'Since I believe this is the money for my painting, I will send you one pretty soon. I will try hard to meet your expectation on this matter…..'. Accompanied by the original envelope addressed to Bass in Hamburg, Germany. One very small, extremely minor split to the edge of a fold, not affecting the text or signature, VG  £600-900    An investment of $75 for a painting by Kusama in 1962 would appear to have been a sound one. On 12th November 2008 Christie's in New York sold a work by Kusama for $5.1 million, a record figure for a living female artist.

TURNER J. M. W.: (1775-1851) English Painter. A.L.S., J M W Turner, one page, 8vo, Royal Academy, (London), 30th September n.y., to Stanfield. Turner writes, in part, 'Have the goodness to receive thy thanks and the Book - lent together with a new map of the Moselle. The old one very worn out…..' VG  £600-800    Turner's correspondent is likely to have been Clarkson Frederick Stanfield (1793-1867) English Marine Painter who, in 1838, published a collection of lithographic views on the Moselle, Rhine and Meuse rivers.

GERTLER MARK: (1891-1939) British Painter. A scarce A.L.S., Mark, to the verso of a colour picture postcard featuring a reproduction of a painting by Rubens, Paris, 1932, to his aunt, Annie Gertler. The artist writes, in full, 'I heard from Minnie that Harry is better. I am very glad. I hope all goes well still. I will phone when I return to London. Love to all'. Together with an original sepia 4 x 5.5 photograph of Gertler standing outdoors in a full length pose accompanied by the writers and academics Hewy Levy, Walter J. Turner, Edward Arthur Milne, Ralph Hodgson, J. W. N. Sullivan and Samuel S. Koteliansky, who are seated and standing in two rows alongside the artist. The photograph, apparently taken in London in 1928, appears to be signed by several of the individuals to the verso (although not by Gertler himself). Also including a few pieces of unsigned printed ephemera comprising two different invitation cards to exhibitions of Gertler's works at The Leicester Galleries and Whitechapel Art Gallery in London and a small 8vo catalogue of the New Year Exhibition of Pictures, Drawings and Sculpture by Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Artists at The Leicester Galleries in London, January 1954, featuring works by L. S. Lowry, Ford Madox Brown, Frank Brangwyn, Amedeo Modiglaini, Augustus John, Graham Sutherland, Henry Moore, Stanley Spencer, Wyndham Lewis, Paul Signac, Alfred Sisley, Duncan Grant, Walter Sickert, Terry Frost, John Piper, Ben Nicholson, Edgar Degas and Mark Gertler amongst others. Further including a series of unsigned incomplete autograph letters and notes by Valentine Dobree (1894-1974, Indian-born English Artist, associated with the Bloomsbury Group and the lover of Gertler), four pages, 8vo, Richmond, n.d., to Mark Gertler, in ink and pencil. Dobree commences the first page of one letter 'Terms like the “aura of my disfigured mentality” and the “rigidity of puritanical labels” occur to me as the memory of my first confused correspondence sweeps into my mind like a dark cloud which flashed thunder……' further writing 'I experienced the fever & madness of love, then the idyllic strain of fanciful pleasure, which shocked me out of myself with its sweetness & unrealism. I descended to earth filled with the fright of you', and also adding a  note in the margin, 'I know I never ought to right (sic) like this to you because you do not love me but you can decide for yourself whether you want me or not'. The other pages state, in part, 'The unconscious growth of nature creates shapes of life with an unpremidated (sic) spontanity (sic)….The Artist in you is mostly unconscious if it exists at all….sex is definitely unconscious liquid in the mind poisoning the grey matter…..I don't think anybody else has felt love like I have. It is because I have suppressed myself to such an extent that it has burst upon me…..'Some age wear and creasing, particularly evident to Gertler's postcard (which also has the postage stamp neatly removed), and a few small tears and areas of paper loss, FR to generally G, 9   £200-300 

CANIFF MILTON: (1907-1988) American Cartoonist. An excellent signed and inscribed colour sketch by Caniff, an attractive signature example, one page, 4to, on his printed stationery, New York, 13th April 1971, the drawing showing his comic strip hero Steve Canyon. Accompanied by an A.N.S., Milton Caniff, one page, 12mo, same place and date, addressed to a collector, stating in part `..so I have made a drawing of Steve Canyon, who is better looking than I.´ VG, 2  £60-90    

BUGATTI CARLO: (1856-1940) Italian Artist, Decorator and Art Nouveau Designer. Manufacturer of jewellery and musical instruments. Bugatti triumphed at the exhibition of decorative art in Turin in 1902. An unusual and very attractive watercolour portrait, one page, 4to, signed `Bugatti Carlo´, dated in his hand, Milan, 1st of January 1888. The portrait depicts a woman in a head and shoulders pose. Autographs of Bugatti are rare and desirable in any form. With blank integral leaf. Small overall age wear and staining, mostly to borders. G  £400-600   Carlo Bugatti was the father of sculptor Rembrandt Bugatti, who committed suicide in 1916, and Ettore Bugatti the automobile manufacturer.

CHENIER ANDRE: (1762-1794) French Poet of Greek origin. A precursor of the Romantic movement. Chenier was guillotined at the early age of 31. Very rare A.L., by André Chenier, one page, small 4to, n.p., n.d., in French. The cleanly and carefully written text being a fragment of a sixteen verses poem by Chenier, stating in part `Quel bras guide les cieux, a quel ordre enchainée le Soleil bienfaisant nos ramène l´année. Quel signe aux ports lointains arrête l´étranger..´, (“What arm guides the heavens, to what chained order the beneficient Sun brings us back the year. What sign at distant ports stops the stranger..´) An excellent elegy by Chenier, further saying `Le moment d´être sage est voisin du tombeau, allons jeune homme, allos, marche, prends ce flambeau, marche, allons, mène-moi chez ma belle déesse..´, (“Time to be wise is close to the grave, let´s go young man, let´s go, walk, take this torch, walk, let´s go, take me to my beautiful goddess..´). Chenier frames the last word of this verse, `goddess´, and annotates alongside the poem another word to replace the first `maitresse´. At the base of the document and annotated in another hand `Fragment of an elegy by André Chénier, written in his hand, and given by the editor to Marceline Valmore. Paris 1819´. Small overall age wear, mostly to edges, otherwise G  £2000-3000                                            At the request of Malesherbes, the defense counsel to King Louis XVI, Chénier provided some arguments for the King's defense. After the King´s execution Chenier sought a secluded retreat at Versailles. He was arrested at Passy by two agents of the Committee of Public Safety who were in search of a Marquise but only found a stranger who they imprisoned on suspicion of being the aristocrat they were searching for. Chenier had only come on a visit. Chénier was one of the last people executed by Robespierre who was himself seized and executed only three days later. Chénier's life was the subject of Umberto Giordano´s opera Andrea Chenier (1896). Pushkin wrote a poem based on Chenier last hours.

[TENNYSON ALFRED]: (1809-1892) English Poet Laureate. VICTORIA: (1819-1901) Queen of the United Kingdom Great Britain & Ireland 1837-1901. An exceptionally fine A.L.S., The Queen, in the third person, four pages, 8vo, Windsor Castle, 26th February 1873, to Alfred Tennyson, on black bordered mourning stationery. The Queen writes, in full, 'Though Lady Augusta Stanley has already conveyed the expressions of the Queen's warmest thanks for high admiration of the beautiful Epilogue he has so kindly inscribed to herself, she wishes to repeat again herself to Mr. Tennyson these feelings on the occasion of the arrival of the copy of the very fine new edition of the Idylls of the King. Pray accept the renewed thanks of the Queen for the noble, heart stirring words addressed to her, & which were a complete surprise. It would give the Queen much pleasure, could she, some day, when he is within reach of Windsor, show him the Mausoleum she has raised over the Earthly remains of her dear Husband whom he knew how to appreciate & so beautifully described - as she feels sure he would admire it & think it worthy of Him who wore "…The white flower of a blameless life". She also hopes that Mr. Tennyson will not find Osborne too far a drive from Osborne'. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Queen Victoria and signed ('The Queen') by her to the lower left corner. A letter of remarkable content and association. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG £2000-3000 Idylls of the King is a cycle of twelve narrative poems by Tennyson which were published between 1859 and 1885 and retell the legend of King Arthur. The poems were dedicated to the late Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, and in the very brief final section of the work Tennyson praises Queen Victoria, and her recently deceased husband, and prays that she, like Arthur, is remembered as a great ruler long after her reign is over. Provenance: The present letter is accompanied by the original Sotheby's description, clipped from their catalogue (lot 440, 22nd July 1980) which states that it was the first letter written by Queen Victoria to Alfred Tennyson. Indeed, this is the first of only eleven letters from the Queen to the Poet Laureate recorded by American Book Prices Current as having appeared at auction, and the earliest in date. The other recorded letters range from 1883-90 and cover subjects including her children Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice, John Brown, the death of General Gordon and her suggestion that Tennyson might try to persuade William Gladstone to retire from politics. In their description Sotheby's also state that 'Tennyson visited the Mausoleum at Windsor on 6 March. In her journal the Queen recorded her satisfaction with the meeting: "….When I showed him some of the details of the decorations in the building he said the whole effect was very beautiful & worthy of what it was intended for…"'

'Melville makes fine reading on this trip' CRANE HART: (1899-1932) American Poet, one of the most influential modernist poets of his generation who sought both inspiration and provocation in the works of T. S. Eliot. An extremely rare A.L.S., Hart, three pages, 8vo, on board the R.M.S. Tuscania, off Newfoundland, 9th December 1928, to Samuel Loveman ('Ahoy Sam!'), on the attractive colour printed stationery of the Cunard Line. Crane commences his letter by declaring 'The ship is rearing like a high-strung broncho (sic) and I'm out walking the quarter deck much of the time - enjoying the rythmical (sic) lift and plunge of it', adding that they have also experienced sleet and rain since Sandy Hook and that he has been to every meal ('O it's great!) and remarking 'The bad gin pains are leaving my head - and taking only the bad memories with them - not the pleasant thoughts of you and Mary and others' before again returning to the subject of the liner, 'This is a pleasant boat - not at all crowded - and such nice people. English servants know how to be pleasant as well as efficient, and of course I would be given the one nearly handsome English waiter in the salon! Rather tough food - but I'm getting used to it. The whisky - which is all I've tried thus far - is like balm of Giliad - or whatever Poe said. A little goes a long ways - and really doesn't sadden one. I'll soon write more - from London'. In a postscript Crane remarks 'Melville makes fine reading on this trip'. Accompanied by the original printed Cunard envelope hand addressed by Crane to Samuel Loveman at the Rowfant Book Shop in New York. Autograph letters of Crane are extremely rare as a result of his suicide at the young age of 32 and the present letter is particularly desirable for its association and references to Edgar Allan Poe and Herman Melville (perhaps Crane was reading Moby-Dick; or, The Whale on his voyage across the seas?). VG  £3000-4000   Samuel Loveman (1887-1976) American Poet, Critic and Dramatist associated with Hart Crane and H. P. Lovecraft.

15th July 1789 – The day after the Storming of the Bastille.`..the day I embarked on the revolution I said to myself that these sorts of hazards..´  MIRABEAU HONORÉ COMTE DE: (1749-1791) French Writer and an early Leader of the French revolution. President of the National Constituent Assembly 1791. A successful orator who became the voice of the people. An excellent and rare A.L.S., `Le comte de Mirabeau´, one page, 8vo, n.p., 15th July 1789, to Jean-François Lieutaud, in French. Mirabeau A letter of excellent content, written the day after The Storming of the Bastille. Mirabeau states in part `.. I find out myself particularly disturbed by the unexpected expenses which are to be added to the enormous expenses that devours me here. Although I am a thousand times more touched by the feeling of having my soul naked, than having my embarrassments lightened..´ and further saying `..regarding your noble and courageous dedication, I hope that the danger has past now for at least some time; and moreover, the day I embarked on the revolution I said to myself that these sorts of hazards should not be taken..´ With blank integral leaf and small overall age wear G  £1500-2000     Jean-François Lieutaud (1754-1801) French Politician, commandant of the National Guard in Marseille. An activist during the revolutionary movement in 1789.   

DUMAS ALEXANDRE: Père (1802-1870) French Writer whose works include The Three Musketeers. A.L.S., Al. Dumas, one page, small 8vo, n.p., n.d., to his friend Porcher, in French. Hugo sends a message to his correspondent, stating `Would you wait for me at noon, at your home, in order to talk about business.´ With blank address leaf. Small overall, minor age wear, mostly to the edges, with extremely small area of paper loss to the upper right corner, otherwise G  £150-200   €180 - 240 Jean Baptiste Porcher (1792-1864) French former theatre employee who created an agency which used to buy copyrights to their authors. Porcher helped Dumas financially on multiple occasions.

Dumas has difficulties with the rehearsals of his play Henry III and his Court  DUMAS ALEXANDRE: Père (1802-1870) French Writer whose works include The Three Musketeers. A fine A.L.S., A. Dumas, two pages, 8vo, n.p., n.d. [1828-29], to Baron Taylor, in French. Dumas sends a message requesting his correspondent´s help regarding his rehearsals and premiere of his play `Henri III et sa cour´ (“Henry III and his Court”), stating in part `I write to you, trembling that you might get tired to listen every morning that the same person is announced to you, the same face… I have still not seen my manuscript, would you please act on my behalf…and if you attend today the committee meeting, or tomorrow, please intervene between these two powerful females, approach the one who considers has reasons to complaint about my person, tell her that….´, further saying `..then, please ask for rehearsals, I think that we will need one or two rehearsals this week…if Mme Leverd presents a strong opposition to the premiere of Henry III...´. Before concluding Dumas adds a new comment with humour saying `I stop here, I would be as long and as boring on a letter than in person.´ With blank address leaf, written in Dumas´ hand, with remnants of a former seal and a very small area of paper loss due to the letter opening. Small overall creasing, otherwise G  £250-350       Henri III et sa Cour, (“Henry III and his Court”) was first performed at the theatre of the Comédie Française, Paris, on 11th February 1829.

DUMAS ALEXANDRE: Fils (1824-1895) French Author and Dramatist. A.L.S., A. Dumas, one page, 8vo, n.p, n.d., to a friend, in French. Dumas states in part `..I receive also a letter from Mme Cassin who gives you carte blanche, and who is delighted with your spirit and your talent.´ and concludes with an amusing `Say now that you do not have a friend in me..´ Very small creasing to the edges, otherwise VG  £80-100   

DUMAS ALEXANDRE: Fils (1824-1895) French Author and Dramatist. A.L.S., A Dumas, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., to an unidentified friend, in French. Dumas states in part `I only have one horse now, which is under the care of the trader who sold it to me..´, further thanking his correspondent for his kind proposal. With blank integral leaf. Small overall foxing stains. G £80-100    

Dumas refers to George Sand   DUMAS ALEXANDRE: Fils (1824-1895) French Author and Dramatist. A.L.S., A Dumas, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d. [June 1861], to Madame Porcher, in French. Dumas states in Part `My dear Madame Porcher, Would you be so kind to send me in the next few days, to Madame Sand´s address, at Nohant - Indre, by post-mail a cheque of one thousand francs. It should be more or less what you owe me..´, further saying `Tell Porcher that few days ago Madame Sand was talking about him using excellent terms. This will please him and it is true.´  With blank integral leaf. VG  £200-300    George Sand (1804-1876) French Novelist who used the pseudonym of George Sand, her real name being Amantine Dupin. Also known for her romantic affairs with artists, including Frédéric Chopin, Alexandre Dumas and Alfred de Musset.

SAND GEORGE: (1804-1876) French Novelist who used the pseudonym of George Sand, her real name being Amantine Dupin. Also known for her romantic affairs with artists, including Frédéric Chopin and Alfred de Musset. A.L.S., `G. Sand´, one page, 8vo, n.p., 4th March 1849, to Gabriel Falampin, her artistic and financial agent, in French. The letter bears her embossed initials "GS" to the heading. Sand acknowledges receipt of the two 1000 Francs payments received and states in part `I have not decided yet about the date to sell my fund. I see that the value is increasing.. I´d rather wait as much as possible because my creditors understand the reason and give me the time I will need..´ further instructing not to sell and wait till 22nd of March. Falampin was also the artistic director of L´Illustration. Accompanied by the detached address leaf in her hand and postmarked. VG  £150-200    

`I have done what had to be done to die or attend the play, and because I am not dead, I will go. Unless you don´t go..´  PROUST MARCEL: (1871-1922) French Novelist and Essayist. Best known for his major novel A la Recherche du Temps Perdu (`In search of Lost Time´). An excellent A.L.S., `Marcel Proust´, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., [17th December 1912], to `Madame´, [Mme Straus], in French. Proust refers to the play Kismet, and states in part `I will assist to the play Kismet; I have done what had to be done to die or attend the play, and because I am not dead, I will go. Unless you don´t go; in that case I suggest that I visit you and keep you company, as Kismet without you loses its charm…´ It is known that Proust went to the theatre because on a letter few days later to his friend Albert Nahmias he said that he attended the dress rehearsal but on his arrival `..the monsieur who was with me slapped someone else, and the whole evening was lost with talks and I could not see anything..´ The paper bears the Imperial Diadem watermark. Left edge very slightly trimmed, and very small overall staining, otherwise G  £2500-3500   Genevieve Halevy, later Madame Bizet, and later again Madame Straus (1849-1926) was a French Salonniere, friend of Proust, and close correspondent, who inspired him as a model for the Duchesse de Guermantes and Odette de Crécy in A la Recherche du Temps Perdu. Genevieve Halevy was the daughter of French composer Jacques-Fromental Halevy, and spouse of French composer and pupil of his father Georges Bizet. Her son Jacques Bizet became a school friend of Proust, and committed suicide in 1922, a few weeks before Proust's own death. Kismet is a work by playwright Edward Knoblauch, which was adapted in French by Jules Lemaitre and performed in Paris, in December 1912, at the Sarah Bernhardt theatre under the mise en scene of Lucien Guitry. Kismet meaning in Turkish "The Destiny".

SAINT-EXUPERY ANTOINE DE: (1900-1944) French Writer, Poet and pioneering Aviator. French aristocrat who became a laureate of several France's highest literary awards and is best remembered for his novella The Little Prince ('Le Petit Prince', 1943) and for his lyrical aviation writings, including Night Flight (1931) and Wind, Sand and Stars (1939). Rare Autograph Manuscript, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d., being annotations about his thoughts on mankind, his past years in airmail service, and also referring to a travel to Madrid during the war, in French. The manuscript contains a full first paragraph crossed, and is most probably a draft of one of his articles for the newspapers L´Intransigeant or Paris-Soir. Saint-Exupery in his usual difficult writing states in part `Of course I met bourgeois standing behind their counter. But how many others! Of course I met men who had chosen the danger. And they were poor. But I do not think about this at all.. I do not think there are two races of men..´, further saying `..If I watch consider my route and my walks on this planet, I have seen men as they were, I judged ones and the others, and I found my place in the airmail service.. I liked the merit and duty of serving with men..´ Creasing to the left border and upper left corner, although not affecting the written text, otherwise VG  £600-900     

ANNUNZIO GABRIELE D´: (1863-1938) Prince of Montenevoso. Italian Writer, Poet and WWI Soldier. Known as "The Prophet". A good A.L.S., Gabriele d´Annunzio, (a large and attractive underlined signature), one page, 4to, n.p. [Paris], n.d., [25th June 1913, to Doctor Pozzi, in French. On his personal printed stationery bearing to the heading one of his printed devises "Me Ne Frego" ("I don´t give a damn"), d´Annunzio states `My dear Doctor, when I accepted the meeting at two, I did not realize that tomorrow I have friends for lunch and will not be free before four. Would you be so kind to give me an appointment time after four or before noon?..´ Very small overall age wear with small creasing to the borders, otherwise G  £400-600   Samuel-Jean Pozzi (1846-1918) French Surgeon. He established the first Chair of Gynecology in Paris in 1884 and few years later performed the first gastroenterostomy in France. In 1913, the year the present letter was written, Pozzi and Georges Clemenceau organized the first transplant symposium in Paris. Pozzi became a military surgeon joining the forces during WWI. He died assassinated by a patient who shot him and committed suicide later.

GRIMM FRIEDRICH MELCHIOR: (1723-1807) Baron von Grimm. German-born French Diplomat, Journalist and art Critic. An important contributor to the Encyclopedie raisonné des Sciences, author of Poeme Lyrique and a close friend of Rousseau. Grim created a literary newsletter with various German sovereigns, the Correspondance littéraire, philosophique et critique. Grimm counted among his subscribers Catherine II of Russia, Leopold II Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick the Great or Stanislas Poniatowski. D.S., `Grimm´, one page, vellum, oblong 4to, Paris, 4th January 1782, in French. The partially printed document being a receipt, numbered, and entitled "Perpetual Annuities", and stating in part `I acknowledge having received from Mr. Loiseau de Berenger, General Treasurer of Monseigneur the Duke of Orleans, the sum of two thousand five hundred Pounds,….according to the perpetual annuity agreed by contract with H.S.H…´ Two extremely small holes not affecting the signature, otherwise G  £200-300    Mozart's first visit to Paris took place in 1763-64. All the many letters of recommendation carried by Leopold proved ineffectual, except the one to Melchior Grimm, which led to an effective connection. Grimm published a highly supportive article in his Correspondance Littéraire in 1763, to facilitate Leopold Mozart´s entrée into Parisian high society and musical circles. Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, the son of Grimm's employer, helped Mozart to perform in Versailles, where they stayed for two weeks. Mozart returned to Paris in 1766, where again, they were helped, guided, and mentored by Grimm who wrote a very flattering letter in his Correspondance Littéraire, stating and predicting the future operatic success of the young composer "He has even written several Italian arias, and I have little doubt that before he has reached the age of twelve, he will already have had an opera performed at some Italian theatre."

TROLLOPE ANTHONY: (1815-1882) English Novelist. A.L.S., Anthony Trollope, one page, 8vo, Bloemfontein (although on stationery bearing the printed address of 39 Montagu Square), 26th October n.y. (1878, 'Saturday'), to a gentleman. Trollope writes, in full, 'I shall be most happy. Pray excuse this note. I find I have not an envelope left in my possession.' Some light creasing and a few minor traces of former mounting to the upper edge of the verso. About VG  £100-150   Trollope's non-fiction work South Africa was published in two volumes by Chapman and Hall in 1878, the same year as the present letter was written in South Africa. A contemporary review of the book which appeared in The Spectator commented 'Mr. Trollope has plenty to say about the Boers, of whom he entertains a favourable opinion; about the Zulus, and in fact, about all the variety of men and things which that large term "South Africa" comprises; he is always judicious, and very often entertaining; any one who appreciates good-sense and bonhomie will find them in these volumes'.

LEE LAURIE: (1914-1997) English Poet and Novelist, famous for his autobiographical trilogy including Cider with Rosie (1959). A.L.S., Laurie Lee, to both sides of his personal printed correspondence card, Stroud, Gloucestershire, 24th September 1971, to [Neville] Braybrooke. Lee states 'I am afraid I knew J. R. Ackerley only slightly - well enough to salute in the street and perhaps exchange a few words with; but the only correspondence I had with him would have been in the late 40s, early 50s, in his capacity as literary editor of The Listener - where he would perhaps accept a poem of mine or reject one'. He continues to add that he possesses some letters, but that they would take some time to unearth, 'and being routine letters I doubt they would interest you. I regret not having known him better'. With one ink annotation by Braybrooke to a margin of the letter. About VG  £80-100 Neville Braybrooke (1923-2001) English Poet, Writer, Editor, Literary Critic and Publisher who edited The Letters of J. R. Ackerley (1975). Son of Patrick Braybrooke (1894-1956) English Literary Critic. J. R. Ackerley (1896-1967) British Writer and Editor of The Listener, the BBC's weekly magazine. Ackerley published many emerging poets and writers who would later become successful and influential in Great Britain. Ackerley was openly homosexual, a rarity at a time when homosexuality was socially ostracized and forbidden by law.

ROLLAND ROMAIN: (1866-1944) French Dramatist & Novelist, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1915. An excellent A.L.S., Romain Rolland, a bold and attractive signature example, three pages, 8vo, n.p., 7th April 1921, to a writer, Florian Parmentier, in French. Rolland refers to Parisian editors and states in part `I do not understand why when you like a work you do not try to make it be beloved. The silence of the Parisian colleagues do not surprises me at all. It is an old known story.´ Rolland further recommends his correspondent to send on his behalf a copy of the work to several foreigner editors, supplying the publishers addresses and persons to contact, saying `1) Edar & Cedar Paul…London. This couple of authors, socialists, who have translated into English with admirable care my Précursseurs, the Jeremias of Stefan Zweig…… 2) to Horace B. Liveright…New York. The editor of the great European works, a free thinker… For Germany, the current situation is so violently raging against France, thanks to our admirable politics…´, further including names and addresses in Italy and Argentina. A letter of interesting content. EX  £150-200   Florian Parmentier (1879-1951) also known under his pen-name Serge Gastein. French novelist and poet.

YEATS W. B.: (1865-1939) Irish Poet & Dramatist, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1923. A brief A.L.S., W B Yeats, one page, 8vo, Euston Place, London, n.d. ('Saturday', pre-1915), to [Sir Hugh] Lane. Yeats' letter comprises one line 'With pleasure - Tuesday'. With blank integral leaf. A letter of interesting association. VG  £100-150    Hugh Lane (1875-1915) Irish Art Dealer & Collector who established Dublin's Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, the first known public gallery of modern art in the world.  In October 1913 Yeats privately published fifty copies of Poems Written in Discouragement, 1912-1913 with the Cuala Press. The poems had been inspired by the controversy surrounding Sir Hugh Lane's proposal to establish a modern art gallery in Dublin and the rejection of the plan by the Dublin Corporation. Yeats placed the Lane episode as the third in a sequence of public controversies which had stirred his imagination, and it also signified a new phase in the relation between Yeats and Ireland.

MANN THOMAS: (1875-1955) German Novelist, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1929. A good T.L.S., `Thomas Mann', two pages, 4to, Munich, 20th April 1930, on his personal printed stationery, to a Professor, in German. With few corrections and annotation in Mann´s hand who apologizes for his late reply, and states in part `I have been travelling for two months and my correspondence has been very messy. What you tell me on your letter touches me in the worst moment. My wandering life and the appearance of an illness have delayed and retarded my works and duties and my literary hearth is very much disordered…. I have also a lot to read and spend time to study accurately Max Ludwig´s work which you refer to..´ further adding `My taste with the years is getting more and more sensitive.. I intend to spend time with his books as soon as my personal situation allows me to do so…I would like to talk with Albert Langen, my long time friend and his editor, and see if there is a way to draw the public attention to this poet´s work.´ Folded. VG  £150-200     

PASTERNAK BORIS: (1890-1960) Russian Poet and Novelist of Doctor Zhivago (1957). Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1958. An excellent and lengthy Autograph Manuscript, four pages, folio, n.p., n.d., in Cyrillic. The text is entitled `Pavlo Tychyna - The First Encounter- Chernigov, 1910´ and corresponds to Pasternak´s full translation into Russian of Tychyna´s work The First Encounter, being Pasternak a literary translator. The manuscript states in part `I remember an autumn day. The sky turned blue. Silver dust seemed to fall from the hot firmament… Lessons had finished, and you could hear the din, the laughing and the music of the harmonica in the seminar classes…´ further saying `..he said into the void, while holding a heap of leaves in his hands. He was black-eyed and was wearing a hat. I grasped anxiety in his eyes… The sun came out again. And the stranger, being about to get up, looked at me as if I were a dear person. How could I not lose my mind!...´ The poetic text further refers to George Sand, Glinka, and a musical concert, stating `After about five days a concert was given in the seminar hall. Students were in charge of taking care of spectators. Guests were arriving, the corridor was full. At the entrance of the hall, the greenery on the balconies hung down as a living garland hiding the frieze. We were on duty among the stewards, either rehearsing the bow, either joking about forfeits or about George Sand… "Don't be shy!" said the art teacher, slightly pushing me, introducing me to his companion: "A very promising poet, if there is a chance, it would not be a bad idea to publish his works. You must have a bunch of poems already?.. The bell rang and everyone started gathering slowly at the hall. Clumsy tuning up was escaping through the door. The horn set the tone for violas, racing with the clarinet. A roar of instruments was sonorous like a brawl. I also tried my oboe… Then the conductor waved his baton, reconciling discordant sounds. Everything froze. Glinka spoke from the suite. From the bottom of the bass, the forest began to rise… Winter was over... There was a spring day without limits around me, and the sun, and this little bird above the field! No! There was also the sweat of the working people, and the glory….that Glinka was praising. That work that tears the limits of time and pulls forward. I thought that Kotsyubinsky was also feeling that storming of notes. At the peak of our powers, we performed "Lark". While playing the oboe, I kept an eye on Kotsyubinsky. He was looking into the distance quietly, like a person at the helm. He knew: there were battles, victories and wars far away, and therefore our beloved creator was sitting straight up, honourable, and looked into the distance...´ Overall age wear, with some professional repairs, mostly to edges. Otherwise About G  £6000-9000     Tychyna´s work "The First Encounter" was originally written in Ukranian, and was translated into Russian by Boris Pasternak. It was first published in 1939 by Molodaya Gvardia in Moscow.  George Sand (1804-1876) French Novelist who used the pseudonym of George Sand, her real name being Amantine Dupin. Also known for her romantic affairs with artists, including Frédéric Chopin and Alfred de Musset. Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857) Russian Composer. Widely regarded as the Father of Russian music.

‘Spiritualism is the basis of the religion of the future’  DOYLE ARTHUR CONAN: (1859-1930) Scottish Author, creator of Sherlock Holmes. A scarce original mimeograph typed manuscript, unsigned (although with nine words of holograph text in the form of a correction to the second page, marked in bold within this description), four pages, 4to, n.p., n.d. (c.1930), marked 'Confidential' in Doyle's hand at the head of the first page. The typescript states, in part, 'These various forecasts of the immediate future of the world should be used with the utmost discretion. We have above all to avoid sensationalism and undignified newspaper stunts. We have to remember that there have been alarms before which have come to nothing…..They have also been accompanied by a notable increase in the seismic activity of the world which shows itself in those very quarters with which the warnings deal. It is impossible in my opinion not to take them seriously for they represent in themselves a psychic phenomenon for which I know no parallel. Our circle seems to have been chosen as the clearing house for these messages, for though we would not venture to claim that all have reached us still it is very remarkable how they have converged upon us from all quarters. Some have been oral but taking the whole series it would not be an exaggeration to say that we have had one hundred messages all independent of each other. But these must be taken as supplementary to our own direct information got during the last four or five years through my wife with the aid of my own control Pheneas. These cover in detail every phase of my predicted crisis. As to time we never have had anything really definite in our own circle such terms as "soon" and "very soon" being always used. It is a belief that the control sees things in pictures and not in terms of worldly time. My American coooperators working with a proved and excellent medium were told on the 8th of Jan that six months of preparation from that date could be relied on. They did not say that that was an absolute minimum and clearly they have placed the date too early. We have ourselves always been given the autumn as the time of year. If we state the course of events as outlined in these various documents and check them with our own information the result is overwhelming. It would entail a period of terrific natural convulsions during which a large portion of the human race would perish. Earthquakes of great severity, enormous tidal waves would seem to be the agents. There is mention of war but that would appear to be only in the early stages and to be in some way the signal for the crisis. What makes the matter more difficult to understand is that we are always told that the deaths are not indiscriminate but selective. One could only explain this by supposing that it is the gases released from the earth which are fatal and that some are rendered immune……The following general details may be gathered. That the crisis will come in an instant. That the general destruction and utter dislocation of civilised life will be beyond belief. That there will be a short period of utter chaos followed by some reconstruction. That the total period of the upheavals will be roughly three years. That the chief centres of disturbance will be the Eastern Mediterranean basin where not less than five countries will entirely disappear. Also the Atlantic where there will be a rise of land which will be a cause of those waves which will bring about great disasters upon the Americans, the Irish, and the Western European shore involving all the low lying British coasts. There are indicated further great upheavals in the Southern Pacific and in the Japanese region. These are the main points indicated some in one corroboration some in another and all in our messages. It is however continually rubbed in that the really important side is the psychic side and that all the physical is subservient to that. During the whole course of events there is a psychic accompaniment with manifestations of spirit power which is to culminate in a complete rending of the veil so that spirit and matter will be face to face for a time. When they separate again a great number of those who have worked in the same cause will be privileged to pass over with their spirit friends and without death in the ordinary sense of the word. Others of the "Elect" if I may use the current word are retained for a few years to establish the new order on a solid basis. Thus the race may be divided into three sets - the hopeless material who are swept away, the "Elect" who change their sphere, and the central body who carry on under picked leadership. The whole object of the spiritualist movement from the beginning has I think been to prepare a body of thought which will understand and be able to cooperate in such a crisis. In the course of these world shaking events there will be on earth a single strong spiritual influence which working either directly or through others will control events. At the supreme moment this high spirit will be visible to all and will command the reverence of all. This would seem to correspond with the idea of a second coming. Indeed the whole course of events ending in a happier world will follow the general line of what was vaguely seen by the prophets of old. When these things come it will be the duty of all who have any knowledge of spiritual facts and the meaning of these events to go forth and devote themselves entirely to the comfort and instruction to the terrified and bewildered human race. Therefore we must cultivate knowledge and spiritual strength ourselves to meet what may be a very great strain. Spiritualism is the basis of the religion of the future. I repeat that I have no certainty over these events. I can but pass on what has been passed to me but I would not take the responsibility of doing that if I were not deeply impressed by the facts which have actually occurred. A huge conspiracy to deceive upon the other side would seem to be the only alternative and that is hardly consistent with the lofty teaching which goes with the messages. I need not ask you to handle this paper with discretion. We want no hysterical developments, nor do we wish to commit the spiritualistic movement to a prophecy which may not materialise. At the same time without publicly committing the movement in any way I should wish to let individuals know [what] my own individual point of view is so that they may now watch the course of events for themselves and form their own conclusions and the line of action. Let those hear who have an ear to hear but let it not be broadcast'. A manuscript of remarkable content, seemingly Doyle's own retained copy with a few corrections to be made before distribution between presumably only a very small circle of like-minded Spiritualists. The four pages are joined with the original brass fastener to the upper left corner. Together with a scarce unsigned printed 8vo pamphlet entitled A Word of Warning by Arthur Conan Doyle, published by The Psychic Press, London, n.d. (February 1928). Some very light age wear and creasing, otherwise VG, 2   £400-600    Doyle's manuscript prophesying the end of the world was not published in his lifetime and first appeared in The Sunday Express on 20th July 1930 under the title How the World Will End. The newspaper reported that the 'extraordinary document' was presented to them 'in the form of a letter written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle some time before he died to Mr. S. Fowler Wright, the author of "Deluge", the much-discussed novel which gives an imaginary description of the end of the world'.

SALINGER J. D.: (1919-2010) American Author of The Catcher in the Rye (1951). A rare vintage 9 x 7 souvenir photograph, loosely inserted within a multiple signed and inscribed oblong folio (11 x 9.5) presentation folder featuring the colour printed logo of the Copacabana to the front cover, the image depicts a group of nine men and women (not including Salinger), some in military uniform, seated around a dinner table in New York's famous nightclub. To the inside cover of the presentation folder, opposite the photograph, each of the guests at the dinner, and Salinger, have signed their names in blue inks, some adding inscriptions. Salinger has penned 'Old "Grand Dad" to you Bob. I'm full of it. J.D.' and other signatories include Salinger's wife, Claire Douglas, her half-brother William Sholto Douglas (1893-1969, British Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Commander-in-Chief Fighter Command 1940-42 during World War II), his wife Joan Douglas and Robert Harper (1900-1982, American Air Force officer of World War II) who has penned a long inscription to Bob Wright, 'Hello Bob, Old Pal. I'm here with Sir Sholto & Joan & Squeak at Copacabana & I can't tell you how happy I am. We all join in wishing you the best & to the time we'll all get together either in the USA or GB…..'. Some light scuffing and age wear, otherwise about VG  £300-400   Provenance: The present photograph was originally within the personal archives of Robert Wright (1906-1992) British Historian and biographer of Hugh Dowding, the Royal Air Force's commanding officer during the Battle of Britain. Wright also co-wrote William Sholto Douglas' biography of two volumes, entitled Years of Combat and Years of Command (1966).