GIACOMETTI DIEGO: (1902-1985) Swiss sculptor and designer, the younger brother of Alberto Giacometti. A.L.S., Diego, to two sides of a plain correspondence card, Paris, 27th March 1968, to Jean, in French. Giacometti thanks his correspondent for their news and looks forward to seeing them again at the end of the week, further remarking 'La mort de Jean Rey Millet me touche beaucoup. J'aurais bien voulu le revoir on ne s'est pas vu souvent mais je l'aimais beaucoup' (Translation: 'The death of Jean Rey Millet touches me a lot. I would have liked to see him again, we didn't see each other often, but I loved him very much') and concluding by adding that he would like to get away for a few days at Easter, but doesn't know where as his own country is still too cold in April. Some very light, minimal age wear, VG
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DAGUERRE LOUIS: (1787-1851) French photographer and artist, inventor of the daguerreotype process of photography. A rare A.L.S., Daguerre, one page, 8vo, Paris, 11th February 1828, to a Count, on the printed stationery of the Diorama, in French. Daguerre sends his correspondent a letter confirming the details which he had provided previously and comments 'De votre reponse dependra le succes etant dans l'intention de la presenter a S.A.R. Madame la Dauphine' (Translation: 'Your answer will depend on the success, with the intention of presenting it to H.R.H. Madame la Dauphine'). With blank integral leaf, some light age toning and a few small holes to the lower edge, not affecting the text or signature. About VG
MIRANDA CARMEN: (1909-1955) Portuguese-born Brazilian singer, dancer and actress. Vintage signed and inscribed 11 x 14 photograph of The Brazilian Bombshell standing in a three-quarter length pose with her hands raised to the sides of a veil upon her head. Signed in fountain pen ink to a light area of the image. A few pinholes to the corners and some creasing and tears to the edges, FR
NADAR: (1820-1910) Gaspard-Felix Tournachon. French photographer, caricaturist and balloonist, the first person to take aerial photographs (1858). A.L.S., Nadar, one page, 8vo, Paris, n.d. (1870s), to a friend, on the red printed stationery of Galerie Nadar, in French. Nadar writes a hurried letter to his correspondent, informing him that it will be impossible to attend a dinner and remarking 'Heureusement que je sui par que vous pourrez vous passer de moi' (Translation: 'Fortunately, I am so that you can do without me'). With blank integral leaf. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG
CARAN D'ACHE: (1858-1909) Emmanuel Poire. French satirist and political cartoonist. An excellent series of original bold pencil drawings, unsigned, by Caran D'Ache, two pages, 4to, n.p. (Paris?), n.d. (1880s), on the attractive printed stationery of the Maison Caran D'Ache ('Fondee en 1883'). To the recto of the page Caran D'Ache has sketched a series of five caricatures of various soldiers in uniform, all in full-length poses, some of them seated. To the verso appear a further series of drawings, the 'story without words' comprising fifteen panels and recounting a horseman being jolted from his horse and ending the day in frustration before going to bed to let his injuries heal. Some light age wear and creasing and a small tear to one edge, otherwise about VG Caran D'Ache's 'stories without words', which he created and contributed for newspapers including Le Figaro, are sometimes hailed as one of the precursors to comic strips.
BLANC MEL: (1908-1989) American voice actor associated with the Golden Age of American Animation. Signed and inscribed 8 x 10 photograph of Blanc in a half-length pose reading from a script, the photograph featuring superimposed images of many of the most famous animated characters Blanc provided voices for, including Bugs Bunny, Sylvester, Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn and Daffy Duck. Signed by Blanc in black ink to a light area at the base of the image, 'Eh - what's up Frances? “Bugs Bunny & Gang”, Mel Blanc', and dated 2nd June 1976 in his hand. Some light corner creasing and very minimal traces of former mounting to the verso, about VG
![[VOLTAIRE]: (1694-1778) Francois-Marie Arouet. French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher. MIGNOT MARIE LOUISE (1](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/d9f4f5d5-e853-4d8c-9ccb-b02300a8b7ae/62ed70ab-0c05-42de-be78-b02300ba6b56/468x382.jpg)
[VOLTAIRE]: (1694-1778) Francois-Marie Arouet. French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher. MIGNOT MARIE LOUISE (1712-1790) Madame Denis. French literary figure, the niece of Voltaire and his companion of thirty years who inherited the majority of his estate upon his death. A.L.S., Denis, two pages, 8vo, Ferney, 22nd January n.y., to Lieutenant-General Du Vale, in French. Mignot writes, in part, 'Quoi que je sache Monsieur que les recomendations sont inutiles aupres d'un juge aussi eclaire et aussi integre que vous. Je prends la liberte de vous prier de bien examiner l'affaire de Landri. Il a affaire a un nomme Rafo qui avait malheureusement achete une maison dans notre vilage et qui a ruine en proces tous ses voisins' (Translation: 'Whatever I know Sir, recommendations are useless with a judge as enlightened and as honest as you. I take the liberty of asking you to examine Landri's case carefully. He is dealing with a man named Rafo who had unfortunately bought a house in our village and who ruined all his neighbours in court'). With integral address leaf in Mignot's hand (two small areas of paper loss caused by the original breaking of the seal). A couple of light, minor stains and age wear, otherwise VGProvenance: The present letter originates from the autograph collection of Wilhelm Kunzel (1819-1896) who inherited and expanded the collection of his uncle, Carl Kunzel (1808-1877). The Kunzel Collection was later auctioned over seven sales by List & Francke of Leipzig from 1896-98.
BOW CLARA: (1905-1965) American actress. Vintage signed and inscribed 10 x 12 photograph of The It Girl in an appealing half-length pose with one hand raised to her left ear. Signed in green fountain pen ink across a light area at the centre of the image, 'To Jack, what a great fellow! your friend, Clara Bow'. Presented to Jack Wilson, a Paramount studios electrician. Neatly mounted to board and with some surface marks and evidence of previous tears to the image, since restored to a reasonable standard and only very slightly affecting the conclusion of Bow's signature. Accompanied by two vintage unsigned 9.5 x 7.5 photographs, the first depicting Bow seated in a full-length pose at a table signing photographs for a group of male crew members who worked on the film Dancing Mothers (1926) including Jack Wilson, standing as the tallest man in the back row, and the second photograph depicting Paramount's Astoria studio where the film was shot. Some surface creasing and other minor faults to the two unsigned photographs. About G, 3Clara Bow portrayed Kittens Westcourt in the black and white silent drama film Dancing Mothers (1926), marking her debut performance for a Paramount Pictures film.
SAINT-SIMON HENRI DE: (1760-1825) French political, economic and socialist theorist, creator of the ideology known as Saint-Simonianism. A.L.S., St Simon, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d. (28th March [?] 1818), to [Adrien-Jean-Quentin] Beuchot, in French. Saint-Simon explains that a bailiff appeared at his old home yesterday, and then at Rue de Richelieu, continuing 'C'etait certainement pour l'affaire de Bray car je n'en ai pas d'autre de ce genre. Je vous prie d'avoir la bonte de faire ce que vous jugerez a propos a cet egard' (Translation: 'It was certainly for the Bray case because I don't have another like it. Please have the goodness to do what you see fit in this regard'). With integral address leaf in Saint-Simon's hand. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VGAdrien-Jean-Quentin Beuchot (1777-1851) French bibliographer.
VALERY PAUL: (1871-1945) French poet, essayist and philosopher. A good vintage signed and inscribed sepia postcard photograph of the writer standing in a three-quarter length pose with his hands in his jacket pockets. Photograph by G. Aubes of Montpellier. Signed by Valery in fountain pen ink to a clear area of the background and dated 1933 in his hand. Some very light, minimal traces of former mounting to the upper edge of the verso, otherwise VG
BATAILLE GEORGES: (1897-1962) French philosopher and intellectual. A.L.S., Georges Bataille, one page, 8vo, Orleans, 19th April 1956, to a gentleman, in French. Bataille states that he would like to see his correspondent, explaining 'J'ai recu ce matin le prospectus de la collection Historia. Je voudrais vous faire une proposition que j'imagine interessante' (Translation: 'This morning I received the prospectus for the Historia collection. I would like to make you a proposal which I imagine will be of interest') and further adding that he will be in Paris on Monday but will telephone before coming in order to confirm the appointment. A few light, minor creases to the margins, otherwise VG
CHATEAUBRIAND FRANCOIS-RENE DE: (1768-1848) French writer, politician, diplomat and historian. D.S., Chateaubriand, one page, folio, London, 5th July 1822, in French. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, features a steel engraving of the French coat of arms at the head and is issued in the name of the King [Louis XVIII], being an official diplomatic passport signed by Chateaubriand in his capacity as French Ambassador to the United Kingdom, requesting that the civil and military authorities of His Britannic Majesty, and all the friendly countries and allies of France, allow free passage for Monsieur Klaatoch, an employee in the Department of Finance in the service of the King of Prussia, on his journey from London to Berlin. Countersigned at the foot by Baron Elysee Decazes (1793-1846) Secretary to the Ambassador. Some light overall creasing, otherwise VG
RACINE JEAN: (1639-1669) French dramatist, one of the three great playwrights of 17th century France. An extremely rare ownership signature ('Racine') to the base of a slim 8vo title page (3 x 6"; 8 x 15.5 cm) removed from a second edition of Histoire de l'état présent de l'empire Ottoman, contenant le maximes politiques des Turcs, les principaux points de la religion Mahométane, ses sectes, ses hérésies, & ses diverses sortes de religieux; leur discipline militaire, avec une supputation exacte de leurs forces par mer & par terre, & du revenu de l'Etat, translated from the English of [Paul] Rycaut by Monsieur Briot, published by Sebastien Mabre-Cramoisy, Paris, 1670. Neatly inlaid and with some extremely minor, light age wear, about VG Provenance: From the celebrated collection of Robert de Flers (1872-1927) French playwright, opera librettist and journalist. The manuscripts amassed by de Flers were dispersed in 2014 at an auction in Paris conducted by Beaussant Lefevre.
STENDHAL: (1783-1842) Marie-Henri Beyle. French writer considered one of the early and foremost practitioners of realism, whose works include Le Rouge et le Noir (1830). A.L.S., Beyle, with an ink blot at the conclusion of the signature, four pages, 4to, Rue Jacob, Paris, 23rd January 1809, to 'Mon cher camarade & ami', in French. Stendhal states that he has received his correspondent's letter from Pancorbo, explaining that he didn't want to answer it until he was sure of his destination, and continuing 'Le hazard m'a retenu un mois a Paris, ou plutot ce hazard est un trait de bonte charmant de Mme. D.....Mr. D. est arrive, m'a tres bien accueilli, et il parait que je vais etre employe ici a la liquidation des comptes (matieres) de la grande Armee. Tant que j'y serai employez moi je vous en conjure, a toutes les commissions que vous pourrez avoir a faire .......Votre lettre d'une main etrangere m'a donne beaucoup d'inquietude, donnez-moi de vos nouvelles en detail, dites-moi si vous voulez que je vous expedie les bottes..... Je vis accable de diners et de visites qui, pour la plupart sont des corvees. J'ai donne a diner lundi a 5 ou 6 de nos camarades, l'un d'eux rend ce diner lundi prochain. Je vous assure que les paroles ne manquent pas a ces diners, on y passe en revue de pres, tout ce qui s'est fait et dit a la grane Armee' (Translation: 'Chance kept me in Paris for a month, or rather this chance is a charming trait of kindness from Mme. D…..Mr. D. arrived, gave me a very warm welcome, and it seems that I will be employed here in the settlement of accounts (materials) of the Grand Army. As long as I am there employ me, I beg you, on all the errands you may have to do…..Your letter from a foreign hand has given me great concern, give me some of your news in detail, tell me if you want me to ship the boots to you….I live overwhelmed with dinners and visits which, for the most part, are chores. I hosted a dinner on Monday for 5 or 6 of our comrades, one of them hosts a dinner next Monday. I assure you that conversation is not lacking at these dinners, we closely review everything that has been done and said to the Grand Army'). Stendhal also provides news of mutual acquaintances, one of whom has got married, and concludes his letter remarking 'Les actions de ta banque etaient tombees a 118 fr, elles sont remontees a 120 fr de un jour apres l'arrivee de Sa Majeste [Napoleon I] qui a fait dire que les bruits de guerre etaient mal fondes' (Translation: 'The shares of your bank had fallen to 118 francs, they rose to 120 francs one day after the arrival of His Majesty [Napoleon I] who had it said that the rumours of war were unfounded'). Some light overall age wear and considerable show-through of ink to the pages, about VG
WEST MAE: (1893-1980) American actress and sex symbol. Vintage signed and inscribed 8 x 10 photograph of West seated in a head and shoulders pose. Signed across a light area at the base of the image and dated January 1948 in her hand, at which time she was in England starring in a revival stage production of her play Diamond Lil (1928). Some surface and corner creasing, one only very slightly affecting her signature, otherwise about VG
HUGO VICTOR: (1802-1885) French novelist, poet and dramatist. An excellent, significant and attractive D.S., Vtr. Hugo, one page, large folio (33 x 41.5 cm), Paris, 27th August 1840, in French. The partially printed document (featuring an attractive printed border of decorative floral frieze work) is completed in manuscript and is the Passe-port a l'Etranger (Foreign Passport) issued to Hugo in the name of the King by the General Police of France (Department of the Seine) for the period of one year. The left margin is completed with various personal details and physical characteristics relating to the novelist, stating that he is aged 37, is one metre and seventy-two centimetres in height, has brown hair, a high forehead, chestnut eyes, a medium nose, a chestnut beard, and a round chin etc. The main body of the document states that Hugo, a native of Besancon and residing at 6 Place Royale in Paris, accompanied by his wife and their son, should be allowed free passage to visit Spain, the Sardinian States, Lombard-Venetia, Switzerland, the Duchy of Baden, Prussia and Belgium. Signed at the foot by the prefect of police and countersigned by two other officials. The verso of the document is filled with the various official stamps, visas and signatures of the officials of the legations, embassies and territorial authorities of the Duchy of Baden, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Sardinia, Prussia and Lombardy-Venetia, providing a valuable primary record of Hugo's travels during 1840 (the last entry at Forbach, Baden-Wurttemberg, bearing the date 29th October 1840). Some light overall age wear and with a few minor, neat tears to the edges, about VGHugo's passport for the year 1840 is of literary significance as it was from August to October of that year that the novelist, in the company of his mistress and travelling companion Juliette Drouet, made their summer trip to Belgium and then from Cologne to Mainz, on the banks of the Rhine, the landscape and history of which greatly fascinated the novelist. After an excursion to Frankfurt, the couple travelled to Heidelberg to visit the Rhine falls at Laufen, near Schaffhausen. During the trip Hugo kept a diary and made various drawings which would form the basis of his travel guide Le Rhin (1842), a work which marked the rebirth of romance in the novelist's works.
DUMAS ALEXANDRE: Pere (1802-1870) French novelist and playwright whose works include The Three Musketeers (1844). A.L.S., A Dumas, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d. (c. June 1855), to Madame [Porcher], in French. Dumas states that it is impossible for him to come to Belleville, explaining 'Je travaille a ma piece' (Translation: 'I am working on my piece'), continuing to add that he has Perrin's room for the 16th and is forwarding their letter, concluding 'J'aurais eu bien beson des 500 f aujourd'hui' (Translation: 'I would have needed the 500 francs today'). Some light staining and minor creasing to the edges, and a few small pinholes only very slightly affecting a few words of text, G Alix Porcher (1807-1887) second wife of Jean-Baptiste Porcher (1792-1864) French theatrical agent who served as a banker to playwrights, including his friend Dumas.
SAND GEORGE: (1804-1876) French novelist, memoirist and journalist. A.L.S., George, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., to Monsieur Duteil, on Sand's blind embossed initialled stationery, in French. Sand writes with some urgency, 'Michel est ici. Il veut te voir ce soir tout de suite avec Planet. Je l'empeche d'aller vous trouver. Si vous ne venez pas il me cassera les cotes. Il part demain matin pour Chateauroux. Le cabriolet est casse, sans cela je vous l'enverrais. Prenez le cheval et la voiture a Fleury et venez…..' (Translation: 'Michel is here. He wants to see you tonight, right now with Planet. I prevent him from going to find you. If you don't come he will break my ribs. He leaves tomorrow morning for Chateauroux. The cabriolet is broken, otherwise I would send it to you. Take the horse and carriage from Fleury and come……'). With integral leaf addressed by Sand to Duteil at La Chatre and marked 'tres presse'. Some light overall creasing and minor dust staining to the address panel, otherwise VG
SAND GEORGE: (1804-1876) French novelist, memoirist and journalist. A.L.S., George Sand, one page, 8vo, Nohant, 4th January 1855, to [Henri Rouy], in French. Sand asks her correspondent to ensure that La Presse is sent to her regularly, adding that she hasn't received a copy since the 1st January, and remarking 'le correction des epreuves du feuilleton me deviendrait fort difficile si je ne pouvais me reporter aux feuilletons precedents' (Translation: 'the correction of the proofs of the serial would become very difficult for me if I could not refer to the previous serials'). Sand further writes 'Deja, on m'a fait attendre le dernier trimestre, comme si je devais continuer mon abonnement, ce qui serait contre l'usage courant a tous les journaux......Je ne pense pas que La Presse fasse une exception si mesquine' (Translation: 'Already, I've been made to wait until the last quarter, as if I had to continue my subscription, which would be against common practice in all newspapers…..I don't think La Presse makes such a petty exception'). Some very light, extremely minor age wear and a couple of small, light stains to the edges, not affecting the text or signature, VGHenri Rouy (1826-1878) French editor of La Presse.George Sand's autobiography Histoire de ma vie was serialised in La Presse in 1855 and has been described by critics as 'a literary masterpiece with value as a social document and a family history'.
ZOLA EMILE: (1840-1902) French novelist, journalist and playwright. A.L.S., Emile Zola, one page, 8vo, Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris, 3rd November 1865, to a gentleman, on the printed stationery of Librairie L. Hachette et Compagnie, in French. Zola informs his correspondent that he has today mailed the new essays as requested and continues 'Puisque vous avez l'obligeance de mettre votre publicite a ma disposition, je vous envoie une petite note que vous pourrez peut-etre glisser quelque part. Mon livre ne paraitra que vers la fin de la semaine prochaine' (Translation: 'Since you have the kindness to put your advertisement at my disposal, I am sending you a little note that you may be able to slip somewhere. My book will not appear until the end of next week'). Some light age wear and one very small, minimal area of paper loss to the lower left corner, VGBefore his breakthrough as a writer Zola worked in the sales department of the publisher Hachette. His sordid autobiographical novel La Confession de Claude (1865), mentioned in the present letter, attracted the attention of the police and resulted in Hachette dismissing Zola from his job.
LAFARGUE PAUL: (1842-1911) Cuban-born French revolutionary Marxist socialist, political writer, economist and literary critic, the son-in-law of Karl Marx. A brief A.L.S., Paul Lafargue, one page, 8vo, Draveil (Paris), 13th August 1907, to a gentleman, in French. Lafargue writes, in full, 'Veuillez m'envoyer 5 kilos de cafe grille. Ayez, Monsieur, mes salutations' (Translation: 'Please send me 5 kilos of roasted coffee. Have, Sir, my greetings'). With blank integral leaf. Some very light, extremely minor dust staining to the edges, otherwise VG
ROBINSON SUGAR RAY: (1921-1989) American boxer, World Welterweight Champion 1946-50, World Middleweight Champion 1951, 1951-52, 1956-57, 1957, 1958-60. Vintage signed and inscribed 8 x 10 photograph of Robinson in a full-length boxing pose during a training session. Signed in blue ink to a light area at the centre of the image. Some overall surface creasing, a heavy crease to the lower right corner and smaller creases to the upper corners and a small tear to the upper white border. Only FR
COLETTE: (1873-1954) French author, best known for her novella Gigi (1944). Autograph Manuscript signed, Colette, three pages (separate leaves), 4to, n.p., n.d., in French. The working manuscript, with various deletions and corrections, is entitled Perruche bleue ('Blue Parakeet') and is the story of a lady who has lost her dog and whose husband, to console his wife, buys her a blue parakeet, in part, 'Je ne veux pas un chien, je veux un bouledogue; un bouledogue avec un oeil ici et un oeil la, tres loin l'un de l'autre; avec un front de penseur, pas de nez ou si peu, le cou bien epais......enfin un bouledogue!......son mari partit pour Paris......Il posa son colis et deboucla l'enveloppe de toile. Sous un rayon de soleil apparut, debout sur un barreau de la cage, une perruche bleue....' (Translation: 'I don't want a dog, I want a bulldog; a bulldog with one eye here and one eye there, very far apart; with a thinker's forehead, no or very little nose, a very thick neck…..finally a bulldog!......Her husband left for Paris…..He put down his package and unbuckled the canvas envelope. Under a ray of sunshine appeared, standing on a bar of the cage, a blue parakeet…..'). Signed by Colette at the conclusion. Some light overall age wear and a few small pinholes to the upper left corner of each page. About VG
COCTEAU JEAN: (1889-1963) French poet, playwright, novelist, artist, filmmaker and critic. A.L.S., Cocteau, one page, oblong 4to, n.p., n.d. (June 1916), to [Gaston de] Pawlowski, in French. Cocteau writes a brief, upbeat letter, in full, 'J'ai hate de vous voir - Plus de Coxyde. Si j'avais eu comoedia pour parade!' (Translation: 'I can't wait to see you - No more Koksijde. If I had had Comoedia for parade!'). Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VGGaston de Pawlowski (1874-1933) French writer of the prophetic novel of science fiction Voyage to the Land of the Fourth Dimension (1911), first published in Comoedia, of which Pawlowski was editor-in-chief. Comoedia was a French literary and artistic journal founded in 1907 and to which Cocteau was a regular contributor. The monthly publication provides one of the most complete sources of cultural history in France just prior to World War I.From late December 1915 until late June 1916 Cocteau served with the Red Cross as an ambulance driver at the Belgian town of Koksijde, taking leave between 1st and 10th June (at which time the present letter was most likely penned).
GRABLE BETTY: (1916-1973) American actress and pin-up girl. A good vintage signed and inscribed 8 x 10 photograph of Grable standing in a glamourous full-length pose. The original Paramount Pictures publicity portrait dates from 1937 and a typed caption to the verso promotes Grable's upcoming appearance in the comedy film College Swing (1938). Signed by Grable in bold blue fountain ink to a light area of the image. Some light corner creasing, about VG
COCTEAU & PIAF: COCTEAU JEAN (1889-1963) French poet, playwright, novelist, artist, filmmaker and critic & PIAF EDITH (1915-1963) French singer. An unusual joint A.L.S. by Jean Cocteau, Edith Piaf and three other individuals, two pages, 4to, n.p., n.d. (1940), to Jean Marais ('Mon Jeannot'), in French. Cocteau commences the letter and writes, 'Nous sommes tous chez Bosc avec toi. Edith vient de me renverser un ecrier dessus et j'ai mis du lait. Cole leche le tout. Je compte arriver dans 3 ou 4 jours. Nous dinons avec toi et nous t'avons commande des truffes et des grenouilles' (Translation: 'We are all at Bosc's home with you. Edith has just spilled a bowl on me that I put some milk in. Cole licks it all up. I plan to arrive in 3 or 4 days. We have dinner with you, and we ordered you truffles and frogs') concluding the passage with his 'signature' in the form of a star; immediately beneath Piaf writes, 'Merci de votre lettre! Je l'ai recue juste avant d'entrer en scene c'est gentil a vous......et mon plus beau reve est de jouer une piece de Jean avec vous. Croyez a toute mon amitie' (Translation: 'Thank you for your letter! I received it just before going on stage, it's nice of you…..and my most beautiful dream is to play a piece by Jean with you. Believe in all my friendship') and adds her signature ('Edith Piaf') at the conclusion. Beneath Piaf's contribution appears a passage written by the French stage and screen actress Michele Alfa (1911-1987), stating 'Mon Jeannot, Nous dinons tous ce soir. Nous essayons de divertir Edith. Paul Meurisse [son future mari, l'acteur, qui avait une relation amoureuse avec Piaf à cette époque] est parti ce matin. Mais vous etes avec nous ce soir. Demain je vous ecris une lettre la votre est si gentille. Je vous embrasse' (Translation: 'My Jeannot, We are all dining tonight. We try to entertain Edith. Paul Meurisse [her future husband, the actor, who was romantically involved with Piaf at this time] left this morning. But you are with us tonight. Tomorrow I am writing you a letter, yours is so kind. I kiss you'). Alfa signs 'La Marquise' at the conclusion. To the second page appear two other similar passages of text signed by unidentified individuals, and Cocteau concludes the letter at the base, writing 'Bebe dine chez Jean Provost et m'a confie Cole qui te leche le nez et parle avec toi' (Translation: 'Baby dines at Jean Provost's and entrusted me with Cole who licks your nose and talks to you'). A wonderful combination of signed messages, with interesting associations. Some light staining to the margin and a few small, neat splits at the edges of folds, about VGJean Marais (1913-1998) French actor, the muse and lover of Jean Cocteau.The present letter would appear to have been composed at the home of the actress Denise Bosc (1916-2002) whilst Cocteau and Piaf (who died the day before Cocteau) were involved in the production of Le Bel Indifferent (1940), a play which Cocteau had written for Piaf and which was enormously successful.
HASENCLEVER WALTER: (1890-1940) German Expressionist poet and playwright. A rare A.L.S., Walter Hasenclever, one page, oblong 8vo, Clamart, 14th December 1925, to 'Mon cher confrere', in French. Hasenclever explains that it was only today that he had had an opportunity to read his correspondent's kind letter, continuing to remark 'Le grand malheur est que je n'ai precisement aucune maxime de vie. Car, si j'ai avais une, je serais oblige de me suicider, persuade, que la vie entiere ne suffirait pas a la realiser' (Translation: 'The great misfortune is that I have precisely no maxim of life. Because, if I had one, I would be obliged to commit suicide, persuaded, that the whole life would not be enough to realise it'). Annotated at the head of the page in the hand of the recipient, 'Maximes de vie des ecrivains contemporains du monde entier' (Translation: 'Life maxims of contemporary writers around the world'). Autographs of Hasenclever are rare as a result of his untimely death, by suicide, at the age of 49. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VGHasenclever's books were banned and burned by the National Socialists after they took power in Germany in 1933. The author went into exile in Nice and during World War II he was imprisoned twice as a 'foreign enemy' in France. When France fell to Germany he was in the Camp des Milles prisoner camp and on 22nd June 1940 took his own life with a barbiturate overdose so as not to fall into the hands of the Nazis.
MORAVIA ALBERTO: (1907-1990) Italian novelist and journalist. T.L.S., Alberto Moravia, one page, 4to, Rome, n.d., to the editor of Playboy, in Italian. Moravia states that he is happy that Playboy will be publishing his story Sebastiana Colonna and continues to remark 'The story will be illustrated in the Italian edition by Lorenzo Tornabuoni, a very famous painter as well as an illustrator of exceptional quality. Lorenzo Tornabuoni is also a very cultured man and has an excellent knowledge of my work. I would be very pleased if you could publish my story with Tornabuoni's illustration. I think that Tornabuoni is the right person to illustrate the story, because an American artist would be, perhaps, inclined to underline the national and Italian aspects of the story, which, in my opinion, except one or two unimportant particulars, could happen anywhere'. Some small staple holes to the upper left corner and some light age wear and creasing to the edges, GLorenzo Tornabuoni (1934-2004) Italian artist.
SOLIS Y RIBADENEYRA ANTONIO DE: (1610-1686) Spanish playwright, writer and historian, chronicler of the Indies. A.L.S., Don Ant. de Solis, one page, 8vo, n.p., 30th September 1683, to Joseph Donner, in Spanish. Solis states that he had a meeting with his master, the Count of Oropesa, that morning and he begged him again to speak on behalf of Donner, explaining that his Excellency agreed to do so in the warmest manner, 'promising me another request in case the first had been lost amongst other papers'. In a postscript Solis further remarks 'The peaches are so good and so abundant that after enjoying them I can still offer them to my friends'. With blank integral leaf. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VGMiguel Joaquin Alvarez de Toledo (1641-1707) Count of Oropesa. Castilian nobleman and politician, the patron of Antonio de Solis.
PALACIO VALDES ARMANDO: (1853-1938) Spanish novelist and critic. A.L.S., A. Palacio Valdes, two pages, 8vo, Capbreton, Landes, 29th July 1923, to Mr. H[enri] C[orbiere], in Spanish. Palacio Valdes explains that he is in the place where he usually spends the summer and has received a letter addressed to Valle-Inclan, explaining that 'Mr Valle-Inclan does not however live in Madrid, but in Galacia, but I do not know in which town, therefore it is impossible for me to deliver it to him….'. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VGRamon del Valle-Inclan (1866-1936) Spanish dramatist and novelist, a member of the Spanish Generation of 98.
‘Your ideas……on the odious ownership of land, on the horror of patriotism, of wars and of the armed peace it engenders, are very dear to me’ TOLSTOY LEO: (1828-1910) Russian writer, regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time. A lengthy, interesting L.S., Votre ami et frere, Leon Tolstoy, seven pages, 8vo, n.p. (Yasnaya Polyana?), 8th February 1908, to [Sergei Zimaco, a Franco-Polish journalist] ('Dear Friend and brother'), in French. The letter is penned in the hand of Sophia Tolstaya and states, in part, 'You ask me if I share your ideas expressed in your letter and the brochure addressed to Nicholas II. I will try to answer this question as frankly and seriously as possible. Your ideas on property, especially on the odious ownership of land, on the horror of patriotism, of wars and of the armed peace it engenders, are very dear to me and I have made for a quarter of a century everything I could to popularise them as much as possible. To fight against the terrible superstition of landed property, I wrote to the head of the government, offering him the fine role of putting himself at the head of this restitution to the vast majority of the people of their most sacred rights. I repeat the same steps again now…..As for militarism, I am happy to say that every day I receive letters from my unknown friends, true Christians, who suffer imprisonment and the misery of their families, for the refusal of military service…..So that as regards your fundamental principles and the results to which you tend, I completely agree with you. I think I can say that however small the results obtained by people who try to follow Christian principles to their full extent, these results are greater than those which the anarchist communists have hitherto achieved. This brings me to the heart of the matter and the only difference of opinion that exists between us. You say that the social problem is above all an economic problem. I do not think so. The social problem, as you say, or the coming of the kingdom of God as you understand it and as I understand it is much larger. The economic problem is only a very small part of the arc of the circle. There are the relations of the sexes, the education of children, nationalities, the way of acting towards assailants, madmen, animals and a number of personal actions which do not enter into the economic problem, and which are the most important for humanity. All these problems cannot be solved by solving the economic problem. The solution of these problems and of all those that may arise before man is not in economic laws, but in the spiritual realm. Their solution is that given by the apostle John in his epistles. The solution is in the revelation of love. I say “revelation” because I believe that love is not a prescription but an interior law of man's life; that love is the only means for man to attain happiness, to which he tends naturally. This law was revealed not only by Christianity, but by all the sages of the world: Egyptians, Chinese, Indians, Greeks etc. But it has only been accepted and understood by a very small minority. The history of mankind is nothing but the progressive realisation of this law, the acceptance of this law, the replacement of selfishness with love, not to reward them from beyond the grave, but for the true happiness of this life. This, my dear friend and brother, is my creed with which I lived the happiest last part of my life, and with which I await death at every moment, without desiring it and without being able to fear it'. With an autograph note in Zimaco's hand to the verso of the final page, '[Tolstoy]…consoled me for the many setbacks I received from certain French journalists in wanting to expose them….and defend the true doctrine of Jesus Christ'. A letter of very fine content. Some light overall age wear and staining, most evident to the final page. About G
Gorky writes of the ‘creative tension which will undoubtedly burst in the greatest discoveries and inventions, and which promises to make the life and work of an exhausted man easier’ GORKY MAXIM: (1868-1936) Russian writer and socialist political thinker and proponent. A fine A.L.S., M Gorky, in Cyrillic, two pages (written to the first and third sides of the feint squared graph paper bifolium), 8vo, n.p., 9th September 1921, to an unidentified correspondent, in Cyrillic. Gorky states that he only arrived from Moscow yesterday, and will return there in two days, and therefore does not have time to see his correspondent, although wishes to provide his thoughts on the issues that concern his correspondent, continuing 'You ask what to do. At your age, there is only one thing you can do more or less successfully, that is, to learn. You should study everything that you are passionate about, but it is most useful to study natural sciences, as they are the most stable and the most necessary for people. It is these very sciences that are now in the state of the most fruitful tension, that creative tension which will undoubtedly burst in the greatest discoveries and inventions, and which promises to make the life and work of an exhausted man easier. To work in this field is a sacred duty and a great blessing. Human sciences? Surely that is good too, but there has never been a time more inconvenient for the growth of the humanities than our time. People have lost their mind, and humaneness and humanism sound like a mockery. This, of course, does not diminish the importance of these sciences'. Gorky concludes by providing his telephone number and invites his correspondent to call him in a fortnight in order to arrange to continue their conversation. A letter of excellent content. Some light creasing, a few minor stains and minimal age wear and with a few small tears to the edges, about VG
![[JOYCE JAMES]: (1882-1941) Irish novelist and poet. An unusual partially printed document, completed and signed on behalf of](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/d9f4f5d5-e853-4d8c-9ccb-b02300a8b7ae/d44f1f9a-6c5a-49cf-8f4a-b02300bab6cc/468x382.jpg)
[JOYCE JAMES]: (1882-1941) Irish novelist and poet. An unusual partially printed document, completed and signed on behalf of Joyce in the hand of an administrative agent, four pages, 4to, Paris, 21st April 1939, in French. The official Reseau Telephonique de Paris (Paris Telephone Network) document is Joyce's contract to have a telephone line installed at 34 rue des Vignes in Paris for an annual fee of six hundred and sixty francs, the head of the first page stamped Transfert ('Transfer') and a further stamp with manuscript insertions to the third page confirming that the document replaces an earlier commitment to have a telephone line at 7 rue Edmond Valentin and that the minimum duration of the subscription is still in place. The foot of the third page is signed on behalf of Joyce with the observation 'Lu et accepté' (Translation: 'Read and accepted'). A moving document relating to Joyce's last private residence in Paris. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VGJames Joyce first came to Paris in July 1920 and would reside in the French capital for almost two decades, although the writer never bought a home of his own. Joyce's health problems afflicted him throughout his Paris years and despite over a dozen eye operations his vision severely declined and by the 1930s he was practically blind, making the telephone an important method of communication and explaining why he was unable to sign the present document.Joyce lived in an elegant apartment at 7 rue Edmond Valentin, close to the River Seine and Eiffel Tower, for five years from February 1935 until April 1939 before moving into a smaller apartment (although blessed with a lot of natural light) at 34 rue des Vignes on 15th April 1939. Finnegans Wake was published whilst Joyce was living in the apartment, which he would leave after six months in mid-October 1939. Following the fall of France in 1940 Joyce and his family travelled to Zurich to flee the Nazi occupation. On 11th January 1941 Joyce underwent surgery and fell into a coma the next day, awaking briefly at 2 am on 13th January before dying fifteen minutes later.
SCOTT WALTER: (1771-1832) Scottish historical novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Manuscript docket signed, Walter Scott, to a slim oblong 8vo portion removed from the base of a legal document, Selkirk, 16th July 1823. Scott writes in his capacity as Clerk of Session and Sheriff-Depute of Selkirkshire and requests that a statement be provided regarding an allegation against Mr. Clarke and a property, including details of 'whom & on what form the same was pledged to him'. With several lines of text in other hands to the recto and verso. Some light age wear, dust staining to the left edge and a few small tears and creases, only very slightly affecting the text but not the signature, G
STEVENSON ROBERT LOUIS: (1850-1894) Scottish novelist of Treasure Island (1883), Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886) and Kidnapped (1886). A.L.S., Robert Louis Stevenson, one page, oblong 4to, Vailima, Samoa, 2nd August 1893, to Messrs. Mitchell & Baxter in Edinburgh. Stevenson's letter regards a financial transaction and states, in full, 'I hereby advise you that I have this day drawn upon you in person of Mr. R. P. Aspinall of Africa for the sum of eighty pounds sterling'. With an official oval stamp to the lower right corner, a few small pinholes to the upper left corner, some light overall creasing, and a few light stains and a small tear to the right edge, not affecting the text or signature. G
DODGSON CHARLES LUTWIDGE: (1832-1898) Lewis Carroll. English author, poet and mathematician whose works include Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865). A very fine, rare manuscript poem, unsigned, one page, oblong 8vo, n.p., 18th February 1884. The poem, penned in Dodgson's characteristic violet ink, is dedicated 'To a young Lady, of whom I was in doubt whether she expected to be called “Miss so-and-so” or “So-and-so” without the “Miss”' at the head, with the two quatrains beneath, reading, in full -'Take not amiss this missile dread:Nor maim my mystic hope,Miscalling me a much misledMistaken misanthrope!My missive's meant to murmur this,With mute mysterious touch:-If I should merely miss the 'Miss',Would you, Miss, miss it much?'Autograph poems by Dodgson are extremely rare and desirable, and the present example (marked '[Copy]' alongside the reference number 46309, both in the writer's hand, and therefore presumably his own retained manuscript) is particularly inventive and humorous and with an interesting association, having been composed for [Miss] Elizabeth Hussey. A couple of very light, extremely minor creases, VGElizabeth 'Bessie' Ley Hussey (1852-1919) was the daughter of Robert Hussey (1803-1856) and his wife Elizabeth née Ley (1810-1896). Robert Hussey was the Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Oxford, where the family lived until moving to Brighton following Robert's death. When Dodgson arrived in Oxford as an undergraduate at Christ Church in 1851 he took rooms with Jacob Ley, Elizabeth Hussey's brother. Dodgson is known to have photographed members of the Hussey family, including the young Elizabeth and her mother on 26th April 1864, some twenty years prior to writing the present verse. The present poem originally came to light in July 2014 at which time it was noted as being both 'unrecorded and unpublished', and it has not appeared on the market since being acquired by the present vendor almost a decade ago.
BAYLY ADA ELLEN: (1857-1903) English novelist and supporter of women's suffrage who wrote under the pseudonym Edna Lyall. A.L.S., A. E. Bayly, one page, 8vo, Eastbourne, 5th July 1894, to Miss. Wilkinson. Bayly states that she has received 'a request to send my guitar for a few days to a possible purchaser' and continues 'As your sister may not use it perhaps you would kindly give it to the bearer. I hope to call & say goodbye tomorrow afternoon…..' A few very light, minor stains and very slight traces of former mounting to the corners, otherwise VG
CONRAD JOSEPH: (1857-1924) Polish-British novelist. A good, large vintage signed and inscribed sepia 11 x 14 photograph, the striking image showing the well-dressed Conrad, wearing a bowler hat, standing outdoors in a half-length pose. Signed in brown fountain pen ink to the lower border, 'For W. McFee in the fellowship of the sea and in bondage to scribbling, always his, Joseph Conrad'. Signed photographs by Conrad of this size are rare, and the present example provides an interesting association. Some creasing and small areas of paper loss to the borders, and with some light staining, GWilliam McFee (1881-1966) English writer of sea stories who wrote the introduction to A Conrad Argosy (1942) and also authored Joseph Conrad: Tales of Land and Sea (1953).
DOYLE ARTHUR CONAN: (1859-1930) Scottish author, creator of Sherlock Holmes. A very fine A.L.S., A Conan Doyle, four pages, 8vo, Maloja Hotel, Maloja [Switzerland], 1st August 1895, to [James] Payn. Doyle's unusually lengthy letter begins in a social vein, 'How I wish I could waft you up here, for it is a very charming place, but decidedly inaccessible to any man who is not very robust….I see from the Illustrated that your wit and cheeriness never fail you, but I know that in your case that is no proof of health or strength', before continuing on the subject of his present literary endeavours, 'I have been very busy on the…..prize fighter book of which, I think, I said something to you. I think it will work out fairly well, but I dare not be too sanguine. I remember that you were disposed to think that I was dealing with an unsavoury subject in the prize ring……But I hope that it may justify itself. I think I have done it in such a way that it is picturesque and not offensive, though I have two big fights in the book. It has never yet been done, as far as I know, and yet the Ring is the one typical Anglo Saxon sport which has never existed outside English speaking countries, and which has now, I believe, a very deep hold of the people - in spite of the unspeakable state to which it has been reduced. In the old days it stood for chivalry, gallantry & fair play, and I am sure I would rather fight in the lists with lance and sword than stand up to a good man for a hundred rounds, as far as the bravery & endurance which is needed goes. I hope when it comes your way that you may think I have made it interesting.' The author returns to his social and sporting activities, 'Our chief amusement here is to play golf, but as the grass is very thick & long the game gives you a lot of fresh air with very little exertion, for at your first drive you lose your ball, and then you spend your day, with intervals for meals, in walking round in circles and looking for it. [John] Hare is here and I believe [Squire] Bancroft & [Arthur Wing] Pinero are expected, so we feel that we are quite a dramatic centre', and also comments on his holiday reading, 'Of course you have read Morrison's "Mean Streets". It seemed to me to be very good indeed. I have just finished "The Honour of Savelli" but did not care for that so much….Books are the great difficulty out here, for the hotel library has only got as far as Bulwer Lytton'. In concluding Doyle refers to the health of his wife ('very well & bright') and their plans to have their own house built by the end of the next summer, 'I bought the land, but the Tyndalls now claim that there is a right of way through it. I recall a painful story I read somewhere of a man who had actually finished his house when such a claim was made & proved. As a result he had the whole parish continually passing in at his back door and out at the front one. Warned by it I shall settle this matter before I build - and I have no doubt we shall arrange it all right'. A letter of excellent content, not least for its rich literary references to Doyle's novel Rodney Stone. Some light overall age wear, minor creasing and a few small, neat tears to the edges of some folds, about VGJames Payn (1830-1898) English novelist and editor of periodicals including Chambers's Journal and the Cornhill Magazine.John Hare (1844-1921) English actor and theatre manager.Squire Bancroft (1841-1926) English actor and theatre manager.Arthur Wing Pinero (1855-1934) English playwright.Doyle's Gothic mystery and boxing novel Rodney Stone was first published in TheStrand Magazine from January to December 1896. As well as the author's depictions of prize fighting and the famous bare-knuckle boxers of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Rodney Stone also includes narratives of thuggery, gambling, cheating and of dangerous horse-drawn chases. The work was adapted into a stage play, The House of Temperley, in 1909 and into a silent movie in 1913.
![[MILNE CHRISTOPHER]: (1920-1996) English author and bookseller, son of A.A. Milne. As a child Christopher Milne was the basis](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/d9f4f5d5-e853-4d8c-9ccb-b02300a8b7ae/06d3c575-80ab-4791-b63f-b02300bac769/468x382.jpg)
[MILNE CHRISTOPHER]: (1920-1996) English author and bookseller, son of A.A. Milne. As a child Christopher Milne was the basis of the character Christopher Robin in his father's Winnie-the-Pooh stories. A fine original unsigned 6 x 8.5 studio photograph of the young, bright and wide-eyed Christopher Milne standing in a three-quarter length pose alongside his mother, Daphne Milne, who is seated in a three-quarter length pose, with her son's arm placed affectionately on her shoulders (c.1926-28). Photograph by Madame Yevonde and signed by her in red crayon to the lower photographer's mount. Matted in beige and framed and glazed in a modern black frame to an overall size of 10 x 15. A photocopy is attached to the back of the frame showing an ink annotation ('Christopher Robin & his mother') and the credit stamp of Madame Yevonde as they appear on the verso of the original photograph. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG Yevonde Middleton (1893-1975) English portrait photographer who used the professional name Madame Yevonde.
SHEPARD ERNEST H.: (1879-1976) English artist and book illustrator, particularly remembered for his work for Winnie-the-Pooh and The Wind in the Willows. A.L.S., Ernest H. Shephard, one page, oblong 12mo (evidently neatly trimmed from a larger sheet of stationery), Longdown, Guildford, 10th May 1938, to Mr. R. H. C. Robins. Shepard sends his correspondent an autograph as requested. A few light, minor stains, and slight traces of former mounting to the verso, G
PRIESTLEY J. B.: (1894-1984) English novelist and playwright. Signed 10 x 7.5 photograph of Priestley standing outdoors in a full-length pose at the gate of his home, Kissing Tree House in Alveston, Stratford-upon-Avon. Signed by Priestley in black ink with his name alone to a light area at the base of the image. Some minor corner creasing and light wrinkling to the image and very minimal traces of former mounting to the verso, about VG
ROMAN RUTH: (1922-1999) American actress whose film credits include the thriller movie Strangers on a Train (1951) directed by Alfred Hitchcock. A good vintage signed and inscribed 8 x 10 photograph of Roman in a head and shoulders pose. Signed in bold blue fountain pen ink across a light area of the image, 'To Alec, thank you for your help, Ruth Roman'. VG
ASIMOV ISAAC: (1920-1992) American science fiction writer. Souvenir T.Q.S., Isaac Asimov, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d.. The typed quotation is taken from Maxwell's Little Demon (1962) and commences 'The difference between an invariable flow and a flow that deviates immeasurably from being invariable is all-important philosophically but seems so insignificant in any practical sense that Maxwell felt the need to dramatize it somehow. He therefore pictured a tiny being at a stopcock between two containers of gas, that were at equal temperatures to begin with'. Signed by Asimov in blue ink with his name alone at the conclusion. Some very light, minor age toning and a couple of creases, otherwise VGJames Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879) Scottish scientist and mathematician. Maxwell's demon, which the scientist proposed in 1867, is a thought experiment which would hypothetically violate the second law of thermodynamics. Maxwell himself referred to the entity as a 'being who can play a game of skill with the molecules', and Lord Kelvin would later label it a 'demon'.
LONDON JACK: (1876-1916) American novelist, a pioneer of commercial fiction whose works included The Call of the Wild and White Fang, both set in the Klondike Gold Rush. Vintage signed sepia 4.5 x 3.5 photograph, an appealing image of London in a head and shoulders pose wearing a campaign hat. Signed by the novelist with his name alone to a light area at the foot of the image. VG
SEUSS DR: (1904-1991) Theodor Seuss Geisel. American children's author and cartoonist. Signed First Day Cover commemorating Christmas and featuring a colour image of snowy fields and with two different postage stamps, postmarked December 1986. Signed ('Dr. Seuss') in black ink to a clear area, the author also adding a small ink and light orange pencil drawing of a fish alongside his signature. About EX
RUSSELL JANE: (1921-2011) American actress and sex symbol. Signed and inscribed 8 x 10 photograph of Russell in a head and shoulders pose in costume as Nella Turner from the western film The Tall Men (1955). Signed by Russell in blue ink to a light area of the image. Some very light, extremely minimal creasing, largely to the white borders, VG
PUZO MARIO: (1920-1999) American author and screenwriter of crime novels involving the mafia, most notably The Godfather (1969). Signed 8 x 10 photograph of Puzo standing in a half-length pose holding his Oscar statuette in his hands and with a larger model statuette in the immediate background. Signed with his name alone to a light area of the background. About EX
PYNCHON THOMAS: (1937- ) American novelist. An extremely rare book signed and inscribed, being a soft cover edition of The Secret Integration, First Edition published by Aloes Books, London, 1980, one of a limited edition of 2,500 copies, with a cover collage and frontispiece illustration by Joe Tilson. Signed and inscribed by Pynchon ('For Irving - Thomas Pynchon') to the inside front cover. Some very minimal, light age wear and a few minor stains to the back cover, otherwise VG
ANDERSEN HANS CHRISTIAN: (1805-1875) Danish author, best remembered for his literary fairy tales. A fine pair of autograph fair copy manuscript verses signed ('H. C. Andersen') by Andersen, one page, large oblong 4to (approximately 13 x 10.5”, 32.5 x 26 cm), Paris, 26th April 1943, in Danish and French. To the left side of the page Andersen has penned his verse Soldaten ('The Soldier') in Danish, the four-verse work of four lines each, part of a song cycle, commencing 'Med daempede Hvirvler Trommerne gaae/ Ak, skal vi da aldrig til Stedet naae/ At hank an faae Ro i sin Kiste!/ Jeg troer mit Hjerte vil briste' (Translation: 'Our steps keep time with the muffled drum/ How slow it seems, and how long the march/ O, that he was at peace and everything done/ My heart is pounding'). To the right side of the page the author has penned a French translation of his verse, headed Le Soldat ecrite d'Andersen. Signed and dated by Andersen at the foot of the page. Manuscript verses by Andersen are extremely rare and highly sought after, and the present example is particularly charming. Some light staining and a few small, minor tears to the edges and with a vertical fold to the centre with neat splitting to the upper and lower edges and the whole reinforced with a thin strip of light tape to the verso. GHans Christian Andersen visited Paris on eight occasions during his lifetime and it was his second visit in 1843 (during which time he penned the present verses) that was perhaps the most important to him personally as he purposefully made it his ambition to meet French writers and artists, and thus succeeded in being accepted into the Parisian literary community. It is more than likely that the present verses were written at the request of one such member of the literary circles in Paris; we know that Andersen penned two similar verses on the same day, 26th April 1943, in the album amicorum of the poet and Romanticist Alfred de Vigny (1797-1863) and his wife Lydia.
TAYLOR ELIZABETH: (1932-2011) British actress, Academy Award winner. A good signed and inscribed 8 x 10 photograph of the actress in a head and shoulders pose. Signed in purple ink across a light area of the image, 'To Anton, love and best wishes, Elizabeth'. A few minor, light surface and corner creases, VGProvenance: The present photograph is believed to have been signed for Anton Dolin (1904-1983) English ballet dancer and choreographer.
TZARA TRISTAN: (1896-1963) Romanian avant-garde poet, one of the founders and central figures of the anti-establishment Dada movement. Autograph Manuscript, unsigned, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d., in French. The working draft, with numerous deletions and corrections, appears to be at least one half of a larger manuscript (the head of the page numbered 2), the text stating, in part, 'Ou habite l'oubli? Dans le soleil de sable qui fuit entre mes doigts, comme cendre fulgurante tombe dans les mains du couchant, dans un corset dore lace de serpents noirs dont c'est (la) prison perpetuelle' (Translation: 'Where dwells oblivion? In the sun of sand that flees between my fingers, like dazzling ashes falling into the hands of the setting sun, in a gilded corset laced with black snakes of which it is (the) perpetual prison'). Some light overall uniform age toning and one extremely small area of paper loss to the lower edge, otherwise VG
VERLAINE PAUL: (1844-1896) French poet. A.L.S., with his initials P V, one page, 8vo, n.p., 27th June n.y. ('Jeudi….du soir'; c.1882), to a friend, in French. Verlaine states that it was impossible for him to go to any office yesterday, and only has a moment today, continuing 'Demain vendredi je prendrai un apres-midi sur mon temps de galere.....Je serai ici de 4 ½ a 7. Ici veut dire la Brasserie Bergere [na]turellement' (Translation: 'Tomorrow, Friday, I will take an afternoon from my galley time…..I will be here from 4 ½ to 7. Here means the Brasserie Bergere of course') and also asking 'Si possible, menage-moi donc pour amis de provinces 4 ou 5 places de theatre dominical' (Translation: 'If possible, spare me for friends from the provinces 4 or 5 Sunday theatre tickets'). With blank integral leaf. Some light age toning and a few neat tears, slightly affecting the text, most neatly repaired to a high standard to the verso, about VG
PREVERT JACQUES: (1900-1977) French poet. A printed 8vo brochure for an exhibition entitled Paul Roux et ses amis held at the Musee Municipal de Saint-Paul from 29th December 1964 to 31st January 1965, featuring an essay in French by Prevert and several black and white plates illustrations, signed and inscribed ('A Marcel et Germaine, Jacques') by Prevert across two inside pages using a combination of bold red, green and turquoise inks, and also featuring an original drawing by Prevert, the image depicting a black devil-like figure, with a red face, standing in a full-length pose in the grass and holding a branch of green leaves in one hand. A couple of very light, minor stains to the paper covers, otherwise VG
PREVERT JACQUES: (1900-1977) French poet and screenwriter. A large (11.5 x 9"; 29 x 22.5 cm) autograph envelope signed by the poet, addressed in his hand in dark fountain pen ink to Albert Mermoud in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Expres envelope bearing eight postage stamps post marked at Saint-Paul-de-Vence, 26th October 1951, with two red and black printed Expres labels affixed to the front, and further 'illustrated' by Prevert to the verso with the addition of a vintage Victorian/Edwardian scrap of a colourful finch resting on a branch. Signed ('Prevert') in the return address to the verso. With a large ink blot to the first half of the signature and some light overall creasing and a few minor tears, GAlbert Mermoud (1905-1997) Swiss entrepreneur, co-founder and then president of the Cinematheque Suisse and founder of the publishing house La Guilde du Livre.
FRANCE ANATOLE: (1844-1924) French poet, journalist and novelist, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1921. A.L.S., Anatole France, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d. (post 1920), to Antoinette, in French. The writer informs his correspondent that, despite having a heavy cold and Emma [Laprovette, his second wife] being very unwell, he will come to dinner at his correspondent's home, remarking 'Venez me prendre a la villa avec votre cher mari. Vous en jugerez. Je vous attends tous deux' (Translation: 'Come and pick me up at the villa with your dear husband. You will judge. I am waiting for you both'). With blank integral leaf (minor traces of former mounting to the left edge of the verso). Some light staining, about VG
SHAW GEORGE BERNARD: (1856-1950) Irish playwright, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1925. An exceptional A.L.S., G. Bernard Shaw, two pages, 8vo, written to the first and last pages, Fitzroy Square, London, 1st February 1895, to [William] Heinemann. Shaw commences his interesting letter stating 'You have no doubt seen how ruthlessly I have used you and [Sydney] Olivier & your play & his play to feed the flame that must eventually consume the censor. Why on earth did you suddenly drop bang into a mere kodaking of blackguardism? You can't have started with that idea' and continues to observe 'However, you were in a certain way right; for in those scenes in the last two acts your imaginative grip closed unmistakeably on your material & realized it forcibly. But I protest against the honors of tragedy being given to a squalid little business like that. Why not compress these three acts into one act - or rather prologue - positing the problem of a young woman who has married a man whom she believes to be a genius and is left disillusioned at the end with life before her - that is, with the play before her? That is what you have really struck out, and this calling the first step of it "a dramatic moment", and stitching it up in green covers at [John] Lane's is all nonsense - a selling of your birthright. What the audience want to know is how the woman got out of it - what the solution of the problem is', further offering his typically forthright advice, 'It is not enough for you to cut a slice of life - anyone can do that who can write or imagine at all - you must eat the slice, digest it, & build it up into a living organism. That's the meaning of creation in art. If you doubt me, ask "her whose interest & enthusiasm inspired this effort", and if she is the right sort of woman, as I hope with all my heart for your sake she is, she will say yes and tell you that you must follow The First Step to the end of the journey. Outside the most lighthearted comedy, there must be no happy endings; but there must be no unhappy endings at all: there must be great endings, or hopeful, or right endings; but happiness & unhappiness are the positive & negative ends of life only with fools. Plenty of people are giving up the happy ending only to substitute the negative for the positive form of it & offer unhappy endings, which are equally unconvincing & much less pleasant'. Shaw concludes his letter making a reference to his own work, 'My play is not typed yet. When it is, you shall read it if I can get a copy disengaged before it reaches the stage, concerning which, by the way, nothing is yet settled'. A letter of magnificent literary content in which Shaw provides a masterful lesson in writing and offers his opinions on the difference between a true playwright and a gifted amateur. Some light overall age toning and a few light, minor creases, about VGWilliam Heinemann (1863-1920) English publisher, the founder of the Heinemann publishing house in London which represented authors including H. G. Wells, Robert Louis Stevenson and Rudyard Kipling. Heinemann's 'modern' play The First Step: A Dramatic Moment, discussed in the present letter, was published by John Lane in 1895 and in a note within the publication the author observes that it was not his objective to write anything that 'would satisfy the usual requirements of a stage play….but simply to snatch one dramatic moment out of a story of today'. From 1895-98 Shaw was the theatre critic for The Saturday Review and the opening lines of the present letter evidently refer to a review of The First Step which Shaw had published.Sydney Olivier (1859-1943) 1st Baron Olivier. British civil servant, a Fabian and member of the Labour Party. Olivier was recognised as one of the 'Big Four' within the Fabian movement in London, alongside Shaw, Sidney Webb and Graham Wallas. The uncle of actor Laurence Olivier, Sydney Olivier was a writer throughout his life, attempting poetry although faring better with a few plays, which were first performed at the Fabian Society, and a Fabian paper on Emile Zola (1890).Shaw was working on two plays in 1895, The Man of Destiny, set in Italy during the early career of Napoleon, and the four-act play You Never Can Tell, although neither were performed or published until several years later.
FAULKNER WILLIAM: (1897-1962) American writer, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1949. A good D.S., William Faulkner, and further initialled WF five times to the margins, four pages, 4to, n.p. (New York?), 20th September 1954. The partially printed document, completed in typescript, is a contract made between Faulkner and Caedmon Publishers of New York in which the writer agrees to render his services at a recording session to take place no later than 15th October 1954 at which he will give a reading of his Nobel Prize acceptance speech as well as various extracts from A Fable (pages 352-354), Requiem for a Nun (pages 16-33), As I Lay Dying and Light in August etc., further stating that a royalty of 10% of the retail list price will be paid for each record sold by the publisher, that an advance of $300 will be paid on completion of the recording and that 'Where payment is made to the Publisher in terms of royalties, as for example for book club or foreign licensing rights, the Author shall receive half of such royalties. Where payment is made to the Publisher for performance rights, the Author shall receive half of such payments'. Signed by Faulkner at the conclusion and also signed with his initials ('WF') at five various points in the margins alongside deletions and alterations to the text. Countersigned by a representative of Caedmon Publishers. A couple of very minor, extremely light smudges to Faulkner's signature. Together with an original vintage 7 x 9 Associated Press photograph of Faulkner, accompanied by his daughter Jill, standing together on the steps of a Scandinavian Airlines aircraft as they prepare to depart for Stockholm in December 1950 in order for Faulkner to be presented with his Nobel Prize. A few minor staple holes to the upper left corners of the document and the photograph with some slight corner creasing, otherwise VG, 2
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