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BAWDEN EDWARD: (1903-1989) English painter, illustrator and graphic artist. A.L.S.. Edward, two pages, 8vo, n.p., n.d. (c.1949), to Michael Rothenstein. Bawden announces 'Clive Gardiner has agreed to accept John Wood for Goldsmiths simply upon my word for it that he is a student worth having' and further writes 'I told John that I thought he ought to get to Town next week & see both Camberwell & Goldsmiths for himself, then he would decide which school he liked best. I feel I have interfered enough in J. W.'s affairs - he can now settle the rest for himself, the only thing I wanted to make sure about was that he wld. be able to get into an art-school for certain', also adding 'Well, I don't think I need to give you a letter of introduction to Clive Gardiner because it is unlikely - & quite unnecessary - for you to go to New Cross with an armful of paintings in the event of John's rejection at Camberwell'. Together with a second A.L.S., Edward, three pages, 8vo (folding air mail stationery), Banff, Alberta, n.d. (15th August 1949), also to Michael Rothenstein. Bawden again writes regarding John Wood, stating that he had received his correspondent's letter as well as two from Charlotte (Bawden's wife) telling him 'how troublesome J. W. was being both to you & to her & of his incapacity to look after his own interests', continuing to remark 'My immediate reaction was one of extreme annoyance, & as a consequence I wrote him a very blunt letter to point out that in the first place he ought to accept admission to Camberwell as being in the nature of a privilege, that it was not for him to question whatever Daniels thought of his work but to accept criticism for its own worth, especially when given by a man who had had years of experience…..It must be quite a month ago that I wrote to J.W. to tell him how best to manage his affairs. I did emphasise the necessity of his seeing both schools, Camberwell & Goldsmiths, in order to decide which he preferred, for I had a hunch that if he didn't decide for himself then either you or I would get a backwash of criticism if he disagreed with the school we had either of us chosen……Well, if he doesn't get himself into an Art School by the end of September I intend to give up trying to help him. I must admit my exasperation with J. W. was increased by the reflection that he had some talent & made no use of it, whereas many of the students here who don't seem to possess any talent at all do achieve much more than he has ever done simply because of their enthusiasm to learn & their willingness to work hard. I have never before had a class that has achieved so much. The other day I counted all the finished paintings whc. had been hung on the walls: there were ninety, the result of five weeks work for 15 to 17 students……It is true we had one neurotic creature, a mad middle-aged English woman, who thought she was entitled to a studio & model to herself, but she faded out mercifully on her own accord'. Some light age wear and minor creasing to the second letter, G to VG, 2 Michael Rothenstein (1908-1993) British printmaker, painter and art teacher. John Norris Wood (1930-2015) English natural history illustrator who studied at Goldsmiths' College School of Art under Clive Gardiner and later pioneered courses on scientific and natural history illustration at the Royal College of Art.

DE MAISTRE ROY: (1894-1968) Australian artist. A.L.S., Roy de Maistre, to two sides of a plain postcard, Eccleston Street, London, n.d., to Sheridan Russell. De Maistre states that it was a pleasure to have seen his correspondent on Sunday, and encourages him to come again when the light lasts longer, explaining 'The sun changes in the process of work & there may be some different pictures to look at', and further discussing the prices of his work, 'Mine are considered about the usual figure for one of my rank & the size of the picture! They are usually well framed & start at £50…..I know this is expensive for most people today & I am often able to take a bit less & they can be paid for over a year or so. As my output now is rather small I have to keep my prices up as it is economically better for me to sell a few pictures at a fairly high price than to try to produce a lot of pictures that could be sold for less - I deplore this situation but have not been able to find any alternative to it…..do not give up the idea of having a picture someday. I like to think of them belonging to people who really like them'. Some light age wear and with a minor central crease, about VG 

KOKOSCHKA OSKAR: (1886-1980) Austrian artist. Signed Christmas greetings card, the folding small 8vo card featuring a colour image to the cover, being a reproduction of one of the artist's paintings, signed ('O Kokoschka') by Kokoschka in bold black ink to the inside, beneath a printed greeting in French, and also signed by his wife, Olda Palkovska Kokoschka, who adds the words 'Happy Xmas' in her hand. Together with a second signed Christmas greetings card, the folding 8vo card featuring a reproduction of a drawing by the artist to the cover, signed by Kokoschka, with his initials ('OK') to the inside, also adding a few words in his hand, beneath a printed greeting in German, and also signed ('Olda') by his wife with her name alone. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG, 2

KNIGHT LAURA: (1877-1970) English artist. A.L.S., Laura, and again Laura Knight at the head, one page, slim 4to, St. John's Wood, London, 11th May 1939, to 'My dear Earl'. Knight writes a friendly letter, in part an introduction for a fellow artist, stating 'Mr & Mrs Stoppleman, (sic) our friends, are visiting the States, and as they know very few people, I am venturing to give them an introduction to yourself and Dorothy. Mrs Stoppleman, (sic) whose professional name is 'Clara Klinghoffer', is a very distinguished and talented painter whose work is highly thought of here in England, she is an old and dear friend of mine', Knight continuing to add that she and her husband, Harold, were sorry not to have seen her correspondents when they visited England, remarking 'I have intended writing to you ever since, but work has swallowed me up even more than usual, and I have been fearfully neglectful to all our dear friends. We are now spending a little holiday in Brighton to tone up Harold, who has had a very severe dose of flu, however he is making good progress now'. A letter of interesting association. Some very light, extremely minor age wear at the edges, VG Clara Klinghoffer (1900-1970) Austro-Hungarian-born British artist. In 1926 Klinghoffer married the Dutch journalist Joop Stoppelman and three years later they moved to Holland. In 1939, discovering Nazi spies had been planted in the household staff and aware that the invasion of Holland was imminent, Klinghoffer and her family briefly returned to London before departing for the United States, Knight's letter of introduction in hand.   

WAIN LOUIS: (1860-1939) English artist, remembered for his drawings featuring anthropomorphized large-eyed cats and kittens. A good pair of A.Ls.S., Louis Wain, four pages (total), 8vo, Bendigo, Westgate on Sea, 26th August and 1st September 1907, each to [Peter] Keary. In the first letter Wain asks his correspondent not to forget about an article for his annual and continues 'By the bye I am sending tonight to Mr. Everett an article on Canada which may interest you as you have I think been that way. The facts were given by a Canadian farmer whose an old friend of mine & worse than I have painted them. The official facts are very bad too'. With blank integral leaf. In the second letter Wain thanks his correspondent for their manuscript, remarking 'it is quite unconventional & out of the ruck if you don't mind me saying so, & just what I strive for for my annual', and further writing 'I am writing a bit of imaginative fancy myself for the annual & I hope to make the whole thing quite out of the way. I touch politics in a very satirical manner too in some drawings. But it is only the upper classes who are satirical in our days, the mass of the people take umbrage at anything which hits them'. Rare. VG, 2 Peter Keary (1865-1915) British editor of TitBits from 1884-90, when, in conjunction with C. Arthur Pearson, he started Pearson's Weekly. The Louis Wain Annual was published between 1901 and 1915. 

BESTALL ALFRED: (1892-1986) British illustrator and writer who submitted Rupert Bear stories for the London Daily Express from 1935-65. A fine, rare original black pen and ink drawing signed by Bestall, on a large 8vo page removed from an autograph album, n.p., n.d. (c.1930s/40s). Bestall has drawn a charming full-length image of Rupert Bear happily walking with a rucksack on his back and wearing his familiar checked trousers and matching scarf. Signed ('A. E. Bestall') by the artist at the foot of his drawing. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and a few very insignificant spots of foxing. VG 

HERGÉ: (1907-1983) Georges Prosper Remi. Belgian Cartoonist. Best known for creating the series of comics ''The Adventures of Tintin''. An excellent and unusual L.S., `Hergé´, one page, 4to, Brussels, n.d. [1979], on the Studios Hergé attractive printed stationery, in French. The letter bears to the heading a printed sketch of the characters of his comics, Tintin and Milou, and at the base a large printed colourful sketch of his 8 main characters of the comic series, comprising Tintin, Milou, Capitaine Haddock, Professeur Tournesol, police detectives Durand and Durant, Nestor and the soprano singer Castafiore, making a toast and holding each one a champagne glass. The present letter was issued on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the creation of Tintin. The letter also contains a printed text stating `Etant malheureusement dans l´impossibilité matérielle de répondre individuellement à tous ceux qui, à l´occasion du cinquantième anniversaire de Tintin, m´ont adressé si gentiment et si spontanément des lettres, des télégrammes, des dessins et bien d´autres témoignages de sympathie qui m´ont extrêmement touché, je les prie de bien vouloir trouver ici l´expression de ma profonde gratitude´ (Translation : `Being unfortunately unable to respond individually to all those who, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Tintin, sent me so kindly and so spontaneously letters, telegrams, drawings and many other testimonies of sympathy who touched me extremely, please find here the expression of my deep gratitude´) VG 

GUIMARD HECTOR: (1867-1942) French architect and designer, a prominent figure of the Art Nouveau style. A rare A.L.S., Hector Guimard, one page, 8vo, Castel Beranger, Rue de la Fontaine (Paris), 6th March 1899, to Monsieur Roulhac (?), in French. Guimard writes to arrange an appointment with his correspondent, in full, 'Pourriez vous passer demain Jeudi Mercredi entre 2h et 3h. Monsieur O. Uzanne m'a parle de vous c'est pourquoi je suis adresse a vous' (Translation: 'Could you drop by tomorrow Thursday Wednesday between 2pm and 3pm. Mr. O. Uzanne told me about you, that's why I am addressing you'). With blank integral leaf. Some light ink blotting, caused by the paper being folded whilst the ink was still a little wet, and with a small, neat tear to the left edge of one fold. About VG Octave Uzanne (1851-1931) French bibliophile, writer, publisher and journalist who took an interest in fashion and femininity in the French fin-de-siecle and collaborated with Symbolists and early Art Nouveau artists. The Castel Beranger, designed by Guimard, is a residential building with thirty-six apartments located in Paris. Built between 1895-98 it was the first residence in Paris built in the Art Nouveau style.  

LE CORBUSIER: (1887-1965) Swiss-French Architect, Painter, Urban Planner. His real name being Charles-Edouard Jeann´eret. An interesting content T.L.S., `Le Corbusier´, also making two corrections to the typed text, in his hand, one page, 4to, Paris, 8th October 1964, on Le Corbusier´s printed stationery, to Reverend Father de Couesnongle, at the Dominicans Convent of Eveux-sur-l´Arbresle, and to Abbott Bolle Reddat, Chaplain of Notre Dame du Haut Ronchamp, in French. Le Corbusier states in part `Je vous envoie, en un rouleau, l´un des deux dessins (l´un de la chapelle de Ronchamp, l´autre celui de l´Eglise de la Tourette) reçus du Professor Michael Graves de l´Université de Princeton (U.S.A.)…. Ces croquis ont été dessinés a même le sol de chacune de vos églises par ce brave professeur qui ne manque pas de talent. (Attention! Ce n´est pas moi qui ai fait ces croquis, c´est le signataire…´ ("I send you, in a roll, one of the two drawings (one of the chapel of Ronchamp, the other being the Church of La Tourette) received from Professor Michael Graves of Princeton University (U.S.A.) …. These sketches were drawn on the floor of each of your churches by this brave professor who is not lacking in talent. (Attention! It is not me who made these sketches, it is the signatory..") VG Michael Graves (1934-2015) American Architect and Designer. Graves was a member of The New York Five, and a professor of architecture at Princeton University for fourty years. Following his own partial paralysis in 2003, Graves became an internationally recognized advocate of health care design.

NADAR: (1820-1910) Gaspard-Felix Tournachon. French photographer, caricaturist and balloonist, the first person to take aerial photographs (1858). A good A.L.S., Nadar, one page, 4to, Boulevard des Capucines, Paris, n.d., to [Paul] Gavarni, in French. Nadar writes a charming letter of introduction, 'Bonjour a mon cher Maitre et ami! Voici deux de nos amis Martinet et Royer - deux plus enthousiaste de vous peut etre que tout le monde, ca qui est difficile tout de meme. Les hommes ont collectionne votre oeuvre autant q'uils l'ont pu: ils desirent autant qu'il sera possible, completer et ils sont surtout heureux, me disent-ils de cettre occasion de se trouver avec vous. Si cette lettre doit leur servir de Sesame, ouvre toi! Je la leur donne bien volontaire, et j'en prends occasion de vous serner bien cordialement la main' (Translation: 'Hello my dear Master and friend! Here are two of our friends Martinet and Royer, two who are perhaps more enthusiastic than everyone else, which is difficult all the same. These men have collected your work as much as they could: they want to complete it as much as possible and they are above all happy, they tell me, about this opportunity to be with you. If this letter is to serve them as Sesame, open up! I give it to them very willingly, and I take the opportunity to shake your hand very cordially'). In a postscript Nadar has penned an intriguing calculation, seemingly a puzzle, involving various letters and figures, asking 'Comprenez vous celui la?' (Translation: 'Do you understand this one?'). With holograph address panel to the verso. A letter of good association. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG Paul Gavarni (1804-1866) Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier. French illustrator who, like Nadar, was keenly interested in the question of aerial navigation and made experiments on a large scale with a view to find the means of directing balloons.  

`…try to put big pins in your ass.. and do not take large scales to weigh cobwebs… There are a thousand occasions when a vaudeville is better than a lament of Jeremiah’VOLTAIRE: (1694-1778) French Enlightenment Writer and Philosopher. Voltaire is a pseudonym, his name being François-Marie Arouet. Voltaire is known for his attacks on Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion and expression, and separation of church and state. A very rare Letter Signed by Voltaire with exceptional content. L.S., `V´, also adding `Potsdam, 4th November´ in his hand, three pages, 4to, Potsdam, 4th November, n.y. [1752], to Mr. Formey, in French. Voltaire initiates his letter freely defending his ideas in an ironical way and ridiculing his correspondent´s theories, stating in part `En verité, monsieur, je ne vous croyais pas Suisse. Un illustre théologien de Bâle écrit que milord Bolingbroke a eu la chaude pisse et de là il tire la conséquence evidente que Moïse est l´auteur du Pentateuque. On prétend que de bonnes lois et de bonnes troupes ne valent rien, si l´on n´a pas une foi vive pour les dogmes de Zwingleet d´Ecolampade. Or, comme Titus, Marc-Aurèle, Trajan, Nerva, Julien, etc… avaient le malheur horrible de ne croire pas plus à Zwingle qu´au pape, et que cependant tout allait assez bien de leur temps…´ (Translation: “To be fair, sir, I didn't believe you were Swiss. An illustrious theologian from Basle writes that Lord Bolingbroke had a hot piss and from this he draws the obvious conclusion that Moses is the author of the Pentateuch. It is said that good laws and good troops are worthless if one does not have a lively faith in the dogmas of Zwingle and Ecolampadius. Now, as Titus, Marcus Aurelius, Trajan, Nerva, Julian, etc. had the horrible misfortune of not believing more in Zwingle than in the Pope, and yet everything was going quite well in their time...”) Voltaire further pursues his ferocious attack wrapped in fine literary forms but with crude words and mocking symbols, saying `Le chapelain de milord Chesterfield a pris en bon chrétien la cause de milord Bolingbroke, il l´a défendue dans une lettre pieuse et modeste. La traduction est parvenue ici avec la permission des supérieurs. Le roi a beaucoup ri: faites-en de même. Il paye bien les docteurs et se moque des disputes théologiques, métaphysiques, phoronomiques et dynamiques. Soyez très tranquille, vivez gaiement de l´Evangile et de la philosophie, et laissez les profanes douter de la chronologie de Moïse… essayez de vous mettre de grandes épingles dans le cul… ou plutôt faites-vous embaumer tout vivant, afin de n´attraper que dans sept ou huit cents ans ce point de maturité qui est la mort…´ (“Translation: “The chaplain of milord Chesterfield took as a good Christian the cause of milord Bolingbroke, he defended it in a pious and modest letter. The translation arrived here with the permission of the superiors. The King laughed a lot: do the same. He pays doctors well and doesn't care about theological, metaphysical, phoronomic and dynamic disputes. Be very quiet, live cheerfully from the Gospel and philosophy, and let the profane people doubt on the chronology of Moses... try to put big pins in your ass... or rather have yourself embalmed while alive, in order to only catch up in seven or eight hundred years this point of maturity which is death...”) A lengthy an extremely good content letter by Voltaire who, before concluding, sends two fine and wise statements `Croyez-moi, ne mettez aux choses que leur prix, et ne prenez point de grosses balances pour peser des toiles d´araignées´ (Translation: “Believe me, put only the real price on things, and do not take large scales to weigh cobwebs”), and `Il y a mille occasions où un vaudeville vaut mieux qu´une lamentation de Jérémie´ (Translation: “There are a thousand occasions when a vaudeville is better than a lament of Jeremiah”) Small overall minor age wear, with a small tear to the bottom edge, otherwise G Johann Heinrich Samuel Formey (1711-1797) German Churchman, Educator and Author. A founding member of the Berlin Academy who popularized scientific and philosophical ideas, in French, and contributed to Diderot´s Encyclopédie. Although Formey fought against the ideas of the philosophers, he held for a while an epistolary relationship with Voltaire, who published several articles in Formey´s journal L´Abeille du Parnasse. Formey was best known for his work Anti-Emile, which refuted point by point the ideas of Rousseau on education. Voltaire and Formey were not long in falling out, which we can deduct from the reading of this letter. The present letter discussion comes from the publication of Bolingbroke´s translation of Lettres sur l´Histoire which questioned the authenticity of the bible. In response to it, Formey published Dissertation sur l´Incrédulité an extract of Zimmerman´s Opuscules. King Frederick II of Prussia accorded the privilege of a printed publication response to Voltaire, who wrote Défense de Milord Bolingbroke under the pseudonym “Docteur Goodnatur´d Wellwisher”. Voltaire´s article caused a scandal because of its impiety.The present letter shows several interesting small variations from the published text of Voltaire´s correspondences.   

ROUSSEAU JEAN-JACQUES: (1712-1778) French Writer and Philosopher. An interesting autograph manuscript, one page, 4to, n.p., [Paris], n.d. (c.1745), in French. The page of manuscript, in Rousseau's hand, is from his unpublished work relating to the history of women and laws which he prepared between 1745-51 for his benefactress Louise Marie Madeleine Dupin. Rousseau writes his text in the right column of the page, the left reserved for additional notes. Rousseau refers to the hatter´s job, and writes a text of ten lines, being one of the orders-decrees given by Kings of France which he resumed in his work Ordonnances des Rois de France, (“Ordinances of the Kings of France”), and identifies it as taken from `Ordon[nances] des R[ois] de Fr[ance], L[ivre] 4, p[age] 702´, stating `…par l´article 2 d´un réglement donné par le Roy Charles 5 pour le métier des chapeliers en 1366, que les ouvriers et compagnons ne pourront travailler que pour ceux qui sont Maitres, fils de Maitre, ou pour les f[emmes] qui ont aussi la maitrise´ (“…according to the article 2 of the regulation established by King Charles V related to the hatter´s job in 1366, the workers and companions will only be allowed to work for those who are masters, sons of masters or for the w[omen] who also have the mastery”) Overall very small age tone with right and bottom edges very slightly trimmed. G At the time Rousseau wrote these pages, between 1745 and 1751, he was working as secretary to his benefactress Louise Marie Madeleine Dupin.Charles V “The Wise” (1338-1380) King of France. 

‘I therefore come to ask you….to put an end to a state of affairs which is for me a terrible torture, physical and moral,  and of which I am yet to understand the usefulness as well as the justice’ PROUDHON PIERRE-JOSEPH: (1809-1865) French philosopher, socialist and politician, the founder of mutualist philosophy and the first person to declare himself an anarchist. A.L.S., P.-J. Proudhon, two pages, 8vo, Citadel of Doullens, 4th May 1850, to 'Monsieur le Directeur', on the printed stationery of La Voix du Peuple, in French. The imprisoned Proudhon writes to plead with his captor, in full, 'D'apres un mot que m'a dit hier le major, et cela, autant que je puis presumer, de votre part, il dependrait de vous de faire cesser mon isolement. Si j'avais cru que cette affaire etait laissee a votre discretion, il y a longtemps, Monsieur le Directeur, qu'au lieu de solliciter le ministre, qui ne repond pas, je me serais adresse directement a vous. Je n'aurais pas cru plus indigne de moi, je vous jure, de frapper a la porte du subordonne qu'a celle du superieur. Je viens donc vous prier, Monsieur le Directeur, de mettre fin a un etat de choses qui est pour moi un terrible supplice, physique et moral, et dont je suis encore a comprendre l'utilite ainsi que la justice. Depuis quinze juurs que je suis sequestre, les agitations nerveuses, les transports au cerveau, auxquels je suis d'ailleurs sujet, se sont multiplies chez moi d'une maniere inquietante. D'autres infirmites m'arrivent encore, a la suite de ce regime debilitant, a tel point que s'il se prolongeait, je serais force de croire que l'administration n'en veut pas seulement a ma plume, mais a ma vie. Jusqu'ici je me suis efforce de tromper les heures par la lecture et le travail: mais la lecture et le travail, chez un homme sequestre, deviennent vite des causes de malaise et d'impossibilite de lecture et de travail: aujourd'hui je suis hors d'etat de m'occuper et de rien faire. Daignez donc, Monsieur le Directeur, porter remede a mon etat, me permettre de me promener et de voir mes amis. Songez aussi, je vous en supplie, que j'ai une malheureuse femme qui pleure pour moi quand je ne puis que souffrir et qu'elle serait heureuse d'apprendre que j'ai ete enfin rendu a la liberte....de la prison' (Translation: 'According to a word that the major said to me yesterday, and that, as far as I can presume, on your part, it would depend on you to put an end to my isolation. If I had believed that this matter was left to your discretion, a long time ago. Monsieur le Directeur, that instead of soliciting the Minister, who does not answer, I would have addressed myself directly to you. I would not have thought it more unworthy of me, I swear to you, to knock on the door of the subordinate than on that of the superior. I therefore come to ask you, Monsieur le Directeur, to put an end to a state of affairs which is for me a terrible torture, physical and moral, and of which I am yet to understand the usefulness as well as the justice. During the fifteen days that I have been sequestered, the nervous agitations, the transports of the brain, to which I am moreover subject, have multiplied in me in a disquieting manner. Other infirmities still happen to me, as a result of this debilitating regime, to such an extent that if it were prolonged, I would be forced to believe that the administration does not only want my pen, but my life. So far I have tried to deceive the hours by reading and working: but reading and working, in a sequestered man, quickly become causes of discomfort and of the impossibility of reading and working: today I am in no condition to occupy myself and do nothing. So deign, Monsieur le Directeur, to remedy my condition, allow me to walk around and see my friends. Consider also, I beg you, that I have an unhappy wife who cries for me when I can only suffer and that she would be happy to learn that I have finally been set free….from jail.'). With blank integral leaf. Some very light age wear and a few extremely small, minor tears to the lower edge, otherwise VG In June 1849 Proudhon had been arrested for insulting Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon III), the first President of France (1848-52) and was imprisoned for three years. In December 1849, whilst in prison, he married 27 year old Euphrasie Piegard, with whom he had four daughters.  

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 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."

                                                  ‘I almost owe him my life’ BALZAC HONORÉ DE: (1799-1850) French Novelist and Playwright. Best known for his masterwork novel La Comédie Humaine, a multi-novel collection of novels written over twenty years. A very fine A.L.S., `de Balzac´, three pages, 8vo, slim paper, Berdychiv, Ukraine, 22nd October 1849, to Charles Sauvageot, in French. At the time of the present letter Balzac was residing at Wierzchownia, in Ukraine, staying at the home of Madame Hanska. Balzac has mandated his correspondent to get him a violin to be offered to Doctor Knothe who had treated him, and having just received the violin, states in part `…enfin à travers tant d´instruments de musique qui ont roulé entre la Gallicie et Vienne, celui-là s´est fait jour et n´a pas souffert, il est venu sain et sauf, et il l´a trouvé parfait, excellentissime, et il a mis l´amateur et collectionneur de violons en goût. Cet artiste est le médecin de la famille au sein de laquelle je vis loin des orages, et je lui dois à peu près la vie, attendu que j´avais une maladie de coeur au plus haut degré don't il m´a délivré; donc, comme je désire moi aussi lui faire un cadeau… si par hasard vous trouvez ou vous entendez parler de quelque chef d´oeuvre de lutherie, vous qui vous y connaissez si bien, pensez à moi, prévenez moi´ (Translation: “…finally, through so many musical instruments that have rolled between Gallicia and Vienna, this one has emerged and has not suffered, it has come safe and sound, and he has found it perfect, excellent, and it appealed to the violin lover and collector. This artist is the doctor of the family with which I live far from the storms, and I almost owe him my life, given that I had a heart disease in the highest degree from which he delivered me; so, as I also want to give him a gift... if by chance you find or hear about some masterpiece of luting making, you who know the matter so well, think of me, let me know”) Balzac says having been delivered from his heart disease, although his health never fully recovered and kept on deteriorating, passing away ten months later. Balzac further refers to his future return to Paris, saying in part `…comme il m´est défendu de monter plus de 20 marches, je me ferai porter par 2 commissionnaires en une façon de palanquin jusque dans votre musée et pour le voir et pour vous voir. J´ai toujours votre fouet cosaque sur ma commode, en sorte que je pensé à vous. Ce que vous m´avez dit de la difficulté de trouver de vrais Palissy, sains et entiers me nâvre. Palissy, Rabelais et Salomon de Caux sans statues, dans un paysqui en élève à Parmentier et à Monge, à Ducange et à Coquille est un fait qui m´irrite et me fait rougir de n´être pas assez riche pour réparer cette ingratitude. Dans tous les cas, le hasard est si grand surtout à Paris, où les voitures ne tuent que 5 ou 6 personnes par an…´ (Translation: “…as I am not allowed to climb more than 20 steps, I will have myself carried by 2 porters in the manner of a palanquin to your museum in order to see it and to see you. I still have your Cossack whip on my dresser, so I thought of you. What you told me about the difficulty of finding real Palissy, healthy and unbroken, saddens me. Palissy, Rabelais and Salomon de Caux without statues, in a country that raises them to Parmentier and Monge, Ducange and Coquille, is a fact that irritates me and makes me blush for not being rich enough to make amends to such ingratitude. In any case, chance is so great, especially in Paris, where cars only kill 5 or 6 people a year…”) Addressed in Balzac´s hand to the fourth page. G to VG Charles Sauvageot (1781-1860) French Violinist and important collector of medieval and Renaissance antiques which he donated to the Louvre. Sauvageot and Balzac shared their passion for Bernard Palissy, a XV century Huguenot potter, engineer and craftsman known for his so-called “rusticware” large oval decorated platters featuring small animals in relief, and who died in the Bastille.In February 1832 Balzac received an intriguing letter from Odessa with no return address and signed simply "L'Étrangère" ("The Foreigner") expressing sadness at the cynicism and atheism in La Peau de Chagrin and its negative portrayal of women. Balzac´s response was to place an advertisement in the Gazette de France, hoping that his anonymous critic would see it. Thus began a fifteen-year correspondence between Balzac and Ewelina Hanska a Polish woman married to a nobleman twenty years her senior. After the death of her husband in 1841, Balzac finally visited Ewelina Hanska in 1843 and won her heart. After a series of financial and health problems, including objections from Tsar Nicholas I, the couple married in 1850 in Saint Petersburg, only few months after the present letter was written. Five months later and three months after returning to Paris, Balzac died.  

SCOTT WALTER: (1771-1832) Scottish historical novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Manuscript docket signed, Walter Scott, to the final page of a manuscript document, Selkirk, 31st July 1805. The manuscript document is a Summons between Christian Pasley and William Tait, four pages, folio, Selkirk, 29th May 1805, and states, in part, 'Whereas it is humbly meant and shown to us by Christian Pasley….that where the Complainer about Martinmas last brought forth a female natural child to William Tait…..presently working at a road which is making over the hills……and although the said William Tait is the father of her child, yet he refuses to acknowledge himself as such and to pay her a suitable maintenance for its support although frequently desired unless compelled. Therefore the said William Tait….ought & should….make payment to the said Pursuer of the sum of one pound Sterling…..per Quarter for the first three Quarters for nursing said child during that period, and the sum of three pounds Sterling per annum thereafter untill the said child shall attain the age of twelve years complete for cloathing & maintaining it during that period', followed by a statement signed by William Tait denying being the father, in part, 'the Defender who denies being the Father of the pursuers child, he admits being acquainted with her and that he was her fellow servant at Mrs. Horsburgh's…..' Scott's docket, signed in his capacity as Advocate Sheriff-Depute of Selkirkshire states, in part, '….the Sheriff allows the pursuer a proof of the circumstances condescended on with certification that if they be proved he will allow the Pursuers oath in supplement & that the Defendr. will be found liable in all the expense….' Some age wear and light dust staining and a few small holes to some of the folds, G  

DICKENS CHARLES: (1812-1870) English novelist. A very fine, extensive A.Q.S., Charles Dickens (an excellent example, with paraph), one page, 4to, n.p., 28th April 1858. Writing in his characteristic blue ink Dickens has neatly penned a twenty-three-line quotation from David Copperfield, in full – -“We had only one check to our pleasure, and that happened a little while before I took my leave, when Miss Mills chancing to makesome allusion to tomorrow morning, I unluckily let out that, beingobliged to exert myself now, I got up at five o’clock. WhetherDora had any idea that I was a Private Watchman, I am unableto say; but it made a great impression on her, and she neitherplayed nor sang any more.“It was still on her mind when I bade her adieu; and shesaid to me in her pretty coaxing way – as if I were a doll, I usedto think:“Now don’t get up at five o’clock, you naughty boy. It’s sononsensical!”“My love”, said I, “I have work to do”“But don’t do it!” returned Dora, “Why should you?”It was impossible to say to that sweet little surprised faceotherwise than lightly and playfully, that we must work to live.“Oh! How ridiculous!” cried Dora“How shall we live without Dora?” said I“How? Anyhow!” said Dora.She seemed to think she had quite settled the question,and gave me such a triumphant little kiss, direct from herinnocent heart, that I would hardly have put her out ofconceit with her answer, for a fortune” –  David Copperfield, by……’  Signed and dated by Dickens at the foot of the quotation. Autograph Quotations Signed by Dickens are extremely rare, and this is a particularly handsome and desirable example, both for the physical size of the paper and length of the quotation. A few light stains to the right edge, only very slightly touching the concluding letters of three words, all of which remain perfectly legible. About VG The present quotation is taken from towards the end of A Little Cold Water, the title of chapter 37 of David Copperfield, published in 1850. The passage illustrates, for the first time, how a shadow is temporarily cast over David’s love for Dora Spenlow, his future wife. Copperfield is deeply in love and does not quite comprehend what the reader sees: Dora, in her present childlike state, unable to cope with the responsibilities of a household, will prove little more than a hindrance to him. Maria Beadnell, Dickens’s first love whom he met in 1830 is thought to have been the model for the character Dora in David Copperfield. Dickens regarded David Copperfield, a largely autobiographical work, as his favourite amongst all the novels he wrote. The quotation was written and signed by Dickens at a significant time in his life, making his choice of passage an interesting one. A year earlier, in 1857, Dickens had fallen in love with the actress Ellen Ternan, and his passion for her was to last the rest of his life. Dickens was increasingly finding his wife, Catherine, to be an incompetent mother and housekeeper, causing him financial worries. In May 1858, after Catherine accidentally received a bracelet meant for Ellen Ternan, Dickens and his wife separated, and Catherine would never see her husband again.  After separating from his wife Dickens undertook a series of hugely popular and remunerative reading tours, and the present quotation was signed during the first such tour, which lasted from April 1858 to February 1859 and consisted of 129 appearances in 49 towns throughout England, Scotland and Ireland. The original manuscript of David Copperfield was bequeathed by Dickens to his friend the biographer and literary critic John Forster (1812-1876), who in turn bequeathed the manuscript (together with other books, pictures and important manuscripts) to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. American Book Prices Current record only three other examples of quotations from David Copperfield signed by Dickens as having appeared at auction in the last 25 years. 

DODGSON CHARLES LUTWIDGE: (1832-1898) Lewis Carroll. English author, poet and mathematician whose works include Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865). A rare signed and inscribed printed leaflet entitled An Easter Greeting to Every Child who Loves Alice, four pages, 12mo, n.p., 11th September 1877. The leaflet takes the form of a letter addressed to Dear Child and was privately printed for the author in Oxford in 1876, the opening text stating 'Please to fancy, if you can, that you are reading a real letter, from a real friend whom you have seen, and whose voice you can seem to yourself to hear wishing you, as I do now with all my heart, a happy Easter'. This first edition first printing is on paper bearing a partial 'E Towgood Fine' watermark and features the word 'My' in Roman type face, instead of italics, at line twelve of the third page. Signed by Carroll with the rarer form of his signature in his characteristic mauve coloured ink to the cover, 'Edith from Lewis Carroll' and dated 11th September 1877 in his hand. A couple of very light, extremely minor creases, otherwise VG Copies of the present leaflet, which have previously been described as 'the rarest of the Carroll items excepting the first issue of Alice', were originally printed with the intention of having them inserted into specially bound presentation copies of The Hunting of the Snark, however Dodgson is also known to have given away individual copies to his young friends, as would appear to have been the case with the present example.

VIGNY ALFRED DE : (1797-1863) Count of Vigny. French Poet, Writer and Translator of Shakespeare. A fine A.L.S., `Alfred de Vigny´, one page, 8vo, n.p., Monday evening, 4th may 1840, in French. De Vigny tries to help a person and states `J´ai déjà fait aujourd´hui, monsieur, des démarches qui j´espère ne seront pas inutiles à notre bon et intéressant malade. Nous en parlerons s´il vous plait, mercredi, vers midi, si vous voulez bien venir´ (`I have already taken steps today, sir, which I hope will not be useless to our good and interesting patient. We will talk about it please, Wednesday, around noon, if you want to come´) Vigny further explains how busy he will be the day after and states `…je n´aurais pas le temps de vous tout dire sur les moyens que nous aurons de secourir le frère et la sœur qui méritaient un sort meilleur et qui me font bien de la peine´ (`I will not have time to tell you everything about the means we will have to help the brother and sister who deserved a better fate and who make me feel very sad…´) With blank integral leaf. VG 

DUMAS ALEXANDRE Pere: (1802-1870) French Writer whose works include The Three Musketeers. A fine A.L.S., `Al Dumas´, one page, 8vo, blue paper, n.p., Friday, n.d. [1864], François George Haini, in French. Dumas invites his correspondent to a dinner at the exhibition of Delacroix and announces that his protégé fanny Gordosa will sing during the evening event, stating `Voulez-vous diner demain avec moi à l´exposition des tableaux de Delacroix où je suis chargé de vous inviter. Mad. Gordosa y chantera et de cette façon vous pourrez l´entendre et j´aurai eu le plaisir de me trouver avec vous…´ (“Would you like to have diner tomorrow with me at the exhibition of paintings by Delacroix where I am responsible for inviting you. Madam Gordosa will sing there and in this way you will be able to listen to her and I will have had the pleasure of being with you...”) With address leaf. Small age toning to edges. G François Haini (1807-1873) French Conductor and Cellist.Eugene Delacroix (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.Fanny Gordosa )1831-?) Soprano of Portuguese origin, and actress. Beaten and abandoned by her husband, an Austrian Baron, Gordosa was living in Naples with no incomes and in very difficult situation. Alexandre Dumas met her in Naples in 1863 and helped her, bringing her back with him to Paris.

`…from the third performance of Montecristo…´ DUMAS ALEXANDRE: Père (1802-1870) French Writer whose works include The Three Musketeers. A very good A.L.S., A. Dumas, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., to Monsieur Porcher, in French. The letter bears to the upper left corner a blind embossed monogram with Dumas initials. Dumas sends a message to his correspondent explaining what he has decided regarding the takings of the Montecristo performances, stating `Mon cher Porcher, J´ai oublié de vous prévenir qu´à partir de la 3º représentation de Montecristo vous avez 20 fr. de plus de billets, dont vous tiendrez compte directement à Isabelle´ ("My dear Porcher, I forgot to warn you that from the third performance of Montecristo and on, you have 20 francs more of tickets, which you will take into account directly with Isabelle´ To a post-scriptum, beneath his signature with flourish initial, Dumas adds in part `Si vous ne les avez pas donné encore, donnez-les… c´est convenu avec Hortense´ ("If you have not given them yet, give them…. It is agreed with Hortense") With blank integral leaf. VG Jean Baptiste Porcher (1792-1864) French former theatre employee who created an agency which used to buy copyrights to their authors. 

HUGO VICTOR: (1802-1885) French Poet & Novelist of the Romantic Movement. A good A.L.S., Victor Hugo, one page, 8vo, Paris, 25th June 1879, to a General, in French. Hugo states in part `Cher collègue et cher general, Mon serrement de main cherche le vôtre. Je suis heureux de votre bonheur. Nous serons charmés de voir Madame votre femme et Mademoiselle votre fille. Nous sommes, à ells et à vous, cher general, du fond du coeur…´ (“Dear colleague and dear General, My handshake seeks yours. I am happy for your happiness. We will be delighted to see Madame your wife and Mademoiselle your daughter. We are, to them and to you, dear General, with you from the bottom of our hearts...”) With blank integral leaf. Very small overall minor age wear, with few small ink stains. G to VG The correspondent of Hugo´s letter is most probably François Gabriel Pittié (1829-1886) French General who participated at the Crimean war, at Sebastapol, where he was wounded twice. He was also later injured at the battle of Solferino. In 1879 he was appointed by French President Jules Grevy as chief of his military presidential house. This appointment is probably the reason for Hugo´s comment about their happiness. Hugo calls his correspondent colleague because Pittié published several literary works, tales, novels, poems, etc… 

VERNE JULES: (1828-1905) French Novelist. Best known for his science fiction and adventures novels. A.L.S., Jules Verne, one page, 8vo, Amiens, 20th January 1894, to the French Minister of Public Instruction, in French. Verne thanks his correspondent for grating him such an award and states in part `Monsieur le Ministre, Une lettre du 17 de ce mois m´annonce que vous avez bien voulu me nommer officier de l´Instruction Publique. Très honoré d´avoir reçu votre distinction; permettez-moi de vous exprimer ici mes très sincères remerciements…´ («Mr. le Ministre, A letter dated 17th of this month informs me that you have kindly decided to appoint me as officer of Public Instruction. Very honoured to have received such distinction; allow me to express here my very sincere thanks… ») Officer of Public Instruction was an honorary distinction which usually rewarded personalities who had carried out a work contributing to the education and training of young people. Paper with watermark. With blank integral leaf. G to VG

'The cause is in the infirmities of my old age and some work, the necessity of which my vanity makes me believe.'TOLSTOY LEO: (1828-1910) Russian writer, regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time. A lengthy and very interesting L.S., `Leon Tolstoy´, with the concluding five lines of text in his hand (the main body of the letter in the hand of his youngest daughter, Alexandra, employed as her father’s secretary from 1901), two pages, over two sheets, large 4to, n.p., 9th November 1908, to a colleague, in French. Tolstoy initiates his letter stating `Je vous suis très reconnaissant pour votre bonne lettre plaine d´appréciations que je sens ne pas avoir mérité´ (“I am very grateful to you for your good letter full of appreciations which I feel not deserving”) Tolstoy further sends his deepest condolences to his correspondent who has recently suffered the death of his son, and referring to death expresses his own thoughts, saying `… à mon âge la mort, sans parler de la mienne, me paraît n´être qu´une des conditions de notre existence tellement naturelle que quand même elle est prématurée, ell n´agit point sur moi comme elle agissait jadis: comme quelque chose d´exceptionnel et de terrible. Notre vie entre deux éternités dure t-elle 100 ou 8 ans, n´est, ni plus ni moins grande, et ses résultats pour celui qui meurt, comme pour ceux qui restent, sont les mêmes´ (“… death at my age, not to mention my own one, seems to me being only one of the conditions of our existence, so natural that even when it is premature, it does not affect me as it did in the past: like something exceptional and a terrible thing. Our life between two eternities does it last 100 or 8 years, is neither greater nor less, and its results for those who die, as for those who remain, are the same”) Further again, Tolstoy refers to his health and his work `La cause e nest dans les infirmités de ma vieillesse et quelques travaux, à la nécéssité desquels ma vanité me fait croire…´ (“The cause is in the infirmities of my old age and some work, the necessity of which my vanity makes me believe...”) A very interesting content letter, with statements related to death in his late years. Paper with a Waterton Tub-Sized Linen watermark. Small overall minor creasing, one very small tear to the fold edge and clipped corner, otherwise G

[VERLAINE PAUL]: (1844-1896) French Poet. Considered one of the greatest in French poetry. Original printed mourning invitation to Verlaine´s burial, one page, 4to, Paris, January 1896, in French. The document states `Vous êtes prié d´assister aux, Convoi, Service et enterrement de MONSIEUR PAUL VERLAINE, Poète, décédé le 8 Janvier 1896… en son domicile, rue Descartes, Nº 39, à l´âge de 51 ans ; Qui se feront le Vendredi 10 courant, à DIX HEURES TRÈS PRÉCISES, en l´Eglise Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, sa paroisse. De Profundis !... De la part de Monsieur Georges VERLAINE, son fils… De son Editeur, de ses amis et de ses admirateurs. L´Inhumation aura lieu au Cimetière des Batignolles´ (`You are requested to attend the Convoy, Service and burial of MONSIEUR PAUL VERLAINE, Poet, who died on January 8th, 1896… at his home, rue Descartes, Nº 39, at the age of 51; Which will take place on Friday 10th current month, at TEN HOURS EXACTLY, in the Church of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, his parish. De Profundis!... From Mr. Georges VERLAINE, his son... From his Publisher, his friends and his admirers. Burial will take place at the Batignolles Cemetery´) Paper with attractive Le Bayard watermark with coat of arms. Small professional repair to the fold to the verso. VG 

MALLARMÉ STÉPHANE: (1842-1898) His pen name being Etienne Mallarmé. French Poet. A major symbolist Poet who strongly inspired future artistic schools such as Cubism, Surrealism or Futurism. D.S., `Stéphane Mallarmé´, one page, 4to, Paris, 15th May 1890, in French. The partially printed document is a receipt issued by the French publication Revue d´Aujourd´hui, Mallarmé signing and acknowledging receipt of the sum of 150 francs corresponding to the amount due till that date. Bearing a tax stamp to the front. Small repair to the verso to the upper edge, otherwise G to VG

LOUYS PIERRE: (1870-1925) French Poet and Novelist. A very good A.L.S., with his initials, two pages, small 4to, Villa Velleda, Arcachon, 13th August 1911, in French. Louys, in his usual clean writing in bold purple ink, refers to other French writers, stating in part `Et… Rostand qui vient d´écrire tout un poème sur ton discours du 14 juillet ou sur les mêmes idées, prétend qu´on vient de voir renaitre la Prouesse et l´Exploit…. Ne rêvons pas sur ce qui pourrait se passer dans 18 mois sur tel ou tel champ de bataille. Supposons une bataille demain. Demain 14 août, deux hommes, deux hommes seulement, peuvent en toute sécurité faire 500 kilomètres au dessus d´une armée ennemie et de ses plus lointains renforts, - et rentrer au camp: Beaumont. Védrines. (Beaumont surtout). Mais deux français. - pas un allemand!´ ("And… Rostand, who has just written a whole poem on your July 14th speech or on the same ideas, claims that we have just seen the Prowess and the Exploit reborn…. Let's not dream about what could happen in 18 months on this or that battlefield. Let´s suppose a battle tomorrow. Tomorrow August 14th, two men, two men only, can safely travel 500 kilometres above an enemy army and its most distant reinforcement troops, - and return to camp: Beaumont. Vedrines. (Beaumont especially). But two French. - not a German!") Further, Louys insists on his better and unique candidate, Beaumont, and states `Ai-je tort de croire qu´un homme comme celui-là est pour une armée modern ce qu´Achille ou Roland pouvaient être pour les armées de jadis? - l´homme impossible à remplacer, - l´homme don't on a besoin pour vaincre´ ("Am I wrong to believe that a man like that is for a modern army what Achilles or Roland could be for the armies of yesterday? - the man impossible to replace, - the man we need to win") Concluding to a postscriptum beneath his signature, Louys says `Ah! Je suis terriblement emphysémateux mais je m´enrolerais d´avance dans les bataillons de marche pour avoir le droit de voter la guerre. Jamais, depuis 1870, l´occasion n´a été meilleure pour nous. Qui sait si elle se retrouvera?´ ("Ah! I am terribly emphysematous but I would enroll in advance in the marching battalions to have the right to vote for war. Never since 1870 has the opportunity been better for us. Who knows if we will have another opportunity?") VG Edmond Rostand (1868-1918) French Poet. Best known for his play Cyrano de Bergerac.Jean Louis Conneau (1880-1937) better known under the pseudonym André Beaumont. French pioneer Aviator, Naval Lieutenant and Manufacturer.Jules Védrines (1881-1919) French Pioneer Aviator, the first to fly at more than 100 mph. Winner of the Gordon Bennett Trophy race, 1912.

GARCIA LORCA FEDERICO: (1898-1936) Spanish Poet & Dramatist. An iconic figure of the Spanish literature. An extremely rare and excellent A.L.S., `Federico´, two pages, 4to, Madrid, 28th November 1920, to Emilia Llanos, in Granada, in Spanish. A dreamer Lorca writes a letter full of poetical references to his beloved city of Granada which he misses, stating `Yo la veo en medio de ese maravilloso paisaje granadino como la única mujer granadina capaz de sentirlo, y me alegro extraordinariamente de tener una amiga que mire los chopos encendidos y las lejanías desmayadas como si yo las mirase. Que hermosa y que triste estará la carrera del Darro y que nubes habrá por Valparaiso! ¿Verdad? Yo recuerdo a Granada como se deben recordar a las novias muertas y como se recuerda un día de sol cuando niño. ¿Se han caido del todo las hojas?´ (Translation: "I can imagine you in the middle of that wonderful Granada landscape as the only woman of Granada capable of feeling it, and I am extraordinarily happy to have a friend who looks at the light over the poplars and the fading distant landscape as if I were looking at them. How beautiful and how sad the Darro promenade must be and what clouds there will be over Valparaiso! True? I remember Granada as dead brides should be remembered and as one remembers a sunny day as a child. Have the leaves completely fallen?") Lorca further refers to Madrid where he is, saying `…aquí en Madrid ya están los arboles esqueléticos y fríos, solo en algunos queda una hojilla que se mueve con el triste viento como una mariposa de oro´ (Translation: "…here in Madrid the trees are already skeletal and cold, only in some of them there is a leaf that moves with the sad wind like a golden butterfly") Further again Lorca makes an intimate sentiment about his loving feelings `Yo… siendole franco estoy un poco triste, un poco melancólico, siento en el alma la amargura de estar roto de amor. Se que estas melancolías pasarán… pero el rastro ¡queda siempre!´ (Translation: "And me… to be honest with you, I am a little sad, a little melancholic, I feel in my soul the bitterness of being broken with love. I know that these melancholies will pass... but the trace always remains!") Lorca goes on to mention seeing a woman who reminded him of Emilia, and how the woman stopped into an antique shop Emilia would have loved; he finishes by asking Emilia to send him a signed portrait, in payment for which he will send her a poem. An letter of very good content. Accompanied by a cabinet portrait of Emilia seated under a Moorish archway in the Alhambra. Also accompanied by the original envelope addressed in Lorca´s hand, postmarked and stamped. A bold black ink written letter. Edges slightly trimmed, otherwise G to VG The letter was written one year after Lorca arrived in Madrid, at a time when he was just becoming part of an artistic and literary movement which included his friends the pioneer film director Luis Buñuel and the painter Salvador Dali. His first book of poems was to be published in 1921. Lorca met Emilia Llanos, who was ten years older than him, in 1919. They became very close friends at the centre of cultural life in Granada. It has been suggested that they might have married if Lorca´s sexual ambivalence had not stood in the way. Their friendship long lasted and Emilia was of the first to hear the news of Lorca´s death in 1936 after hearing from his mother the news of his arrest two days earlier. Emilia had set off to meet their mutual friend the composer Manuel de Falla with the intention of asking him to intervene on Lorca´s behalf. On her way she met Antonio Gallego Burin, another mutual friend and publisher of Lorca´s first poem in the journal Renovación in 1919, who told Emilia that she should not go as Lorca had already been shot.The present letter is published in Federico Garcia Lorca - Epistolario completo edited by Andrew Anderson and Christopher Maurer, 1997Provenance: Emilia Llanos, Antonio Gallegos Burin, and descents to the present owner.  

AUDEN W. H.: (1907-1973) British-American poet. A.L.S., Wystan Auden, one page, 4to, Kirchstetten, Austria, 1st October n.y., to Mr. Brusar. Auden states that he had thrown away the envelope of his correspondent's letter 'and then found that you had not put the address on your letter itself, so I hope you will receive this' and continues to express his concern that he has not received the new Sop poems and asks where they were sent to, further writing 'Struga was quite fun. The mistake they make is in inviting too many poets. We have a yearly International Poetry Festival in London, which lasts for three evenings. We invite about ten poets (one year Popa was one) so that each gets a chance to present a fair sample of his work. At Struga there were about 250!'. In concluding Auden congratulates Brusar on his new job, remarking 'So far as I can gather, there is in your country, thank God, no Party line on literature'. A letter of good content and association. VG Branko S. Brusar - Serbo-Croatian translator who, with Auden, translated various poems by Nikola Sop in the early and mid-1960s, some of which appeared in Encounter and others in the Zagreb periodical The Bridge. A volume of the translations, Auden's Sop, was published in 1997. Nikola Sop (1904-1982) Yugoslav poet. Vasko Popa (1922-1991) Serbian poet. The Struga Poetry Evenings is an international festival held annually in Struga, North Macedonia, since 1961. From 1966 the festival has presented a Gold Wreath Award, of which Auden was the recipient in 1971.

‘The poet Paul Verlaine left a friend who is not very pretty or attractive,but who finally wants to live’BARRES MAURICE: (1862-1923) French novelist, journalist and politician, a close associate of Gabriele d'Annunzio. A.L.S., Maurice Barres, two pages, 8vo, Boulevard Maillot, Neuilly, n.d. (c.1896), to Juliette Bessand, on black bordered mourning stationery, in French. Barres writes a sympathetic letter seeking help for Paul Verlaine's last companion, in part, 'Le poete Paul Verlaine a laisse une amie qui n'est pas bien jolie ni attrayante mais enfin qui desire vivre. Or elle n'a aucunes ressources. Elle affirme qu'elle etait employee et excellent ouvriere a la Belle Jardiniere avant de tenir le menage de Verlaine. Il s'agirait de lui faire ouvrir de nouveau les ateliers de la Belle Jardiniere. Monsieur Bessand, au souvenir de qui je me rappelle, voudrait-il donner des ordres a cef effet, et de telle facon que Mademoiselle Krantz, si la chose est possible, soit employee?' (Translation: 'The poet Paul Verlaine left a friend who is not very pretty or attractive, but who finally wants to live. But she has no resources. She affirms that she was an employee and an excellent worker at La Belle Jardiniere before taking care of Verlaine's household. It would be a question of making him open the workshops of La Belle Jardiniere again. Mr. Bessand, to whose memory I remember, would he like to give orders to this effect, and in such a way that Miss. Krantz, if possible, be employed?'). With the original envelope hand addressed by Barres and lightly affixed to the verso. Also affixed to an inside page is the personal printed Visiting Card of Barres. A couple of very light, minor stains and age wear, otherwise VG Juliette Bessand - wife of Charles Bessand, the director of La Belle Jardiniere, a large clothing store in Paris. Paul Verlaine (1844-1896) French poet associated with the Symbolist movement and the Decadent movement. Verlaine's final years saw his descent into drug addiction, alcoholism and poverty. He lived in slums and public hospitals and spent his days drinking absinthe in Paris cafes, before dying in the capital at the age of 51. Eugenie Krantz (d.1897) The last mistress of Paul Verlaine who, upon the poet's death, found herself on the street and completely destitute. 'Don't let me starve. What you will do for me will give me courage to work without the need to prostitute myself' she wrote to another friend of Verlaine at this time.

‘But I hope well before the end of the year to have finished Colombe Blanchet and to have you read it’ ALAIN-FOURNIER HENRI: (1886-1914) French author and soldier. A rare A.L.S., H. Alain-Fournier, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d. ('Mardi' c.1913-14), to a lady [Marie Scheikevitch], in French. Alain-Fournier writes a letter of gratitude, and also makes reference to what would have been his second novel, 'Vous m'avez fait grand plaisir en me donnant l'occasion et la possibilitie de voir M. Hebrard. Il m'a propose pour Le Temps ce qu'il etait le plus logique de me proposer: lui apporter mon prochain roman. Ce que j'ai promis bien volontiers. Ce second roman est, pour l'instant, un peu retarde par une nouvelle oeuvre qui s'est mise au travers de ma route et qui ne me laisse pas beaucoup de repit. Mais j'espere bien avant la fin de l'annee avoir termine Colombe Blanchet et vous la faire lire. Je souhaite qu'elle vous plaise et vous prie d'agreer, chere Madame, l'assurance de mes sentiments tres respecteux et reconnaissants' (Translation: 'You gave me great pleasure by giving me the opportunity and the possibility of seeing M. Hebrard. He offered me for Le Temps what it was most logical to offer me: bring him my next novel. What I gladly promised. This second novel is, for the moment, a little delayed by a new work which has gotten in my way and which does not leave me much respite. But I hope well before the end of the year to have finished Colombe Blanchet and to have you read it. I hope you like it and please accept, dear Madame, the assurance of my most respectful and grateful feelings'). With blank integral leaf (one light stain). Autograph letters of Alain-Fournier are rare as a result of his death at the young age of 27 when killed in action during World War I. VG Marie Scheikevitch (1882-1964) Artist and autobiographer who moved in artistic and literary circles and was a close friend of Marcel Proust. Like Alain-Fournier, her lover Adrien Hebrard (1833-1914) French journalist and politician, director of Le Temps, died during World War I. Alain-Fournier's second novel, Colombe Blanchet, was started in 1914 but remained unfinished when he joined the army as a lieutenant in August.  Provenance: The present letter was previously held within the Albin Schram Collection of Autograph Letters, sold by Christie's in July 2007.  

SAINT-EXUPERY ANTOINE DE: (1900-1944) French Writer, Poet and pioneering Aviator. Saint-Exupery was a 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 and excellent Autograph Manuscript, two full lengthy pages with small writing, 4to, yellow paper, n.p., n.d. [1938], in French. The seventy-five lines manuscript being his annotations and draft for his novel Wind, Sand and Stars (“Terre des Hommes”). Saint-Exupery, in his usual very difficult and small writing, annotates these first thoughts draft which will be used in the seventh chapter of his famous collection of autobiographical essays which is Wind, Sand and Stars, evoking a series of events in his life, mainly from the time when he worked for the airmail service. The central element of this story being his accident with his navigator André Prévot in the Libyan Sahara in 1935, where the two aviators nearly died of thirst.The manuscript contains several corrections and its final publication will include some changes to the present unpublished text. Saint-Exupery numbers each page to the upper left corner as `I´ and `II´, stating in part `Tel est le desert. Un Coran, qui n´est qu´une règle de jeu, en change de sable en Empire. Au fond d´un Sahara qui serait vide, se joue une pièce secrète, qui remue les passions des hommes. La vraie vie du désert n´est pas faite d´exodes de tribus à la recherche d´une herbe à paître, mais du jeu qui s´y joue encore. Quelle différence de matière entre le sable soumis et l´autre! Et n´en est-il pas ainsi pour tous les hommes? En face de ce désert transfiguré qui me souviens des jeux de mon enfance…´ (“Such is the desert. A Koran, which is only a rule of the game, changes sand into an Empire. At the bottom of a Sahara that would be empty, a secret play is being played out, which stirs the passions of men. The real life of the desert is not made of exodus of tribes in search of grass to graze, but of the game that is still played there. What a difference in matter between the submitted sand and the other one! And is it not so for all men? In front of this transfigured desert which reminds me the games of my childhood…”) A manuscript of very interesting content. Creasing to the bottom right corner of the first page, with a small stain to the bottom edge of same page, otherwise G Terre des Hommes (“Wind, Sand and Stars”) was finally published in France in February 1939, and was awarded with the Grand Prix of the French Academy. The novel would be published in US few months later, in June 1939.

COLETTE: (1873-1954) French author, best known for her novella Gigi (1944). A.L.S., Colette Willy, one page, 8vo, Rue Marguerite, Paris, n.d. (1st December 1913), to Marcel Drouet, on the printed stationery of the Imperiale Residence Hotel, in French. Colette writes a charming letter, 'Willy me dit que c'est vous qu'il faut remercier, et je le fais avec beaucoup de Plaisir. J'ai appris cet ete a monter a cheval, pour que vous m'estimiez davantage. Mais cela suffira-t-il pour que je vous inspire confiance? J'en doute' (Translation: 'Willy tells me that it is you who should be thanked, and I do so with great pleasure. I learned this summer to ride a horse, so that you will esteem me more. But will that be enough for me to inspire your confidence? I doubt'). With blank integral leaf. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Colette (and re-addressed in another hand) and neatly split at three of the edges. Some light age wear and a few minor creases, VGMarcel Drouet (1888-1915) French writer who contributed to a number of magazines.Henry Gauthier-Villars (1859-1931) French author and publisher who used the pen name 'Willy'. Mentor and first husband of Colette from 1893-1910. 

CELINE LOUIS FERDINAND: (1894-1961) French Novelist. Known as Celine, being his real name Destouches, a controversial writer because of his anti-Semitism. A very interesting A.L.S., with his initials `L.F.C´, two pages, folio, n.p. [Klarskovgaard], 4th August, n.y. [1948], to Charles Deshayes, in French.  Celine warns his correspondent about the content of his articles and explains why he doesn´t want to provoke the Ambassador, stating in part and underlining many comments `Je trouve votre opuscule joliment bien troussé et justicier à souhait - Mais attention - biaisez enc e qui concerne Charbonnière, sale petit charogne antillaise qui cité nommément, trop heureux de l´occasiom, sauterait aux Affaires Etrangères Danoises se declarer insulté et provoqué en qualité diplomatique et me derait transférer illico à Fresnes - surtout que ce document de sa main, réquisitoire effronté et criminel, je n´aurais jamais du le connaitre - Je ne l´ai eu en main que par indiscrétion´ ("I find your pamphlet nicely equipped in content and as vigilant as one could wish - But be careful - skew with regard to Charbonnière, dirty little West Indian carrion who, quoted by his name, too happy for the occasion, would jump to Danish Foreign Affairs department to declare himself insulted and provoked in his diplomatic capacity and I would be transferred immediately to Fresnes - especially since this document in his hand, a cheeky and criminal indictment, I should never have known it - I only had it in my hand by indiscretion") Céline further explains in more detail the delicate situation, saying `En principe c´est la police denoise qui m´a donné la liste de mes prétendus crimes - vous saisissez - et cette liste est suppose provenir du Parquet de Paris. Charbonnière.. a corsé le dossier, qui de son propre aveu ne contenait rien - dans la furie de Zèle épurateur… mais si je le cite, il s´estime insulté en tant qu´ambassadeur! C´est une affaire d´homme à homme à traiter entre lui et moi, plus tard s´il y a un plus tard, mais point sur le plan où nous sommes… Prisonnier sur parole - Pensez! Qui crée des difficultés au ministère des affaires étrangères du Pays qui l´héberge…´ ("In theory, it was the Danish police that gave me the list of my alleged crimes - you understand - and this list is supposed to come from the Paris government. Charbonnière.. has laced the file, which by his own admission contained nothing - in the fury of his purifier zeal… but if I quote him, he considers himself insulted as an ambassador! It's a man-to-man affair to be dealt with between him and me, later, if there's one later, but not where we are now… Prisoner on parole - Think! The one who creates difficulties to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country that hosts him…") Accompanied by the original oblong 4to envelope, addressed in Céline´s hand, postmarked and stamped. Small overall creasing, otherwise G to VG Charles Deshayes, French Journalist. Deshayes admired Céline and with a lot of abnegation but also clumsiness, tried to help the exiled writer by providing him with documentation and rendering him many services. He wanted to help Céline with his pen by addressing his opponents belligerent and provocative wording of very poor quality which sometimes exasperated John. Céline often instructed him on how to write and proceed with articles.  

‘I have just pronounced the unforgettable name of Francisco Ferrer, one of those who taught me justice when I was still a child’ BRETON & CAMUS: BRETON ANDRE: (1896-1966) French writer and poet, the co-founder, leader and principal theorist of surrealism & CAMUS ALBERT (1913-1960) French philosopher and author, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1957. A fine autograph statement signed ('Andre Breton') by Breton, one page, 8vo, n.p. (Paris), n.d. (February 1952), in French. On a page evidently neatly removed from an album Breton writes, in full, 'Je suis profondement emu que ce cahier me soit ouvert a l'instant ou, a la salle Wagram, le 22 Fevrier 1952, je viens de prononcer le nom inoubliable de Francisco Ferrer, l'un de ceux qui m'ont appris la justice quand j'etais encore enfant. Que sa fille, de moi tres honoree, trouve ici l'expression de ma sympathie elective' (Translation: 'I am deeply moved that this notebook is opened to me at the moment when, in the Wagram Hall, on 22nd February 1952, I have just pronounced the unforgettable name of Francisco Ferrer, one of those who taught me justice when I was still a child. May his daughter, very honoured by me, find here the expression of my elective sympathy'). Immediately beneath Breton's statement Albert Camus has signed his name, 'Courage! Albert Camus', and the page also bears the signature of an unidentified female. Some very light, extremely minor age toning to the edges, VG Francisco Ferrer (1859-1909) Spanish radical freethinker, anarchist and educationist whose execution, following a revolt in Barcelona, propelled him into martyrdom and grew an international movement of radicals and libertarians. The present statement was signed for Sol Ferrer, one of the three daughters of Francisco Ferrer, and the author of several works dedicated to his memory, at a meeting of the League for the Rights of Man in Paris on 22nd February 1952. The meeting was organised as a grand protest against the Franco regime's death sentence on eleven trade unionists from the CNT, the Spanish National Confederation of Labour. As well as Breton and Camus many other intellectuals were present at the event including Jean-Paul Sartre and Ignazio Silone. It was during this meeting that Camus launched an appeal which would be published in the journal Esprit in April 1952, stating, in part, 'For almost fifteen years now, actually, Francoism has been aiming at the same target: the face and breast of every free Spaniard….Once again we find ourselves confronting the intolerable scandal of Europe's conscience; once again, tirelessly, we shall denounce it…..It is time, it is high time, for the representatives of democracies to disown this farce and reject, publicly and definitively, the curious theory which consists in saying “We'll give arms to a dictator and he'll become a democrat” No! If you give him arms, he will follow his trade by shooting point-blank into the belly of freedom'.  Despite the large demonstration, five of the eleven trade unionists were shot dead on 14th March 1952.

LLOYD HAROLD: (1893-1971) American film comedian, Academy Award winner. Vintage signed and inscribed 10 x 8 photograph of Lloyd in a half-length pose, in costume as Harold Diddlebock alongside actors Jimmy Conlin, in costume as Wormy, and Frank Moran, in costume as Mike the Cop, in a scene from the comedy film The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1947). Signed by Lloyd in blue fountain pen ink to a largely clear area of the image. Some creasing to the edges and corners, otherwise about VG Provenance: 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. 

MALAPARTE CURZIO: (1898-1957) Italian Writer, Filmmaker & War Correspondent, one of the intellectuals who, during the 1920s, supported the rise of Italian fascism and Benito Mussolini. His real name being Kurt Erich Suckert. A fine A.L.S., Malaparte, one page, 4to, yellow paper, Roma, 1st of December 1927, to Van Lersen, in Italian. On the printed stationery of La Voce, Via Sistina 55, Rome, Malaparte in his capacity as Managing Director, states `Caro Van Lersen, non ho ancora ricevuto nulla. Ma questa carta da lettera me l´ha veramente spedita? Sto lavorando per la realizzazione del contratto Grasset. Buone notizie…´ (« Dear Van Lersen, I have not received anything yet. But did you really send this letter to me? I am working on the realization of the Grasset contract. Good news… ») Paper with a P. Miliani Fabriano watermark. Folded. G to VG La Voce was an Italian weekly literary magazine which was published in Florence between 1908 and 1916.  

REMIZOV ALEKSEY: (1877-1957) Russian modernist writer whose creative imagination veered to the fantastic and bizarre. Remizov was also an expert calligrapher who sought to revive this medieval art in Russia. A fine, visually attractive dark fountain pen ink signature ('Alexei Remizoff') and a few lines of text in his hand, in French and Russian, on an oblong 12mo card, Rue Las Cases (Paris), 22nd April 1939, to Monsieur et Madame A[lexandre] Benois, announcing a happy family event. With a small silver colour foil sticker with a pink illustration of a basket of flowers neatly affixed to the upper left corner. About EXAlexandre Benois (1870-1960) Russian artist, art critic and historian who worked as a designer for the Ballets Russe under Sergei Diaghilev.

DU MAURIER DAPHNE: (1907-1989) British Author. T.L.S., Daphne du Maurier, two pages, 8vo, Menabilly, Par, Cornwall, 1st December 1962, to Mr. [Meaburn] Staniland. Du Maurier thanks her correspondent for their letter and continues to inform him 'We are safe at Menabilly for at least seven years - I have just signed a new lease - after that, I don't know' and further commenting 'I would think it safe enough to leave the name Menabilly in the autobiography in the front of the book. The paper-backs will probably be out of print by 1970!'. Du Maurier also refers to one of her most famous works, 'Re The Birds, I had a letter from a man the other day saying he had written a novel called The Birds, on an identical theme, many years ago. 1936. The name Frank Baker. Here we go, I thought, another damn plagarism (sic) case (I'd never heard of his book) and I wrote back politely, and thank goodness he replied just as politely, agreeing it was a coincidence. However, when you publish The Birds I will send him a copy.' The author also writes of an article that has appeared in the Times Literary Supplement, wondering if Staniland had seen it too, and remarking 'Very fair, if a bit superior. I long to know who did it. I would think a woman. Margaret Lane perhaps, or Hansford Johnson? It was quite a coup even to be noticed'. A letter of good content. About EX Meaburn Staniland (1914-1992) English Editor, Author and Antiquarian Bookseller who worked at Penguin books in the 1960s and 1970s. 

CLARKE ARTHUR C.: (1917-2008) English science fiction writer who co-wrote the screenplay for the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). T.L.S., Arthur C. Clarke, with holograph salutation and subscription, two pages, 4to, n.p. (Colombo. Sri Lanka), 27th October 1975, to Roger. The standard form letter sent by Clarke 'to deal with about 90% of the questions I am asked' includes details of his home address and telephone number, the address of his London office at the Rocket Publishing Company, lectures ('I no longer accept lecture requests outside Sri Lanka'), photographs ('I am sorry, but I cannot supply photos and autographs. In particular I cannot autograph and mail back books!'), manuscripts ('Under no circumstances will I comment on manuscripts……Nor am I interested in ideas for stories, as I already have far more than I can ever use!'), and his advice to authors ('The only advice I can give to would-be authors is as follows: Read at least one book a day and write as much as you can. Read the memoirs of authors who interest you…..There is no substitute for living: as Hemingway remarked: “Writing is not a fulltime occupation”.') etc. Some light staining and minor age wear, about VG 

On his masterpiece, the cult novel Ferdydurke – ‘It is certainly a very particular and combative book which provoked a hostile reaction in certain circles but also a real enthusiasm in others’ GOMBROWICZ WITOLD: (1904-1969) Polish writer and playwright. An interesting, small archive of T.Ls.S. by both Gombrowicz and R. Marill Alberes to the French editor Raymond Queneau, concerning Gombrowicz’s first and most controversial novel, Ferdydurke (1937) comprising – (i) T.L.S., Witold Gombrowicz, one page, 4to, Bueno Aires, 7th December 1949, to [Raymond Queneau], in French. Gombrowicz writes, in full, ‘Puisque Mr. Marill Alberes a eu la bonte de vous recommander mon roman "Ferdydurke", je me permets de vous envoyer les antecedents relatifs a sa parution en Pologne et en Argentine. Je voudrais appeler votre attention sur ce texte car, il me semble, on peut en conclure que mon livre a des serieuses chances d'obtenir un succes en France, a condition que son parution soit convenablement preparee. Un exemplaire de "Ferdydurke" vous a ete envoye par bateau le 5 novembre’ (Translation: ‘Since Mr. Marill Alberes had the kindness to recommend my novel “Ferdydurke” to you, I allow myself to send you the antecedents relative to its publication in Poland and in Argentina. I would like to draw your attention to this text because, it seems to me, one can conclude that my book has a serious chance of obtaining success in France, provided that its publication is suitably prepared. A copy of “Ferdydurke” was shipped to you on 5th November’). With two annotations in the hand of Queneau, the first in pencil to the left margin stating that the book was ‘ex. communique a Callois’ on 30th May 1950 (later crossed through), and the second in ink at the foot of the page, ‘Callois a lu ce livre deja 2 fois’, indicating that Callois had already read the book twice. Together with the typed synopsis referred to, two pages, 4to, n.p. (Buenos Aires), n.d. (1949), in French, providing a brief publication history of Ferdydurke in Poland and Argentina, and the critical acclaim it received,(ii) An important T.L.S., Witold Gombrowicz, one page, 4to, Buenos Aires, 9th June 1950, to [Raymond Queneau], in French. The author defends his novel Ferdydurke, and expresses his disappointment with the French intellectual Roger Caillois, in full, ‘Mr. Marill Alberes m'a communiquer votre decision de remettre mon roman "Ferdydurke" a Mr. Roger Caillois qui est lecteur de la litterature sudameriquaine chez Gallimard, J'avoue que cette decision m'a beaucoup chagrine. Mr. Caillois a une mentalite, une philosophie, un temperement de plus opposes au miens et il est absolument logique qu'il ne soit guere ami de mon livre. Il le connait deja et on m'a dit quil lui a deplut. Cependant "Ferdydurke" fut tres hautement califie. Je n'exagere pas par beaucoup des intelectuels et je suis persuade que son cas est assez serieux pour que j'ose vous prier de le faire examiner par d'autres personnes. Il s'agit certainement d'un livre tres particulier et combatif qui a provoque une reaction hostile dans certains millieux mais aussi un vrai entousiasme dans l'autres. Je voudrais souligner aussi que je ne suis pas un auteur sudameriquain, mais polonais, et si je presente a Mr. Gallimard la traduction espagnole c'est pour de raisons d'ordre pratique. Si donc vous trouverez qu'il est possible de choisir un autre lecteur pour "Ferdydurke" je vous prie de bien vouloir me communiquer votre decision et je vais vous envoyer tout de suite d'autres exemplaires’ (Translation: ‘Mr. Marill Alberes informed me of your decision to submit my novel “Ferdydurke” to Mr. Roger Caillois who is a reader of South American literature at Gallimard. I admit that this decision saddened me a great deal. Mr. Caillois has a mentality, a philosophy, a temperament more opposed to mine and it is absolutely logical that he is hardly a friend of my book. He already knows it and I was told he disliked it. However, “Ferdydurke” was very highly qualified, I am not exaggerating, by many intellectuals and I am convinced that its case is serious enough for me to dare to ask you to have it examined by other people. It is certainly a very particular and combative book which provoked a hostile reaction in certain circles but also a real enthusiasm in others. I would also like to emphasize that I am not a South American author, but a Polish one, and if I am presenting the Spanish translation to Mr. Gallimard it is for practical reasons. If, therefore, you find that it is possible to choose another reader for “Ferdydurke” please let me know your decision and I will send you other copies immediately’). (iii) T.L.S., R M Alberes by Rene Marill Alberes (1921-1982) French writer and literary critic, one page, 4to, Buenos Aires, 28th November 1949, to Raymond Queneau, on the printed stationery of the Institut Francais d’Etudes Superieures, in French. Alberes introduces Ferdydurke to his correspondent, in part, ‘Ma situation en Argentine me permet de decouvrir parfois - disons au maximum une fois par an - quelque bon livre inconnu en France......J'ai pu lire ici, en traduction espagnole, le livre d'un Polonais, Witold Gombrowicz, un roman "Ferdydurke", qui ma semble reellement excellent…… Les maisons d'edition que je connais doivent etre tres prudentes en ce moment, et publient peu. J'ai pense que vous me permettriez de m'addresser a vous......pour essayer de faire connaitre en France un livre sur lequel je ne crois pas me tromper, De toutes facons, je ne pense pas que vous me fassiez de reproches si je vous amene a le lire (il n'est traduit qu en espagnol). Je crois pouvoir garantir que la lecture ne vous deplaira pas. Si vous l'amenez ensuite chez Gallimard, tant mieux car je le le crois bon. J'ai demande a l'auteur de vous l'envoyer. Il ne connait personne en France et ne songeait guere a essayer par lui-meme de s'y faire connaitre’(iv) T.L.S., R. M. Alberes, one page, 4to, La Paz, 19th January 1950, to [Raymond Queneau], in French. Alberes states that he is very grateful to Queneau for considering his suggestion for Gombrowicz’s book and continues to remark ‘Je m'etais permis de vous l'adresser, car j'ignorais encore que Roger Caillois dut venir nous voir en Amerique du Sud, et par ailleurs il s'agissait d'un livre polonais qui n'avait d'autres rapports avec l'Amerique du Sud que d'y avoir ete traduit en espagnol - ce qui m'avait d'ailleurs permis de le lire…… La maison Gallimard me fascine comme le soleil, et n'ayant pas l'oeil du condor des Andes, je n'osais la regarder en face’ An important archive of correspondence revealing the missed opportunities of the French publishing house Gallimard to take Gombrowicz’s cult novel Ferdydurke, which had first been published in Polish in 1937. Some light age wear and minor age toning to the edges of each of the letters, G to generally VG, 5 OWING TO LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY THE SALEROOM THE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION FOR THIS LOT CANNOT BE SHOWN - PLEASE CONTACT US DIRECTLY FOR THE FULL DESCRIPTION 

VASSILIKOS VASSILIS: (1934-     ) Greek writer and diplomat whose most famous work is the political work Z (1967) which formed the basis for the award-winning film of the same title directed by Costa-Gavras. T.L.S., Vassilis Vassilikos, one page, 4to, Paris, 20th March 1968, to Monsieur D'Astier, in French. The writer forwards his correspondent a passage of text, in his lame French, which he felt honoured to be asked for, and hopes that D'Astier will be able to extract a few sentences from it. Together with the text referred to, stating, in part, 'Nous, les prix Lenine et les prix Nobel, nous unissons pour la premiere fois notre voix pour exprimer notre profonde inquietude au sujet de la source de notre civilisation, de nos principes de la democratie et de la dignite de l'homme: La Grece. La dictature militaire en Grece, survenue le 21 Avril 1967, et se perpetuant dans l'indifference de un monde par trop obsede par les guerres visibles, c'est un cas qui nous concerne tous. Notre peu d'information sur l'histoire tragique du peuple grec durant les trente dernieres annees, ne nous empeche pas de nous indigner contre l'usurpation du pouvoir par un groupe de colonels, contre l'emprisonnement des intellectuels, contre la censure de la presse, contre la suppression totale des droits les plus elementaires de l'homme……. A present qu'une annee s'est presque scoulee, et que les militaires, en changeant d'habits, jouent aux "demaguogues", nous voulons exprimer notre profonde solidarite avec le peuple grec, lequel, depuis l'antiquite, il sait gagne la veritable democratie au prix de luttes contre les tyrans ephemeres' (Translation: 'We, the Lenin laureates and the Nobel laureates, unite our voices for the first time to express our deep concern about the source of our civilisation, our principles of democracy and the dignity of man: Greece. The military dictatorship in Greece, which occurred on 21st April 1967, and perpetuates itself in the indifference of a world too obsessed with visible wars, is a case that concerns us all. Our lack of information on the tragic history of the Greek people during the last thirty years, does not prevent us from being indignant against the usurpation of power by a group of colonels, against the imprisonment of intellectuals, against the censorship of the press, against the total suppression of the most basic human rights……Now that a year has almost passed, and the military, by changing their clothes, are playing “demagogues”, we want to express our deep solidarity with the Greek people, who, since antiquity have known how to win true democracy at the cost of struggles against ephemeral tyrants'). With the typed return address panel clipped from Vassilikos's envelope stapled to the upper edge of the letter and with a couple of paperclip rust stains to the upper left corner of each page, otherwise VG, 2

CAGNEY JAMES: (1899-1986) American actor, Academy Award winner. Vintage signed 7.5 x 9.5 photograph of Cagney standing in a three-quarter length pose, in costume as Jeremy Rodock, holding a drink in one hand, in a scene from the American Western film Tribute to a Bad Man (1956). Signed by Cagney in blue fountain pen ink to a clear area of the image. Very slightly irregularly trimmed to the edges, otherwise VG Provenance: 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.

GIDE ANDRÉ: (1869-1951) French Author, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1947. An interesting A.L.S, `André Gide´, two pages, 8vo, pink paper, Cuverville, 5th November 1923, to Llona, in French. Gide annotates his address to the upper left corner and refers to the English version of his well-known Caves du Vatican, stating in part `Madame Bussy s´inquiète - et je m´inquiète avec elle - de ne pouvoir recevoir les épreuves des Caves pour Broom (mais ne m´avez-vous pas dit qu´il interrompait de nouveau sa publication?) ("Madame Bussy is worried - and I am worried as well - about not being able to receive the proofs from the Caves for Broom (but didn't you tell me that he was once again interrupting his publication?) and further tries to find a way to sort the issue, saying `N´avez vous point quelque ami là-bas qui consentirait à les revoir à sa place? En tout cas, ce qu´on accepte pour une publication en revue n´est plus tolerable pour le volume, qui doit être correct, car c´est d´après lui qu´on vous jugera. Faites-vous strict et exigeant je vous en prie. Oui, dites qu´on exige des épreuves..´ ("Don't you have any friend there who would agree to check them on her behalf? In any case, what is accepted for a journal publication is no longer acceptable for the volume, which must be correct, because it is according to it that you will be judged. Be strict and demanding please. Yes, say that we require the proofs..") Very small overall age wear and creasing, otherwise G Dorothy Bussy, was a writer, author of the controversial novel Olivia. She was married to Simon Bussy, painter, friend of Matisse and Gide. Dorothy was also an English translator, close to the Bloomsbury Group. 

[NOEL-BAKER PHILIP]: (1889-1982) British politician and diplomat, Nobel Peace Prize winner, 1959. Noel-Baker also won a silver medal at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp and is the only person to have won an Olympic medal and received a Nobel Prize. STRONG KENNETH (1900-1982) British Major General of World War II who played a leading role in the negotiations for the unconditional surrender of Germany in 1945. An interesting typed manuscript signed, Kenneth Strong, Major General, eleven pages, 8vo, n.p., n.d. (January 1946), in German. The manuscript is of a speech made by Strong to introduce Philip Noel-Baker to German prisoners-of-war at Wilton Park and states, in part, 'I have the pleasant task of introducing you, the third course students at Wilton Park, to this evening's speaker, Minister of State Philip Noel-Baker. It is a particular pleasure for me because it gives me a good opportunity to attend the third course myself, as I did at the opening of Wilton Park and at the beginning of the second course…..When, on January 17 of this year, I opened the first course, and with it the Training Centre, on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which I head, we were optimistic…..But no one could know how it would develop. Of course, it is still too early to say that the Wilton Park experiment was a success, because it will not be possible to decide whether it was successful or not until years after you return to Germany. But I would like to say that the development of these six months has proved right for those of us who thought that the attempt should be made…..and that it also makes it clear to the German prisoners of war here and in all camps, what importance His Majesty's Government attaches to the construction work that is being done here…..Even if Mr. Noel-Baker were not a senior officer at the State Department, he would be one of the most suitable personalities to address you in Wilton Park. I know that part of your curriculum is the Projection of Britain, and Mr. Noel-Baker embodies much of the British political tradition and development that you have heard about this semester. First of all, his political stance: I was told that last semester, nothing impressed the students more than the fact that six Labour MPs gave a brain trust, who agreed that your socialism is not based on Karl Marx, but built on Jesus Christ. And you have….[been]……shown how alive the social conscience is in the English religious communities. Mr. Noel-Baker is in the same tradition. His domestic and foreign political views are based on his religious convictions…….This combination of religion and socialism, which is not so widespread in Germany….is not the only combination of qualities that are found in England and rarely found in Germany. Mr. Noel-Baker was a university professor before politics demanded all his time, but not an unworldly, so called apolitical lecturer, but a professor who was aware of the social obligations of universities……I am sure you will appreciate it if I tell you that while a student Mr. Noel-Baker was also president of the Cambridge Debating Society…..and president of the Cambridge Athletics Club and represented England at an Olympiad……But it's not just in sports that Mr. Noel-Baker has devoted himself to cultivating international relations. He has been his party's leading expert on foreign policy issues for years, and has deepened and expanded his knowledge and experience through his work with the League of Nations and the Disarmament Conference.' Signed by Strong to the verso of the final page, and signed a second time beneath an explanatory statement, 'Speech made in German by General Strong to German prisoners of war in the U.K. at the Wilton Park Training Centre in January 1946'. Some light overall age toning, a few stains, tears and areas of paper loss to the first page only, and with small staple holes to the upper left corner of each page, GWilton Park began on 12th January 1946 as part of an initiative inspired by Winston Churchill who, two years earlier, had called for Britain to help establish a democracy in Germany after World War II. Between January 1946 and June 1948 approximately 4,500 Germans were made to attend re-education classes there. Today Wilton Park exists as an executive agency of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office providing a global forum for strategic discussion.  

GORBACHEV & MERKEL: 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 & MERKEL ANGELA (1954-     ) Chancellor of Germany 2005-21. Signed colour 7 x 5 photograph by both Gorbachev and Merkel individually, the image showing them in half-length poses together, walking outdoors, with a group of other individuals close-by. Signed by Gorbachev in bold blue ink with his name alone to a clear area at the head of the image and signed by Merkel in black ink with her name alone to a largely dark area at the centre of the image. EX

MANDELA NELSON: (1918-2013) South African anti-apartheid activist, the first President of South Africa 1994-99. Nobel Peace Prize winner, 1993. T.L.S., N Mandela, one page, 4to, n.p., July 1997, to Marlene Jacobs. Mandela thanks his correspondent for her assistance in helping to host a Children's Party in Cape Town on 4th July 1997 in honour of his 79th Birthday, continuing to remark 'As you know, all children are very close to my heart but particularly those youngsters who are forced to face tremendous difficulties and tragedies in their young lives. The children who attended my party were especially vulnerable, facing severe life-threatening diseases, and by giving support to this Party you helped me give them a day they will never forget' and further adding 'The event was a wonderful success - which is still being commented on - and reflects the very high degree of commitment, professionalism and sheer hard work that you, as part of the organising team, put into the planning and execution of it'. A letter of good content. A light band of discoloration to the edges, evidently caused by previous framing, and with a small tear to the upper right edge, otherwise about VG  

FLEMING ALEXANDER: (1881-1955) Scottish biologist, Nobel Prize winner for Physiology or Medicine, 1945. A brief T.L.S., A Fleming, one page, 8vo, Paddington, London, 4th July 1947, to Dr. Anthony Weymouth, on the printed stationery of the Inoculation Department at St. Mary's Hospital. Fleming thanks his correspondent for their letter and continues to remark 'I am glad to know that you do not want my contribution on Chemotherapy until the Autumn. I was finding considerable difficulty in getting time to write it'. Annotated in ink in an unidentified hand at the head of the page, and with a couple of very light, minor creases. Together with a carbon typed copy of a letter signed by Ivo Geikie Cobb (Anthony Weymouth) with his initials I G-C, one page, oblong 8vo, n.p., 8th April 1949, to Sir Alexander Fleming, asking if he would 'spare me a few minutes one day if I come to see you at St. Mary's?' and explaining that he would 'keep any appointment you are good enough to make'. Two file holes to the left edge and a couple of minor creases, VG, 2Ivo Geikie Cobb (1887-1953) Physician and author who wrote detective stories with medical themes under the pseudonym of Anthony Weymouth.

MULLER HERMANN J.: (1890-1967) American geneticist, known for his work on the physiological and genetic effects of radiation, frequently warning of the long-term dangers of radioactive fallout from nuclear war and nuclear testing. Nobel Prize winner for Physiology or Medicine, 1946. Manuscript D.S., Hermann J. Muller, one page, 4to, Bloomington, Indiana, 23rd February 1963. Muller responds to a researcher's questionnaire entitled Homage to Alfred Nobel by the Laureates of the Prize, with their manuscript questions at the head of the page, '1. After to have received the Nobel Prize, what idea of thankfulness have you had for the illustrious founder of this Prize? 2. With a great pecuniary satisfaction, what moral satisfaction have you had?' Muller provides his answers beneath, in part, '1. I believe that I expressed my reasons for thankfulness in the speech of acceptance of the Nobel Prize which I gave at the Nobel banquet in Stockholm on Dec. 10, 1946……..2. I have had the moral satisfaction of finding out that the anticipations expressed in my speech at the Nobel banquet have actually come true, to this extent: that the fact of being a Nobel Prize winner has enabled me to exert more influence in bringing to people the realization of the critical need for (1) increasing freedom of thought and expression on the part of all the peoples of the world, and (2) increasing their standard of living. These are fundamental to all other progress and to the avoidance of world disaster. The Nobel Prize strengthens the hand, and increases the moral satisfaction, of those who would help in these ways', adding his signature, place and date below. About EX

KARRER PAUL: (1889-1971) Swiss organic chemist, best known for his research on vitamins. Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1937. Typed D.S., P. Karrer, one page, 4to, Zurich, 19th November 1962. Karrer responds to a researcher's questionnaire entitled Homage to Alfred Nobel, with their manuscript questions, in French, at the head of the page, asking, having received a Nobel Prize, what they think of the illustrious founder of the award, and, aside from the material satisfaction, what moral satisfaction they gained from receiving the Nobel Prize? Karrer provides his answers beneath, in German, in full, '1): Alfred Nobel was such a generous advocate of international peace and science that I have always held him in the highest regard and admiration. 2): What is valuable about the Nobel Prizes is not their material value, but the fact that they are internationally recognised as the highest awards for those who devote their lives to science and peoples dedicated to reconciliation'. Accompanied by the original envelope. VG

HINSHELWOOD CYRIL N.: (1897-1967) British physical chemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1956. Typed Statement Signed, C. N. Hinshelwood, one page, 4to, n.p. (Oxford?), n.d. (c.1956). The head of the page bears a manuscript title Homage to Alfred Nobel by the Laureates of the Prize, in the hand of a researcher, with their two questions beneath, '1. After to have received the Nobel Prize, what thankfulness have you had for the illustrious founder of this prize? - For Alfred Nobel who had the imagination to conceive the idea of a Prize of this nature? 2. With a great pecuniary contentment, what moral satisfaction have you had?'. Hinshelwood's typed statement in response appears below and states, in full, 'The generous and far sighted provision of Alfred Nobel has set the standard for scientific achievement throughout the world and the honour which his name confers is an inspiration to all who work in science. Naturally this is felt and appreciated with gratitude by all those who have been fortunate enough to become Nobel Laureates. As to the ultimate satisfaction derived from the pursuit of science, this should lie in the work itself'. One very small, minor area of paper loss to the left edge, otherwise VG

TODD ALEXANDER R.: (1907-1997) Baron Todd. Scottish biochemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1957. Autograph statement signed, Alex R. Todd, one page, slim oblong 8vo, n.p. (Cambridge?), n.d. (July 1957), stating, in full, 'In science to seek is more important than to find - but in the end it is the seeker who is the finder'. Annotated in ink in the hand of a collector to the lower left corner. Very slightly irregularly trimmed to the upper edge, otherwise VG 

BECQUEREL ANTOINE HENRI: (1852-1908) French Physicist. Becquerel is credited as the first person to discover evidence of radioactivity. Awarded for his works in this field with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903, together with Marie and Pierre Curie. A rare A.L.S., Henri Becquerel, two pages, 8vo, n.p., 22nd December 1889, to Monsieur Pingard, in French. Becquerel states in part `Mon père a été oblige de repartir subitement auprès de ma mère qui est de nouveau très gravement malade. Je le rejoins demain, de sorte que je ne pourrai pas assister à la séance de l´accadémie des Sciences…´ ("My father had to suddenly go back to my mother who is very seriously ill again. I'm joining him tomorrow, so I won't be able to attend the session of the Academy of Sciences...") Becquerel further kindly asks his correspondent to send his own entrance passes, and the ones of his father too, to `… en les adressant au chateau da la jacqueminière par Courtenay..´ With blank integral leaf. Paper with an Original Casren Mill watermark. VG 

EINSTEIN ALBERT: (1879-1955) German-born theoretical physicist, Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1921. An interesting T.L.S., A. Einstein, one page, 4to, Mercer Street, Princeton, New Jersey, 6th January 1941, to Theodor Reik, in German. Einstein thanks his correspondent for having sent him two books, remarking 'I've read the one about masochism with great interest; it seems very convincing to me. What I have read about Freud in the book so far has pleased me immensely. Far more than a biography in the ordinary sense, it is sure to help further an understanding of Freud's wonderful personality'. A letter of wonderful content and excellent association. Some heavy, although largely uniform, age toning (presumably caused by previous framing) and one very small, minor area of paper loss to the upper left corner, GTheodor Reik (1888-1969) Austrian psychoanalyst who trained as one of Sigmund Freud's first students in Vienna and was a pioneer of lay analysis in the United States.Reik had published three major works prior to Einstein's letter, The Compulsion to Confess (1925), The Unknown Murderer (1932) and Masochism in Modern Man (1941), the latter evidently the book which Einstein specifically refers to. In the book Reik argues that patients who engage in self-punishing or provocative behaviour do so in order to demonstrate their emotional fortitude, induce guilt in others, and achieve a sense of 'victory through defeat'.Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis.

‘So the real problem lies in finding out the multiplicity of the solutions of the strong system, in which I have not had any success up to now’ EINSTEIN ALBERT: (1879-1955) German-born theoretical physicist, Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1921. An excellent scientific A.L.S., with his initials A. E., two pages, 4to, n.p., 5th March 1950, to Ernst Gabor Straus, in German, incorporating two lines of calculations. Einstein announces 'Ich stimme mit der Meinung, die Sie in ihrem letzten Briefe geaussert haben, nicht uberein. Es liegt eben doch in der Natur der Suche, dass man verlangen muss, dass alle Tensoren, die durch Kontraktion von…. gewonnen werden konnen verschwinden' (Translation: 'I do not agree with the opinion you expressed in your last letter. It is precisely in the nature of research that one must demand that all the tensors that can be produced by means of the….contraction disappear') and continues to explain, 'Ich bin davon uberzeugt, dass man dies verlangen muss, trotzdem es nun sehr unwahrscheinlich geworden ist, dass es drei zusatzliche Identitaten gibt. Wenn man kompatible Gleichungen im Sinne der Fortsetzbarkeit einer jeden Schnittlosung verlangt, so gibt es mindestens drei formal gleichberechtgte am Variationssystemen gewahrbare, also im gewohnlichen Sinne kompatible Gleichungssysteme, dessen jedes weniger naturlich ist als das starke System, und zwischen denen eine Wahl in vernunftiger Weise nicht getroffen werden kann. Wenn das starke System so wenig Losungen haben sollte, dass die allgemeine Losung durch eine endliche Zahl von Zahlenparametern bestimmt ist, dann kame das starke System als physikalische Theorie naturlich nicht in Betracht. Dann aber ware ich uberzeugt, dass die Theorie des nicht symmetrischen Feldes uberhaupt aufgeben werden musste. Wenn aber die Mannigfaltigkeit der Losungen des starken Systems nicht in solcher Weise beschrankt ist, dann ist die Theorie nach meiner Ansicht sehr aussichtsreich. Denn es ist plausibel, dass das Thatreichliche Feldgesetz in seinen Losungen starker eingeschrankt ist, als es z. B. durch ein Hamilton-Prinzip erreichbar ist' (Translation: 'I am convinced that this should be required, even though it has now become very unlikely that there are three additional identities. If one demands compatible equations in the sense of a possibility of continuity of each cutting solution, then there are at least three formally equal systems of equations perceivable in the variation system, i.e. compatible in the usual sense, each of which is less natural than the strong system, and between which a choice cannot be made in a reasonable way. If the strong system should have so few solutions that the general solution is determined by a finite number of numerical parameters, then the strong system would of course not come into consideration as a physical theory. But then I would be convinced that the theory of the non-symmetrical field had to be abandoned altogether. But if the variety of the solutions of the strong system is not limited in this way, then the theory is, in my opinion, very promising. For it is plausible that the actual law of the field is more severely restricted in its solutions than it is, e.g. B. is achievable by a Hamilton principle) before concluding 'Dies ist durch die Quanten-Thatsachen sehr recht gelegt, die eben zeigen, dass die wahl der "Anfangsbedingungen" weitgehend eingeschrankt sein muss, was bei einem vollstandig durch ein variationsprinzip bestimmten gleichungssystem nicht der fall ist, wo eine erhebliche zahl von willkurlichen funktionen von drei variablen (fur die "Schnittlosung") frei bleibt. Das eigentliche problem liegt also darin, die mannigfaltigkeit der losungen des starken systems herauszufinden, hierein habe ich bis jetzt keinen erfolg gehabt' (Translation: 'This is very well justified by the quantum facts, which show precisely that the choice of “initial conditions” must be largely restricted, which is not the case for a system of equations completely determined by a variational principle, where a considerable number of arbitrary functions of three variables (for the “intersection solution”) remains free. So the real problem lies in finding out the multiplicity of the solutions of the strong system, in which I have not had any success up to now'). In a postscript, in which Einstein incorporates his calculations, the physicist states 'In der neuen auflage des buchleins, die bald herauskommt, ist der schnitzer berichtigt. Ich habe mirs aber doch nicht nehmen lassen, zu erwahnen, dass sie den fehler entdeckt haben. Er lasst sich um Einfachsten so charakterisieren (his two lines of calculations inserted at this point) Bei dem andern "Beweis" ist es ganz entspechend' (Translation: 'In the new edition of the little book, which will be published soon, the blunder has been corrected. But I couldn't resist mentioning that it was you who discovered the error. It can be characterised in the simplest way (his two lines of calculations inserted at this point) In the case of the other 'proof', everything matches'). A letter of good association and fine scientific content. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG Ernst Gabor Straus (1922-1983) German-American mathematician, a close associate of Einstein who collaborated with the physicist on their early work on relativity.  After publishing his papers on special relativity (1905) and general relativity (1916), Albert Einstein conducted research on quantum physics before working on the generalisation of the relativistic theory of gravitation. Einstein attempted to generalise his theory of gravitation to include electromagnetism as aspects of a single entity. In 1950, he described his 'unified field theory' in an article entitled On the Generalised Theory of Gravitation. Although he was lauded for this work, his efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. Notably, Einstein's unification project did not accommodate the strong and weak nuclear forces, neither of which was well understood until many years after his death. Although mainstream physics long ignored Einstein's approaches to unification, his work has motivated modern quests for a theory of everything.

SCIENTISTS: An unusual 4to sheet of paper featuring the manuscript heading Le mot de la fin in the hand of a researcher, followed by the question 'If you had to end up your life on a few words, what words would it be?', beneath which appear six individual autograph statements signed by various scientists, each responding to the question, comprising (in order of appearance) Merle Tuve (1901-1982) American geophysicist, a pioneer in the use of pulsed radio waves whose discoveries opened the way to the development of radar and nuclear energy, 'I've had a wonderful trip. Full speed ahead!'; Samarendra Nath Sen (1918-1992) Indian scientific author and historian, 'I do not know yet'; Michael Heidelberger (1888-1991) American immunologist, often regarded as the father of modern immunology, 'Too bad to miss what's ahead!'; Hugo Theorell (1903-1982) Swedish scientist, Nobel Prize winner for Physiology or Medicine, 1955, 'It was a wonderful experience!'; Edward Condon (1902-1974) American nuclear physicist, a pioneer in quantum mechanics and, during World War II, a participant in the development of radar and, very briefly, of nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project, 'I would thank God devoutly for his goodness to me in the life I have had'; and Gino Cassinis (1885-1964) Italian politician and mathematician who served as Mayor of Milan 1961-64, 'Je remercie Dieu de ce qu'il m'a donne' (Translation: 'I thank God for what he gave me'). With various ink annotations in the hand of a collector to the left margin. Some very light, minor age wear, and one small tear to the right edge, otherwise VG 

DARWIN CHARLES: (1809-1882) English naturalist, famous for his theory of evolution published in On the Origin of Species (1859). A fine A.L.S., Ch. Darwin, one page, 8vo, Down, Beckenham, Kent, 24th October (1876), to a gentleman. Darwin asks his correspondent to thank Professor Reichenbach for his great kindness and apologises for the trouble he put him and his correspondent to, explaining 'a plant at Kew was afterwards discovered in flower & was sent to me, so that I was able to examine well the doubtful point'. A letter of good content dating from the time when Darwin was preparing a revised edition of his work on orchids. Some very light, extremely minor creasing, VG Ludwig Reichenbach (1793-1879) German botanist & ornithologist, an orchid specialist and the founder of the Dresden botanical gardens and joint founder of Dresden Zoo. During 1861 botany became a preoccupation for Darwin, and his projects became serious scientific pursuits. He continued his study of orchids throughout the summer, writing to anyone who might be able to supply specimens he had not yet examined. Darwin published Fertilisation of Orchids in May 1862, and the book represented his first detailed demonstration of the power of natural selection. A second, revised edition was published in 1877.

BOGART HUMPHREY: (1899-1957) American actor, Academy Award winner. Vintage signed and inscribed 7.5 x 9.5 photograph of the actor seated in a head and shoulders pose. Signed in fountain pen ink to the image, 'To the crew of “The Ship”, Good sailing, Humphrey Bogart'. The signature and inscription are somewhat faded although legible when viewed at the correct angle. Neatly trimmed to the right border and with some light surface creasing and a few areas of loss to the image at the edges. About G The present photograph was most likely presented to a pub where it was evidently displayed. Bogart himself was an enthusiastic sailor who had enlisted in the United States Navy during World War I and later spent around thirty weekends a year on the water after acquiring the sailing yacht Santana in 1945. 

GILLES DE LA TOURETTE GEORGES: (1857-1904) French neurologist and the namesake of Tourette syndrome, whose main contributions in medicine were in the fields of hypnotism and hysteria. A rare A.L.S., Gilles de la Tourette, one page, 8vo, Paris, 14th November 1900, to 'Mon cher Maitre', in French. Gilles de la Tourette forwards a letter (no longer present) which he has received that evening from Monsieur Demagny and continues to remark 'Je l'en remercie et moi meme je vous escire un mot a M. Lavy que je connais particulrement et au quel j'en ai d'ailleurs deja parle. Je serais bien heureux si ca recesessant' (Translation: 'I thank him for it and I myself am writing you a note to M. Lavy, whom I know particularly and to whom I have already spoken about it. I would be very happy if it resumed….' With blank integral leaf. Autograph letters of Gilles de la Tourette, who was shot in the neck in 1893, are rare as a result of his untimely death at the age of 46 after having been committed to the Lausanne Psychiatric Hospital. A couple of light creases, otherwise VG 

SELYE HANS: (1907-1982) Hungarian-Canadian endocrinologist, considered the first to demonstrate the existence of biological stress. T.L.S., Hans Selye, one page, 4to, Montreal, 8th January 1953, to Henri Corbiere, on the printed stationery of the University of Montreal, in French. Selye responds to his correspondent's letter and provides his answers to their questions in three numbered paragraphs, in part, '1. My scientific beginnings were not very difficult, because I represent the fourth generation of doctors in our family and it was my father who prepared the way for me. 2. Until my first doctorate (the one in medicine), it was still my father who paid for the expenses of my education but, after that, I lived exclusively on my own income…..books I have written are added to these emoluments but; since this depends on my laboratory research, I think I can say that I live exclusively from my research. 3. The discovery of the general adaptation syndrome (the concept of “stress”) which I described at the age of 29, is in my opinion, my only contribution to medicine worth mentioning…..I have written several books on this subject, the most important of which is the one entitled “Stress”……'. Some very light, minor age wear to the edges and an ink annotation in the hand of the recipient to the lower left corner, otherwise VG