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Click here to subscribeASTAIRE FRED & ADELE: ASTAIRE FRED: (1899-1987) American Actor & Dancer, Academy Award winner & ADELE (1896-1981) American Dancer & Entertainer. Signed and inscribed 8.5 x 6.5 photograph by both Fred and Adele Astaire individually, the image depicting the siblings in head and shoulders poses together. Signed ('Fred Astaire') by Fred Astaire and signed and inscribed ('To John, Love, Dellie') by Adele Astaire, both in blue inks to light areas of the image. VG
SIMENON GEORGES: (1903-1989) Belgian Writer. Best known as the creator of the fictional detective Jules Maigret. T.L.S., `Georges Simenon´, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d., in English. The typed document contains four paragraphs of five lines each, and is entitled `From…. “AFRICAN TRIO”´, stating in part `Camille, too, seemed lost in thought and, when they had finished dinner, sat on unmoving, forgetting even to light the pipe he had just filled….Then the sound of a sob broke the silence in the room…. Emilienne couldn´t have explained what had come over her…. She had no doubts about her love for him… But now, suddenly, just as the meal ended, after a day of chaotic, nightmarish experiences, she felt his real presence in this room…And for the first time, perhaps, she had an insight into the man he really was, that secret self of which till now she had had no more than an inkling´ Very small clipped corner, otherwise G to VG African Trio (1979) is a small collection gathering three Simenon novels set in French colonial Africa of the 1930s.
HAMMETT DASHIELL: (1894-1961) American author of hardboiled detective fiction including The Maltese Falcon (1930). Hammett's novels had a large influence on films, particularly in the genres of detective fiction, mystery thrillers and film noir. A.L.S., Dash, one page, 4to, Alaska, 21st September 1943, to Florence [Morash]. Hammett writes whilst serving with the American army, and shortly after his involvement in the Aleutian Islands campaign, stating, in part, 'There won't be much news in this except that in course of fidgetting (sic) my way around the world I've moved again. The only change in address is a new APO number……The new station is fairly rugged, but I think I'm going to like it. That's all that's news with me. What makes with you? And Paul? I'll try to manufacture more - though possibly bogus - news in a day or two and write you more lengthily and - I hope - more interestingly. Meanwhile, my best to that man and to you my love - and write'. At the base of the page Hammett adds his address, 'Cpl. S. D. Hammett, 3118358, 14th Sig. Serv. Det., APO #980……'. Some very light, minor creasing, VG
CAIN JAMES M.: (1892-1977) American author of hardboiled crime fiction whose works included The Postman Always Rings Twice (1934), Mildred Pierce (1941) and Double Indemnity (1944), all of which were made into movies. T.L.S., James M Cain, one page, 4to, Hyatsville, Maryland, 10th February 1963, to Mrs. E. J. Connor of Who's Who in America. Cain writes, in part, 'Reading the monumental life of Jefferson by Nathan Schachner I opened Who's Who in America to see who he was, and didn't find him. This is just a note to suggest his inclusion, as it is a profoundly scholarly work, by itself a qualification, I would think, whether he's done anything else or not…..With my latest corrected proofs I sent two other suggestions on, Paul Hume of the Washington Post & Times Herald, their music critic, and Lois Long, the New Yorker's fashion writer……whether the note reached your desk I don't know. Hence this brief recap. Getting one more half line of your father's agate type was the hardest chore of my life, and now that he's gone, doesn't get any easier. But I never fail to think of him when I fill out one of your forms. The two editions since his passing have been up to standard, to my eye, particularly the last, which is better proof-read than the other…..The selections are really encyclopedic, and do you enormous credit'. Accompanied by the original envelope. Some very light, extremely minor creasing, VG
‘I’m sending the final copy of the The War of the Worlds…..Treasure it – it’s quite a revised version & the only copy’ WELLS H.G.: (1866-1946) English writer, best remembered for his science fiction novels including The War of the Worlds (1898). A good A.L.S., H. G. Wells, one page, 8vo, Heatherlea, Worcester Park, Surrey, n.d. (annotated in pencil in an unidentified hand 1898), to [Sydney] Pawling. Wells writes, in full, 'I'm sending the final copy of the The War of the Worlds, in a separate cover. Treasure it - it's quite a revised version & the only copy. And the sooner….I may have proofs by me the better the whole thing will be'. With blank integral leaf. Autograph letters by Wells making reference to perhaps his most famous work are rare and desirable. One light stain, not affecting the text or signature, and with some light age wear, otherwise VG Sydney Pawling (1862-1922) English cricketer, at one time reputed to be the fastest bowler in England. In 1893 Pawling became a partner in the publishing house of William Heinemann, and he remained the minority partner until his death. The War of the Worlds was first published in a hardcover edition by William Heinemann in 1898.
CAPEK KAREL: (1890-1938) Czech Writer & Playwright, best known for his science fiction works and the play R. U. R. (Rossum's Universal Robots, 1920) which introduced the word 'robot'. A brief A.L.S., Karel Capek, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., to an editor, in Czechoslovakian. Capek sends his correspondent a story and asks for his manuscript to be returned, if possible sooner rather than later. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, about VG
HUXLEY ALDOUS: (1894-1963) English writer and philosopher whose most famous novel was Brave New World (1932). A.L.S., Aldous Huxley, two pages (ruled notepaper removed from a notebook), Wrightwood, California, 23rd February 1948, to Mrs. Urquhart. Huxley thanks his correspondent for her letters and provides a long-winded explanation as to why he cannot accede to her request, 'If I were to try to answer the questions on your list, I shd. have to write a large volume - in the preliminary knowledge that many of the questions are unanswerable and that the problems to which they refer are insoluble except by the passage of time, which will end by making them irrelevant to a new reality. Moreover I find it very hard to write except about what at the moment I feel like writing - about what specially interests me out of the totality of possible subjects. What you want your contributors to write about is everything; and this I can't do, because I have before me a programme of particular somethings which will take all my time and attention for a long while to come'. Two file holes to the left edge and a series of smaller holes along the top edge. Some light age wear, about VG
HUXLEY ALDOUS: (1894-1963) English writer and philosopher whose most famous novel was Brave New World (1932). An excellent vintage signed 6.5 x 9 photograph of Huxley seated in a profile head and shoulders pose with his back turned to the camera. Signed in bold black fountain pen ink to the lower white border, 'In memory of A Small World, Aldous Huxley', and dated 1959 in his hand. A few very minor, extremely light surface creases, otherwise VG
ASIMOV ISAAC: (1920-1992) American science fiction writer. A brief T.L.S., Isaac Asimov, on one side of a plain postcard, n.p. (New York), 24th December 1988, to Mr. & Mrs. Meshel. Asimov thanks his correspondents for their very kind birthday greetings, although remarks 'Alas, I am older than you think. On January 2, I shall turn 69 and not 68.' A few light postal cancellations only very slightly affect the text, but do not touch the signature. About VG
CAPOTE TRUMAN: (1924-1984) American novelist. A.L.S., Toujour, Iago, to one side of a colour picture postcard depicting part of the shoreline of Corsica, n.p. (Calvi), n.d. (27th April 1962), to Leonard Lyons. At the head of the text Capote provides an address in Palamos, Costa Brava, Spain, and writes, in full, 'Am in Corsica, but leave tomorrow for above address where I expect to be most of the summer. Bless you for cont[inuing] to send the column. Please do. I will write from Spain. Love to Sylvia'. A few light, minor stains and age wear, about VGIago, a fictional character in William Shakespeare's Othello, is a Machiavellian schemer and manipulator and one of the playwright's most sinister villains. Leonard Lyons (1906-1976) American Newspaper Columnist for the New York Post where his columns, The Lyons Den, became a New York institution covering theatre, movies, politics and art.
MICHENER JAMES A.: (1907-1997) American author whose first book, Tales of the South Pacific (1947), won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was adapted as the popular Broadway musical South Pacific by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. Signed 8 x 10 photograph of Michener in a semi-profile head and shoulders pose holding his pair of spectacles in one hand. Signed in bold black ink with his name alone to a clear area of the background. A couple of very light, extremely minor surface and corner creases, VG
ASTAIRE & ROGERS: ASTAIRE FRED (1899-1987) American actor & dancer & ROGERS GINGER (1911-1995) American actress & dancer, both Academy Award winners. Signed 8 x 10 photograph by both Astaire and Rogers individually, the image showing them seated together in a full length pose in costume as 'Bake' Baker and Sherry in a scene from the 1936 musical comedy film Follow the Fleet. Signed by Astaire in bold black ink with his name alone and signed by Rogers, who adds an inscription in her hand, in bold blue ink, both to light areas of the image. VG
GABLE CLARK: (1901-1960) American actor, Academy Award winner. A good vintage signed and inscribed 8 x 10 photograph of Gable standing in a full-length pose alongside his second wife, Maria Langham, on a train station platform in New York. Photograph by Apeda of New York. Signed in bold green fountain pen ink to the left white border, 'To Tess from Clark Gable'. A typed caption to the verso states that Gable and his wife were in New York for a short vacation and that the actor had recently finished filming Men in White (1934). A few very light, minor corner creases, otherwise VG Men in White (1934) was filmed in 1933 although its release was delayed as the Legion of Decency originally cited the movie as unfit for public exhibition. Due to suggestions of illicit romance and abortion, the film was frequently cut. Gable performed in the role of Dr. George Ferguson opposite Myrna Loy in the role of Laura Hudson.
D'ANNUNZIO GABRIELE: (1863-1938) Italian poet & playwright. A bold black fountain pen ink signature ('Gabriele d'Annunzio') on an oblong 8vo sheet of paper bearing five differently coloured postage stamps, each featuring an identical image of the poet, postmarked at Fiume (Rijeka, Croatia), September 1920. With a light purple rubber-stamped cache at the head of the page. An unusual presentation. A couple of very light, extremely minor creases, VG
D'ANNUNZIO GABRIELE: (1863-1938) Italian poet & playwright. Vintage signed postcard photograph of D'Annunzio standing outdoors in a full-length pose wearing his military uniform. Signed ('Gabriele d'Annunzio') in black fountain pen ink to the image and dated June 1920 in his hand. Some very light silvering to the image, a couple of minor corner creases and some light traces of former mounting to the verso. About VG D'Annunzio was associated with the elite Arditi storm troops of the Italian Army during World War I, taking part in actions such as the Flight over Vienna, and the public perception of him at this time transformed D'Annunzio from a literary figure into a national war hero.
SCOTT WALTER: (1771-1832) Scottish historical novelist, poet, playwright and historian. A.L.S., Walter Scott, one page, 8vo, Cork, n.d. ('Monday'), to a gentleman. Scott writes, in full, 'If you are at all curious in Field days the Cavalry Infantry and artillery are to be on the ground at Ballincollig tomorrow at 11 am to blow away some of His Majesty's spare ammunition'. With integral address leaf (the name of the recipient blacked out in ink) bearing the remnants of a black wax seal. Some light age wear, about VG
WORDSWORTH WILLIAM: (1770-1850) English Romantic poet who served as Poet Laureate 1843-50. A.L.S., Wm Wordsworth, one page, 4to, Rydal Mount, 21st September 1846, to The Revd. Dr. Parkinson. Wordsworth writes a letter of introduction for Mr. Pemberton Bartlett, 'a student of St Bees', asking that he may be recommended 'to any attention which it may fall within your province to be able to give him the benefit of' and further adding 'He is a friend of Mr. Quillinan, my Son in Law, at whose request I ask this favour'. With integral address leaf hand addressed by Wordsworth (small areas of paper loss caused by the original breaking of the seal). Some light age wear, a few very small, minor tears at the edges of folds and some slight traces of former mounting to the right edge of the verso. About VG The Reverend Canon Richard Parkinson (1797-1858) English clergyman, theologian and antiquarian who had been appointed as principal of St Bees Theological College in September 1846. Edward Quillinan (1791-1851) English poet, the son-in-law and defender of Wordsworth and a translator of Portuguese poetry. His marriage to Dora Wordsworth, in 1841, had encountered strong opposition on William Wordsworth's part, not from a dislike of Quillinan, but from fear of losing his daughter's society. Wordsworth eventually submitted with good grace and became fully reconciled to Quillinan, who proved to be an excellent husband and son-in-law.
BROWNING ROBERT: (1812-1889) English poet and playwright. Ink signature ('Ever yours truly, Robert Browning') on a piece, evidently clipped from the conclusion of a letter, matted in black and cream beneath a colour reproduction image of Browning to an overall size of 11.5 x 15.5. Some light age toning, about VG
TENNYSON ALFRED: (1809-1892) English Poet Laureate 1850-92. D.S., A Tennyson, being a signed cheque, London, 20th July 1874. The partially printed cheque, partially completed in the hand of his wife, Emily, is drawn on the Westminster branch of the London & Westminster Bank and is made payable to Messrs John Bell & Co. Unusually no amount indicating the value of the cheque is provided. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG
KIPLING RUDYARD: (1865-1936) English writer, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1907. A.L.S., Rudyard Kipling, two pages, 8vo, Maidencombe, St. Marychurch, [Torquay, Devon], 26th November 1896, to Samuel Squire Sprigge. Kipling announces that he was glad to see his correspondent's handwriting and continues 'We're in the deeper lanes of Devonshire, hoping some day to be able to come to town for a spree together, but with two kiddies one doesn't move easily. However when we come up (I come for a day or two at the beginning of the month for some dinners) we shall make it our business to see you for we feel as if we've a paternal & maternal interest in your careers', further enquiring 'How does Mrs. Sprigge enjoy London and its house keeping? How does she like the brutes & workmen and the London fog? Brattleboro could be red-hot on occasion but at least one could breathe there'. Kipling also adds that he was glad that Sprigge liked The Seven Seas, remarking 'I've twanged my banjo with a moral purpose, and be d-d to it this time; when I get old I shall set up as a writer of tracts. We all take to it sooner or later'. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Kipling. A letter of good association. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, otherwise VG Samuel Squire Sprigge (1860-1937) English physician and medical writer, a friend of Kipling, Edmund Gosse, Anthony Hope Hawkins and Max Beerbohm. Sprigge had married his first wife, Beatrice Moss, a Canadian, in 1895.
TAGORE RABINDRANATH: (1861-1941) Indian Poet, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1913. Statement Signed, Rabindranath Tagore, one page, oblong 8vo, n.p., August 1921. The page bears a heading in the hand of a collector reading Maxims of Life of the Leading People of the whole World and Tagore has provided his response below, written in an unidentified hand, and stating 'Life's highest opportunity is to be able to offer hospitality to God. We live in God's world and forget him, for the blind acceptance which is one-sided never finds the truth. It is a desert which receives rain but never offers fruit in return and its receiving has no meaning. God's world is given to us, and when we offer our world to God, then the gift is realised'. Some light overall foxing and a few light, minor creases and small tears to the edges, G
YEATS W. B.: (1865-1939) Irish poet & dramatist, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1923. A.L.S., W B Yeats, one page, small 4to, Rathfarnham, Dublin, 23rd May n.y. (annotated in pencil in an unidentified hand 1938), to Martin E. Brown. Yeats informs his correspondent, in full, 'I named the characters in my play Harts & Bruins to the best of my memory because their names were common in the village, Rossess (sic) at Rossess (sic) Point, Sligo. There were pilots & inkeepers (sic) of the name of Bruins & probably also of the name of Hart though in the case of the Harts my memory is more vague', and in a postscript further writes 'My memory is that about half the village was called Bruins. I lived there a good deal when a child'. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Yeats. Some light age wear, a few very minor, small pinholes and a couple of small tears to the edges of the folds, G The Bruin family and Father Hart are the main characters in Yeats' play The Land of Heart's Desire which was first performed in the spring of 1894 at the Avenue Theatre in London. It was the first professional performance of one of Yeats' plays. The play's title is included on the Coat of Arms of County Sligo, Ireland, where the play is set.
SHAW GEORGE BERNARD: (1856-1950) Irish playwright, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1925. A.L.S., G. Bernard Shaw, to the verso of a postcard photograph depicting Shaw in a head and shoulders pose, Whitehall Court, London, 18th May 1928, to Mrs. Clarke. Shaw enquires 'Can you tell me where Ada is? I want to send her a book; and 53 Waterloo Road is the only permanent address I can find', and in a postscript further adds 'To telephone, ring up Victoria 3160 and ask to be put through to my flat'. Hand addressed by Shaw. Some light age wear and a few minor stains, about VG
SHAW GEORGE BERNARD: (1856-1950) Irish playwright, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1925. A good book signed and inscribed, being a hardback edition of The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism and Capitalism, First Edition (advance copy) published by Constable and Company Ltd., London, 1928. Signed by Shaw in dark fountain pen ink to the half-title page, 'To Ethel Snowden from Bernard Shaw'. Bound in the original publisher's decorative olive green cloth and with decoration and gilt title to spine. With Ethel Snowden's bookplate laid down to the front pastedown and also including a loosely inserted vintage signed sepia postcard photograph of Philip Snowden (neatly trimmed to the lower border). Further including a loosely inserted printed small 8vo slip, the text stating 'Please consider this book private until the 1st of June, the day of publication. G.B.S.'. Lacking the dust jacket. An interesting association copy. Contained in a handsome custom designed olive green quarter leather and cloth clamshell box with a gilt stamped title to the spine. Some light age wear, about VG Ethel Snowden (1881-1951) Viscountess Snowden. British socialist, human rights activist and feminist politician, wife of Philip Snowden (1864-1937) 1st Viscount Snowden. British politician who served as Labour's first Chancellor of the Exchequer 1924, 1929-31.
MANN THOMAS: (1875-1955) German novelist, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1929. D.S., Thomas Mann, one page, folio, n.p. (New York?), 11th May 1944. The typed document is an Agreement between Mann and the publishers Editora Flama of Sao Paulo, Brazil, concerning the translation into the Portuguese language of Mann's novel Konigliche Hoheit ('Royal Highness') and comprises nine clauses in which the publishers commit to publish the translated work within one year, agree that they will pay Mann an advance of $175 as well as a royalty of 10% 'of the retail catalogue price on all copies', provide twice yearly reports of sales and also provide five free copies of the book to Mann. Signed by Mann in turquoise fountain pen ink at the foot. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG
BUCK PEARL S.: (1892-1973) American writer and novelist, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1938. A printed 4to booklet entitled A Biographical Sketch of Pearl S. Buck, published by the John Day Company, New York, n.d. (c.1968/69), featuring a biography of the writer, a bibliography and partial list of awards, citations, honorary degrees and memberships. Signed ('Pearl S. Buck') by Buck in fountain pen ink with her name alone to a clear area of the cover beneath her portrait. Some light foxing to the outer covers, otherwise VG
BECKETT SAMUEL: (1906-1989) Irish novelist and playwright, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1969. A printed slim 4to theatre programme for a performance of Warten auf Godot ('Waiting for Godot') at the Schiller Theater in Berlin, signed ('Samuel Backett') by Beckett in red ink to the upper border of the first page above his image and dated Berlin, 16th September 1978 in his hand. Also signed to the inside photo pages by the four cast members individually comprising Horst Bollmann (Estragon), Stefan Wigger (Vladimir), Klaus Herm (Lucky) and Carl Raddatz (Pozzo). Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG
NERUDA PABLO: (1904-1973) Chilean Poet. His real name being Ricardo Reyes Basoalto, he derived his pen name from Jan Neruda a Czech Poet. Neruda won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. An excellent Autograph Manuscript signed `Pablo Neruda´, written in green ink, six pages, light brown paper, all written to the front page, 4to, Paris, February 1972, in Spanish. An interesting manuscript by Neruda who expresses the beauty and magnificence of the extreme natural events of his native land, referring to volcanic eruptions, violent earthquakes, winter storms, etc.., stating in part `Volcanes y ventisqueros del gran Sur de América - de América del Sur - solo han sido buenos profesores para nosotros, pequeños cazadores nacidos en aquel lejano silencio. Nunca olvidaré las explosiones de luz ardiente, la sacudida terrenal que impone sobre la cordillera, sobre la nieve esplendida…´ (“Volcanoes and blizzards of the great south of America - of South America - all have been good teachers for us, little guards born in that distant silence. I will never forget the explosions of burning light, the trembling of the earth that imposed itself over the mountain range, over the brilliant snow…”) Small overall minor creasing, otherwise G to VG Pablo Neruda writes the present manuscript in Paris where he resides and serves as Chilean Ambassador to France, four months after having been awarded with the Nobel Prize for Literature and a year before dying of cancer.
ROOSEVELT THEODORE: (1858-1919) American President 1901-09, Nobel Peace Prize winner, 1906. A fine black fountain pen ink signature ('Theodore Roosevelt') on a slim 8vo printed card (neatly trimmed from the original size) from the White House, Washington. Accompanied by an unsigned printed 8vo Birthday Anniversary Program issued by the Women's Roosevelt Memorial Association, 27th October 1944, and featuring a head and shoulders portrait of Roosevelt to the front cover. Some light age wear and heavy traces of former mounting to the verso of the signed card. About VG, 2
SCHWEITZER ALBERT (1875-1965) Alsatian Theologian, Musician, Philosopher & Physician, Nobel Peace Prize winner 1952. Book signed and inscribed, being a hardback edition of Albert Schweitzer by Magnus C. Ratter, published by Allenson & Co. Ltd., London, n.d. (c.1935), with a frontispiece illustration of Schweitzer and nine further plate illustrations. Signed and inscribed by Schweitzer to the head of the title page in dark fountain pen ink, 'Esther Meynell avec mes bonnes pensees, Albert Schweitzer', and dated at London, 14th December 1935 in his hand. An interesting association copy. Bound in the publisher's green cloth (some light overall staining and the spine faded) and lacking the dustjacket. Some light foxing to the half title page and with an ownership signature to the front pastedown. G Esther Meynell (1878-1955) English author, the niece by marriage of the suffragist Alice Meynell. Esther Meynell's works include The Little Chronicle of Magdalena Bach and Nelson's Lady Hamilton.
MANDELA NELSON: (1918-2013) South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader who served as the first President of South Africa 1994-99. Nobel Peace Prize winner, 1993. A printed 4to edition of Time magazine, Vol. 143, No. 19, 9th May 1994, featuring a colour image of Mandela to the front cover, signed and inscribed in bold silver ink by Mandela at the head of the cover and dated 22nd March 1997 in his hand. Some light age wear, scuffing and slight creasing, about VG
Curie writes to fellow (future) Nobel Laureate Perrin claiming priority for the chemical explanation of the fluorescence phenomenon and sharing her thoughts on the cause of chemical reactions CURIE MARIE: (1867-1934) Polish-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1903, and for Chemistry, 1911, thereby becoming the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person and only woman to win the Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win the Nobel Prize in two scientific fields. An exceptional T.L.S., M. Curie, one page, 4to, Paris, 27th February 1923, to [Jean Baptiste Perrin] ('Cher ami'), on the printed stationery of the Laboratoire Curie at the Institut du Radium, Faculte des Sciences de Paris, in French. Curie thanks Perrin for having sent her the notice regarding his scientific works ('I have had great pleasure in reviewing in detail the history of your commendable activity') however continues to 'issue a small complaint', explaining 'You deem that, before your works, the chemical explanation for the fluorescence phenomenon was unknown, and that no explanation for the thermoluminescence phenomenon had been given. In this respect, you are wrong. In my Traite, I expounded the phenomenon of phosphorescence produced by radium rays as well as the phenomenon of thermoluminescence related to those same rays, and I pointed out those phenomena were probably the results of chemical transformations', directing Perrin to the relevant pages of her work devoted to phosphorescence and further observing 'You will also notice that, in some cases, the chemical nature of the transformation is supposed to be known. It is very clear that I could not have dispensed with trying to explain these phenomenon when the transformation of phosphorescent material is as apparent as it is in the case of several ones which I mention in my Traite (action of radium rays and X-rays, barium platinocyanide, zinc sulphur, self-colouring glass etc.)' before concluding 'It is certain that, as regards radium rays, the chemical action is not always the result of electromagnetic radiation. I therefore think that a chemical reaction can be provoked either by an electromagnetic radiation or by a corpuscular radiation whose effect can be referred to as a shock. Depending on the nature of the reaction, one or the other of these two processes is more efficient, and it is probable that, in some cases, only one of them can take place. It seems to me that the reaction of ions in solution does not necessarily pertain to the first category'. In the lower left margin, opposite the final paragraph, Perrin has penned an autograph note, in French, stating 'I have said that (I do not know whether it was before Madame Curie wrote or said it elsewhere) as soon as 1921 [in] Radiation or Chemistry, pages 13-14'. A rare letter of very fine scientific content and association, reflecting the scientific exchanges between two of the most important scientists of the 20th century, both instrumental in our current understanding of the atom, on a closely related subject. Some light creasing and minor age wear at the folds, about VG Jean Baptiste Perrin (1870-1942) French physicist, Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1926.In 1898, Perrin was elected to a position of professor at the university in Paris, a position for which Pierre Curie had also applied. Perrin was elected to the Académie des Sciences (of which he became president in 1938) on 11th June 1923, a few weeks after receiving the present letter. His first studies were devoted to the subjects of cathode rays and X-rays, before shifting to Brownian motion. 'His most fundamental conclusion - that he had finally uncovered irrefutable proof of the real existence of atoms -….was soon universally accepted' (DSB). Between 1918 and 1921 Perrin studied the phenomenon of fluorescence and the interaction between light and matter and, in 1926, received the Nobel Prize for Physics (which Marie Curie had received along with her husband Pierre and Henri Becquerel in 1903 for the discovery of radioactivity). A strong friendship developed during the Dreyfus Affair between the Curies and Perrin, who shared common political views. They were active members of the Human Rights League and often spent holidays together.
Einstein writes to his fellow (future) Nobel Laureate, Jean Baptiste Perrin, the physicist who had verified Einstein’s predictions, thereby confirming the atomic nature of matter EINSTEIN ALBERT: (1879-1955) German-born theoretical physicist, Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1921. An excellent A.L.S., A. Einstein, one page, 4to, n.p., 27th September 1919, to [Jean Baptiste] Perrin, in German. Einstein announces 'How glad I am to hear from you directly again after these long bad years', and comments 'I can assure you that during this time our ardent desires and fears were more "connected in parallel" than one could have guessed from the external circumstances', adding 'But now my fear goes further because in my opinion poisonous weeds can grow in every field next to the good grain if the circumstances are favourable; I think it's more about them than the soil'. Einstein also writes of his hope that he will be able to talk with Perrin again sometime, 'I will never forget the happy hours I spent with you, Langevin and Ms. Curie in Paris and Brussels. Maybe one day it will happen in Holland or Switzerland; I probably won't be able to go to Paris with my Swabian French in the foreseeable future' and asks Perrin to send 'your new work on the role of radiation in chemical reactions which Pierre Weiss has already told me about', explaining that he is reciprocating the gesture and sending some of his own work from the last few years to Perrin, although regretting that he has no special copies from the publications that he would most like to send. A letter of fine scientific associations. Some very light, minor overall creasing and just a couple of extremely small tears to the edges of the central horizontal fold, otherwise VGJean Baptiste Perrin (1870-1942) French physicist who, in his studies of the Brownian motion of minute particles suspended in liquids, verified Einstein's explanation of this phenomenon and thereby confirmed the atomic nature of matter (sedimentation equilibrium). Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1926. Paul Langevin (1872-1946) French physicist who developed Langevin dynamics and the Langevin equation. A doctoral student of Pierre Curie, Langevin was later a lover of the widowed Marie Curie. Marie Curie (1867-1934) Polish-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1903, and for Chemistry, 1911, thereby becoming the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person and only woman to win the Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win the Nobel Prize in two scientific fields. Autograph letters of Einstein to fellow Nobel Laureates very seldom appear at auction, and the presnt example is greatly enhanced by its reference to Marie Curie.
GRIFFITH HUGH: (1912-1980) Welsh Actor, Academy Award winner. Vintage signed 9.5 x 7 photograph of Griffith standing outdoors in a three-quarter length pose in costume as Squire Western alongside actress Edith Evans, in costume as Miss Western, in a scene from the film Tom Jones (1963). Signed by Griffith in blue ink to a light area of the image. The actor received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in this film. Rare in this form. EX 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.
FLEMING ALEXANDER: (1881-1955) Scottish biologist, Nobel Prize winner for Physiology or Medicine, 1945. A rare vintage signed 5 x 7 photograph of Fleming seated in a half-length pose in his laboratory studying a specimen through a microscope. Signed ('Alexander Fleming') with his name alone in blue fountain pen ink to a light area at the base of the image. The image is very slightly grainy. VG
FLEMING ALEXANDER: (1881-1955) Scottish Biologist, Nobel Prize winner for Physiology or Medicine, 1945. A rare manuscript D.S., Alexander Fleming, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d. (annotated 4th September 1949 in ink in an unidentified hand at the foot). Fleming responds to a researcher's questionnaire featuring their questions at the head of the page, '1. Were your scientific "debuts" easy or difficult? 2. Did means of living (another profession or a private income) enable you to make yourself known in science?.......3. What work (or what discovery) made yourself more famous? Which do you consider as your master piece (sic)?' The biologist provides his answers below, in full, '1. Merely the result of years of hard work and observation. 2. No. 3. Penicillin because this has been useful to mankind. Perhaps best work was on the action of antiseptics or on lysozymes.' Documents or letters in any form signed by Fleming in which he refers to penicillin are rare and desirable. Some light age wear and minor creasing, largely to the extreme edges, a small area of paper loss to the upper edge and some ink show through from a few annotations in the hand of the researcher to the verso, only very slightly affecting a few words of Fleming's text and not the signature. G
NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS: A multiple signed commemorative cover issued in honour of Albert Einstein as part of the Prominent American series and featuring a postage stamp with Einstein's portrait, post marked at Princeton, New Jersey, 14th March 1966, individually signed by William P. Murphy (1892-1987, American physician, Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine, 1934) and John Eccles (1903-1997, Australian neurophysiologist and philosopher, Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine, 1963). Both have signed with their names alone to clear areas of the cover, just one signature very slightly affected by the postal cancellation. A couple of light, minor stains, only very slightly touching the signatures, about VG
WAYNE JOHN: (1907-1979) American actor, Academy Award winner. D.S., John Wayne, one page, 4to, Los Angeles, California, 21st January 1963. The confidential printed document is issued by the Directors Guild of America Inc. and states, in part, 'Membership dues are computed at 1% of gross earnings....with minimum dues of $100 and maximum of $1000 annually. If your income exceeds $100,000 you need not report actual figures but may list MAXIMUM if you wish to do so.' Wayne confirms his gross earnings for 1962 as $100,000 and also estimates his earnings for 1963 to be None. Some light creasing and a few small tears to the edges and some small areas of paper loss to the upper edge, not affecting the text or signature. G
JENNER EDWARD: (1749-1823) English Physician & Scientist, the pioneer of smallpox vaccine, the world's first vaccine. An extremely rare and significant manuscript notebook, unsigned, the tall 8vo bound volume compiled by Jenner, comprising over 100 pages of holograph text (and some original illustrations and diagrams), n.p., n.d. (c.1822/23), being Jenner's transcripts of contemporary scientific texts relating to meteorology. Jenner's notes explore the various aspects of contemporary meteorology, including the observations and discoveries of leading academics including William Falconer, Luke Howard and Thomas Forster and cover a wide variety of meteorological subjects from instrumentation ('a complete apparatus of meteorological instruments should include the Barometer, Thermometer, Hydrometer, Photometer, Athrioscope, Cynometer') through to the influence of flora and fauna ('Animal effluvia as well as vegetable are capable of being mixed with the air, and suspended in it. These are now generally esteemed to be the cause or source of fevers of the malignant or contagious kind'). The comprehensive notebook includes texts from various publications, essays and papers, a few extracts of which include - 'The analysis of the atmosphere is one of the finest discoveries of modern Chemistry. It appears to consist of two distinct expansible fluids contained in different proportions, a single portion of oxygen gas being united to three parts by weight, or four parts by bulk, of azote. There is also a very slight admixture of carbonic acid gas, accounting perhaps to a thousandth part of the whole', from the Supplement to the Encyclopaedia Britannica written by Sir John Leslie between 1815-24, 'The degree of pressure of the atmosphere upon the human body has not been exactly estimated, it having been computed from 31,000 to 42,000 pounds' weight. In the different states of the atmosphere his varies, the effects of these variations are not ascertained', from the 'Remarks on the Influence of Climate, Situation, Nature of Country, Population, Nature of Food, and Way of Life' by William Falconer (London, 1781), 'It is the frequent observation of the countenance of the sky, and of its connection with the present and ensuing phaenomena, that constitutes the antient and popular meteorology. The want of this branch of knowledge renders the predictions of the philosopher, who is attending only to his instruments less generally successful than those of the weather-wise mariner or husbandman', from the Philosophical Magazine, (Vol. XVI, London, 1803. Article XVIII), 'On the Modifications of Clouds, and on the Principles of their Production, Suspension and Destruction'; being the substance of an Essay read before the Askesian Society in the Session 1802-3, by Luke Howard, 'One of the principle uses of meteorology is, that it enables us to predict, in some measure, the ensuing changes of the weather. To do this accurately, a familiar acquaintance with the modification of the clouds, and indeed with all the operations which are going on above, appears necessary. When two or more contrary indications appear, the result must be deduced from those which ultimately prevail; & that when several agreeable signs appear, the event may be predicted with additional certainty…some animals express signs of uneasiness previous to an alteration of the weather long before there are any visible signs of a change. Dogs for instance become very drowsy & stupid before rain & their ears are sometimes found considerably inflamed….cats though in a less degree are affected in the same manner - and a leech, confined in a glass of water, has been found, by its rapid motions…to indicate fair or wet weather. Peculiarities in the electric state of the atmosphere may…affect the constitution of animals in the same manner as they appear to do ours, & thereby excite pleasurable or uneasy sensations', from the 'Researches about Atmospheric Phaenomena etc.' by Thomas Forster (London, 1813), 'In the formation of thunder storms I have noticed that when the rain actually begins to form and descend, the intensity of the blackness is not so great as where the cumulostratus is only going into a state of nimbus. If therefore the density is increased in the formation of drops of water, the blackness must depend on some other peculiarity of structure', from an article in 'The Philosophical Magazine' (Vol. XLI, London, 1813) written by Thomas Forster, 'To establish meteorology on a solid basis we should inquire into the extent and constitution of the medium we breathe and assist external observation by the different philosophical instruments which implicate at all times the exact condition and qualities of that mutable fluid', from the 'Treatise on Meteorology' by John Leslie in the Quarterly Journal of Science, Literature, and the Arts (Vol. XIV, Article X, London, 1823) 'White clouds on a grey ground, is one of the most certain indications of a mixture of two currents possessed of different constitutions. Storms are more sudden from the West points, in their commencement and are preceded by greater indications of commotion in the atmosphere, are attended with greater variations of the Barometer, are more squally in their progress, more partial in their extent and generally of less duration than those from an East point', from 'Remarks upon Meteorology; with a Specimen of a New Meteorological Table' by Dr.Bostock, as it appeared in 'A Journal of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry and The Arts' by William Nicholson (Vol. XXV, London, 1810), 'The limit, or boundary of the atmosphere terminates where the expansive force or power of the air, upwards, or from the Earth's surface is completely overcome by the force or power of gravitation downwards, or towards the Earth's surface, which is estimated at about 44 or 45 miles. It is computed that it would extend only to about 5 ½ miles in height if it were so compressed, that its density throughout should equal its degree of density near the surface of the Earth', from an essay 'On the Barometer' by Richard Walker of Oxford, published in 'The Philosophical Magazine' by Alexander Tilloch (Vol. XL, July - December 1812). On two pages at the centre of the journal there can be found Jenner's grey & black water colour depictions of cloud types, faithfully rendered in the style of the originals as they appear in Luke Howard's On the Modification of Clouds (1803).A third original illustration has been neatly excised from its page. Bound in the original, plain dark cloth boards (some light staining and age wear) and with a pencil ownership signature and address to the front free endpaper of a Miss Perkins & Dr Perry of 3 Priory Street, Everton. Some light staining and age wear throughout, the text however completely legible and not significantly affected in any way. Generally G A fascinating and remarkable meteorological record compiled by Jenner for his personal reference. OWING TO LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY THE SALEROOM THE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THIS LOT CAN NOT BE DISPLAYED HERE. Please contact us directly for further information.
LISTER JOSEPH: (1827-1912) British surgeon, a pioneer of antiseptic surgery. A.L.S., Lister, one page, 8vo, Berlin, 11th October 1901, to 'My dear Dean', on the printed stationery of the Hotel Bristol. Lister explains that he is in Germany for the celebrations of Rudolf Virchow's 80th birthday and will return to London on Monday evening, remarking 'if it would suit you to look in at Park Crescent early on Tuesday morning and report upon the Tuberculosis work it would be satisfactory….'. With blank integral leaf. Some very light, minor age toning to the edges, evidently caused by previous framing, otherwise VGRudolf Virchow (1821-1902) German physician, known as the 'father of modern pathology' and as the founder of social medicine.
A year after successfully developing his vaccine for rabies, Pasteur treats a man and his young child at his personal expense. PASTEUR LOUIS: (1822-1895) French chemist and microbiologist, renowned for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination and pasteurisation. A good A.L.S., L. Pasteur, to one side of his correspondence card, Rue d'Ulm, Paris (the site of Pasteur's laboratory), 18th May 1886, to an unidentified correspondent, in French. Pasteur writes to certify that Mr. Metlitsky and his young child 'are undergoing at this moment the preventive treatment for rabies and that they are without resources', further proposing to pay the expenses in Paris, totalling 55 francs, for the man and his child if they do not receive any money from any Russian charitable society. Letters by Pasteur making reference to rabies are rare and highly desirable. Some light, minor splitting of the paper, otherwise VG Through his development of a vaccine for rabies, Pasteur is credited of having saved the lives of millions of people. The vaccine's first human trial was performed by Pasteur on 9-year-old Joseph Meister in July 1885. As a result of the treatment the boy was restored to good health within months and Pasteur was hailed as a hero. In 1886, the year of the present letter, Pasteur treated 350 individuals, of which only one developed rabies. The treatment's success laid the foundations for the manufacture of many other vaccines and the first of the Pasteur Institutes was also built on the success of this achievement.
WAYNE JOHN: (1907-1979) American Actor, Academy Award winner. Signed and inscribed 10 x 8 photograph of Wayne standing in a full-length pose, in uniform, as Tom Wayne in a scene from the American film serial The Three Musketeers (1933). Signed by Wayne in black ink to the centre of the image. Some light surface and corner creasing and a minor vertical crease to the centre of the image, otherwise about VG
BELL ALEXANDER GRAHAM: (1847-1922) Scottish scientist & inventor, credited with inventing the first practical telephone. A.L.S., A. Graham Bell, to one side of a United States Postal Card, n.p. (Boston, Masschusetts), n.d. (22nd May n.y.), to Professor Clarke at the American Asylum in Hartford, Connecticut. Bell informs his correspondent that he safely received the first issue of Pioneer, and gives direction as to whom to send the second, further remarking 'As I find the cover makes little difference in postage &c. please send it in cover as a greater protection'. Hand addressed by Bell to the verso. Some light age wear and a few minor stains, one caused by a postal cancellation, only very slightly affecting the text (which remains completely legible). About VG
HAHNEMANN SAMUEL: (1755-1843) German physician, best known for creating the pseudoscientific system of alternative medicine called homeopathy. A.L.S., Dr. Sam. Hahnemann, one page, slim oblong 8vo, Leipzig, 23rd July 1815, to Buchner, in German. The untranslated letter, comprising six lines in his small hand, was apparently addressed to his postman and, according to a typed catalogue description (from the 1960s?), is a 'curious letter about not using too much washing acid when washing glass', the cataloguer also observing 'His writing so minute, very difficult to decipher'. Matted in an unusual orange ribbon and string mount beneath an antique engraving of Hahnemann to an overall size of 10.5 x 15. Some light uniform age toning and a couple of neat tears and folds, one only very slightly affecting the text and signature, G
SPURZHEIM JOHANN: (1776-1832) German physician, one of the chief proponents of phrenology. A brief A.L.S., J. Spurzheim, one page, small 8vo, n.p., 7th November 1827, to a gentleman. Spurzheim writes, in full, 'Allow me to trouble you with the enclosed (no longer present) and to request your favourable support for which I shall be your obliged'. With blank integral leaf (slight traces of former mounting to the corners of the verso, causing two small areas of paper loss). A few light, minor stains, about VG
HELMHOLTZ HERMANN VON: (1821-1894) German physicist and physician who made significant contributions in several scientific fields. A.L.S., H. Helmholtz, one page, 8vo, Heidelberg, 28th March 1871, to a gentleman. Helmholtz announces that he is leaving Heidelberg for Berlin and has 'given orders to the photographer who has made my last and best portrait to send you a copy of it for the Royal Ophthalmic Hospital', concluding by remarking 'With my best thanks for the honourable place you propose to give to this portrait'. With blank integral leaf. Some light overall age toning and a few minor stains, G In 1851 Helmholtz became world famous when he revolutionised the field of ophthalmology with the invention of the ophthalmoscope, an instrument used to examine the inside of the human eye. The Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital was founded at Charterhouse Square in 1805 by John Cunningham Saunders, assisted by John Richard Farre.
FREUD SIGMUND: (1856-1939) Austrian neurologist, the founder of psychoanalysis. T.L.S., Sigm, one page, 8vo, Vienna, 4th June 1924, to Edward [Bernays, his nephew], on his personal printed stationery, in German. Freud thanks Bernays for having sent him a copy of the B'nai B'rith news ('It goes into our archive') and continues 'As a result of the June payment, my debt to you is still $310…..I beg you to note that I now have only one account with the Anglo-Austrian Bank in London in my name and I ask you to service that address instead of those others'. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and with just one very small tear to the right edge, otherwise VG Edward Bernays (1891-1995) American theorist, considered as a pioneer in the field of public relations and propaganda. B'Nai B'rith International is a Jewish service organisation founded in 1843 that is committed to the security and continuity of the Jewish people and the State of Israel and to combatting antisemitism and other forms of bigotry.
JONES ERNEST: (1879-1958) Welsh neurologist and psychoanalyst, a lifelong friend and colleague of Sigmund Freud. A.L.S., Ernest Jones, on one side of a correspondence card, Elsted, near Midhurst, Sussex, 17th July n.y. (1955), to Dr. Lorand. Jones writes, in full, 'The programme of the book you are kindly dedicating looks most promising, but please note that scopophobia should not have a t. It was delightful having you here today'. Some light staining and minor age wear, about VGScopophobia (also spelled Scoptophobia, with a 't' in dictionaries) is an anxiety disorder characterised by a morbid fear of being seen in public or stared at by others.
ELLIS HAVELOCK: (1859-1939) English physician, eugenicist, writer and social reformer who studied human sexuality. A.L.S., Havelock Ellis, one page, Canterbury Road, Brixton, London, 20th April (?) 1921, to a gentleman. Ellis thanks his correspondent for their kind letter and remarks 'It is always pleasant to know that one's work is appreciated', further adding 'Just now I am away from home, recovering from a severe illness, or I would have replied before'. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG
KINSEY ALFRED: (1894-1956) American biologist and sexologist. A brief T.L.S., Alfred C. Kinsey, one page, 4to, Bloomington, Indiana, 10th August 1953, to Norman Cousins of The Saturday Review, on the printed stationery of the Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University. Kinsey writes, in full, 'We are indebted to you again, this time for the book by Lang. It was very thoughtful of you to send it along. Again I express the hope that we will have a chance to meet again soon'. A couple of extremely small, light rust stains to the upper left corner, otherwise VGNorman Cousins (1915-1990) American political journalist, author and world peace advocate who served as editor-in-chief of the Saturday Review from 1942-72.
KLAPROTH JULIUS HEINRICH: (1783-1835) German Linguist, Ethnographer, Explorer and Orientalist. His works are credited with the turning of East Asian Studies into scientific disciplines. A rare A.L.S., Le Prof. Klaproth, in the third person, at the head, one page, 12mo, on a drawing light brown paper, Berlin, 13th November 1800, to Mr. Puyton-Morveau, in French. Klaproth sends his regards to his correspondent through Docteur Friedlander, and stating in part `He persuaded me that you will accept rending him services which will contribute to extend the knowledge of this scholar and traveller.´ G to VG
HUMBOLDT ALEXANDER VON: (1769-1859) German Natural Scientist, Geographer & Explorer. A very fine, rare manuscript line chart signed, A v Humboldt, one page, oblong 8vo, n.p. (Spain), 1799, in French. In his typically small, neat hand Humboldt has recorded a profile of Peninsular Spain from the southeast to the northwest, from the coast of Valencia to that of Gelice, recording several major towns and cities including Medina del Campo, El Escorial, Madrid and Aranjuez and their height above sea level, also recording some of the latitudes and noting that the scale of distance is 1:100. Signed and annotated by Humboldt beneath the chart, also noting a comparison with the height above sea level of several other European cities and landmarks including Munich, Brocken, Schneekoppe (Snezka) and Mount Vesuvius. Rare in this form. Some very light, extremely minor age wear and two very small areas of paper loss to two corners, not affecting the chart, text or signature. About VG In the first half of 1799, at the time of preparing the present chart, Humboldt (accompanied by the botanist and physician Aime Bonpland) found himself in Madrid where he sought authorisation to travel to Spain's realms in the Americas. Receiving a positive response to his proposal, Humboldt was presented to King Charles IV and subsequently granted access to crown officials and written documentation on Spain's empire. Armed with authorisation from the King, Humboldt and Bonpland set sail on 5th June 1799 on their Spanish American expedition which would last until 1804. Humboldt's historic expedition is now regarded as having laid the foundation of the sciences of physical geography, plant geography and meteorology. On a personal level, the geographer's decades' long endeavour to publish the results of the expedition resulted not only in multiple volumes, but also drew him to the attention of the reading public with popular densely illustrated, condensed versions of his work in multiple languages. Importantly it also secured Humboldt's international reputation in scientific circles.
WILKINS HUBERT: (1888-1958) Australian polar explorer, ornithologist, pilot, soldier, geographer and photographer. Vintage signed and inscribed sepia 8 x 10 photograph of Wilkins in a head and shoulders pose holding a lit cigarette in one raised hand. Signed ('George Hubert Wilkins') in blue ink to a light area of the background. A few very light, minor creases and stains to the corners and slight traces of former mounting to the verso, otherwise VG
SUK GRIGORIY: (1896-1917) Russian fighter pilot, a flying ace with the Imperial Russian Air Service during World War I (10 confirmed victories). Suk was killed in a landing accident as he returned from a flight. An extremely rare vintage signed and inscribed 3 x 4 photograph, the image depicting Suk standing in a full-length pose in uniform. His aircraft can be seen in the immediate background. Signed in bold black fountain pen ink to the verso, 'A mon ami francais Amidie de Flers, Leutenant Souk' and dated 9th October 1917 in his hand (the month before his untimely, tragic death). Neatly inlaid to an 8vo page removed from an album and with a light pencil annotation at the base of the verso of the photograph, possibly in the hand of de Flers. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG Provenance: The present photograph was inscribed to the French aviator Amedee de Flers (b.1885) who saw service during World War I.
WHITTLE FRANK: (1907-1996) English Air Commodore, inventor and engineer, credited with the invention of the turbojet engine which culminated in the first British jet-engined aircraft, the Gloster E.28/39, flying on 15th May 1941. An historically important document prepared by Whittle, unsigned, although with a few corrections in his hand, titled Report on First Tests of an Experimental Gas Turbine by Squadron-Leader F. Whittle, R.A.F., marked 'Confidential', and one of five copies, being the first confidential report delivered to the Air Ministry by Power Jets Ltd. 'in fulfilment of Item No.1 of Research Contract', thirty-six pages, folio, with three fold-out appendices at the conclusion, n.p., 31st March 1938. The typescript (carbon copy) report describes, in detail, the initial tests of a constant pressure gas turbine intended for aircraft propulsion by jet reaction and the experiments carried out under Whittle's supervision between April and August 1937, the introduction stating, in part, 'At the time when the development of the propulsion unit was under consideration, there was no intention of making a complete engine at once, partly because definite ideas as to its final form were rather nebulous, but mainly because a sufficient knowledge of the performance of the different components for design purposes was lacking. It was therefore intended to adopt a step by step process, commencing with tests on a high speed single stage centrifugal compressor. It was decided that this should be of the size to be used in the engine…..because it was believed that to make tests on a smaller scale would lead to misleading results' and the document continuing with reports on Design and Construction (including the strength of the materials when exposed to high temperature, the rotor assembly, the 'very unorthodox feature' of the turbine nozzle, etc.), the results of Preliminary Combustion Tests ('These tests at least proved that the required combustion rates could be obtained, though for various reasons, they did not provide sufficient information for the avoidance of combustion trouble in the engine itself……Ignition of the atomising sprays by high tension spark proved to be easy at moderate air speeds, but as the electrodes were damaged early in the tests, ignition was mainly achieved by the insertion of burning oily waste through a flap……The quality of combustion was judged by the appearance of the flame, the presence or otherwise of visible smoke or fuel vapour, and the smell and the effect on the eyes of the exhaust'), Tests with Atomising Sprays, Plain Sprays ('The flame was very intense, and for the speed, the combustion was the best that had been achieved up to that time. It appeared, however, that the system was very sensitive to jet alignment, and this was largely true of all similar systems tried'), Testing Arrangements ('For test purposes, the unit was mounted on a four wheeled trailer. This trailer also carried the starter motor, instrument board and controls, making the set self-contained with the exception of the fuel and water supply….For starting, it was considered to be necessary to spin the rotor up to about 3000 r.p.m. after which it was expected to be capable of accelerating under its own power…..The instruments and their connections were considerably modified in the course of the tests. Pressure gauges were connected to six points on the compressor casing…..The tachometer was mounted on the top of the gear case in such a position that it could be seen through a hole in the instrument board'), further providing a description of the test runs of the unit, subdivided into four categories, in part, 'For the test runs, the starting procedure was as follows:- The rotor was motored over at about 1000 r.p.m. and the pilot jet ignited by the hand magneto. The speed was then raised to 2000 r.p.m., at which speed the main jet was opened and the unit accelerated under its own power…..No trouble was ever experienced in starting other than occasional trouble with the initial ignition through cracked electrodes, and in fact the very first attempt to start was successful……Five runs were made with this system, the maximum speed reached being 8,500 r.p.m. beyond which the unit would not accelerate on further opening of the control…..Of these five runs, uncontrolled acceleration occurred in one case, otherwise it was found possible to hold the unit at a steady speed with the control', also giving a discussion of the results and Whittle's conclusions. A document of exceptional content and major significance in Whittle's development of the jet engine, the historical importance of which cannot be overstated, the jet engine being one of the most important of the 20th century, affecting the life of almost very human being. Loosely bound in the original plain paper wrappers, with a typed title to the cover, and all of the pages with two files holes to the left edges. Some very light, minor overall age wear and some light staining and a few minor tears to the edges of the paper covers, about VG The invention of the turbo-jet engine, and the determined effort to design and develop it to replace piston engines in the air, was one of the most important technical achievements of the 20th century. That one man accomplished this, working with a small but dedicated team of engineers and craftsman in the middle of a war, and in the face of many doubters, was a truly monumental achievement. The jet engine conceived by Frank Whittle, a young RAF officer who had the necessary intellect, vision, and dedication to fulfil his dream of flying higher and faster, made the world a village, and introduced world-wide travel to ordinary people everywhere. Provenance: Acquired by our vendor from John Wilson (Autographs) Ltd., Witney, Oxfordshire, on 24th June 1980. In his catalogue description Wilson notes that of the five copies which were prepared 'two, perhaps three, are believed to have been destroyed'. The document has not been offered for sale or appeared at auction at any time since, until now.
WHITTLE FRANK: (1907-1996) English Air Commodore, inventor and engineer, credited with the invention of the turbojet engine which culminated in the first British jet-engined aircraft, the Gloster E.28/39, flying on 15th May 1941. An historically important T.L.S., F Whittle, two pages, 4to, Ladywood Works, Lutterworth, Rugby, 18th May 1940, to Air Vice Marshal Arthur W. Tedder. Whittle writes to Tedder following a talk they had together on 10th May, and forwards two memoranda which he hopes will be of interest, continuing ‘That talk did me a lot of good, and had a very beneficial effect on my peace of mind. I did not mean to say by that that I like the arrangements which the Air Ministry have made any better than I did, but I hope that we shall be able to overcome the main potential sources of trouble by making special arrangements to deal with them’, adding that relationships with the Rover Company are as good as he could hope them to be (‘the engineers concerned will have to do the best they can to keep the atmosphere sweet’), expressing his desire to meet Tedder again so that he can explain some difficulties to be guarded against, remarking ‘An example of the sort of thing which causes me a lot of worry is the very serious delay which has occurred with the experimental apparatus for a pressure combustion test set. In this matter we came to the conclusion that such a set was urgently necessary early in February…..and in the meantime we got on with the W.X. idea. We came to the conclusion early in March that the W.X. scheme was the best all-round one for the purpose…..we sent the W.X. layout drawing to the B[ritish] T[homson-] H[ouston] on the 18th April, since when nothing has been settled. I took the law into my own hands two days ago and gave the B.T.H. instructions to proceed on the W.X. scheme, saying at the same time that it was probable that so much experimental work on combustion was contemplated that if they had a suitable motor driven compressor scheme it would be required as well’. In concluding Whittle conveys another concern to Tedder, ‘One quite different matter which I think needs urgent consideration now is how this development is going to be affected if the enemy makes strong air attacks on this Country. It seems to me that if Sheffield were intensively bombed we should be indefinitely held up, as the production of the special steel forgings is the main bottle neck of the job. I do not think it is wild to suggest that the removal of the whole of this development work to the other side of the Atlantic should be contemplated’. Accompanied by the two memoranda prepared and forwarded by Whittle, the first a typed D.S., F Whittle S/L, six pages, folio, n.p. (Lutterworth, Rugby), 22nd April 1940, titled General Memorandum on the Design and Production of Gyrone Engines and providing a brief outline of the design requirements, summarised by Whittle under various headed paragraphs including Performance, Minimum weight, Simplicity in starting and control, Mechanical reliability, Ease of maintenance, Suitability for quantity production and Cheapness of manufacture, in part, ‘The purpose of the engine is to give aircraft the maximum possible performance for their particular duty, i.e. for an interceptor fighter, high rate of climb, high maximum speed, etc, and for a bomber, high speed and load carrying capacity with long range..The Gyrone engine is at present primarily intended for interceptor fighters, and hence the starting arrangements must be such that the time to get off the ground must be an absolute minimum...Control must be simple and reliable, and the engine must be quick in response……the Gyrone engine is mechanically so simple that there are very few parts to go wrong, and provided that all materials used are sound and not unduly overloaded, there should be little fear of mechanical breakdown…..the engine must be made as easy as possible to remove from the aeroplane, and should be easy to strip and re-assemble… and the second a typed D.S., F Whittle, four pages (thin carbon paper), folio, n.p. (Lutterworth, Rugby), 17th May 1940, titled Memorandum on the Design of Gyrone Engines, outlining the general nature of the design and development problems of Gyrones, in part, ‘The Gyrone engine is mechanically simple, but the design engineers require to have an extremely wide range of engineering knowledge and experience because the design covers an unusually large field of problems…..Both turbine and compressor theory overlaps so far into the field of aerodynamic knowledge that a sound grounding in aerodynamics is necessary to the Gyrone designer. Because of the relative ignorance of commercial designers a vicious circle has been operating in the history of the gas turbine…..the designer must.. have in mind many factors of operation which are peculiar to the aeroplane, e,g. centrifugal forces and gyroscopic effects in turns, atmospheric conditions at different heights and in different parts of the world etc. It is here that the turbine designer finds himself on unfamiliar ground…..when he is faced with the problem of a turbine for aircraft purposes he finds himself in a completely strange world ....It is of course obvious that these [design] stages overlap very considerably, and the fact that it is an aero engine has to be borne constantly in mind from the earliest moment. A fascinating and highly important set of documents outlining Whittle’s vision for a jet-engined aircraft, which would finally come to fruition almost exactly one year later. Some light overall age wear, a few minor rust stains to the upper left corners, and the second memorandum with some creasing and a few minor tears and small areas of paper loss. G to VG, 3 Arthur Tedder (1890-1967) 1st Baron Tedder. British Marshal of the Royal Air Force. Whittle had the original idea for jet propulsion in 1928 and made it the subject of his thesis, while at RAF College Cranwell the same year. He was so certain of his calculations that in January 1930 he filed a patent for his turbo-jet engine idea (granted in October 1932). In 1939 the British Air Ministry placed a contract for the W.1 engine to be flight tested on the new Gloster E.28/39 aircraft. At this point Whittle realised that it would be some time before Rover could deliver an engine and, unwilling to wait, cobbled together an engine from spare parts, creating the W. 1X which ran for the first time in December 1940, the same month in which Whittle suffered a nervous breakdown and left work for a month. During taxiing tests on 7th April 1941, the W.1X non-airworthy engine powered the E.28/39 where it unofficially became the first British turbojet to be airborne, taking to the air for two or three short hops of several hundred yards at about six feet from the ground. The W.1 flew officially in the E.28/39 on 15th May 1941. The present documents are of great importance in the history of aviation, the jet engine’s invention being one of the most important of the 20th century. Provenance: Acquired by our vendor from John Wilson (Autographs) Ltd., Witney, Oxfordshire, on 24th June 1980. The documents have not been offered for sale or appeared at auction at any time since, until now.OWING TO LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY THE SALEROOM THE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THIS LOT CAN NOT BE DISPLAYED HERE. Please contact us directly for further information.
DE LA CIERVA JUAN: (1895-1936) Spanish Aeronautical Engineer. Inventor of the ''Autogiro'', the world's first successful flight of a rotary-wing aircraft. Rare T.L.S., `J.de la Cierva´, one page, 4to, London, 21st August 1931, on his "The Cierva Autogiro Company Ltd" printed stationery, Bush House, Aldwych, London, to Mr. Donald F. Rose, on board of the Aquitania, Southampton. De la Cierva states in part `I am delighted to hear you are coming to this country, and I hope that I will have the pleasure of seeing you and talking about "our literary success". I shall also be very pleased to show to you our latest machines, which I believe represent quite a sensational advance upon any previous Autogiros´. De la Cierva further explains why he is staying in London, saying `I am at present staying in London mostly because the latest machine has been built by the De Havilland Company whose works are near here´ Before concluding De La Cierva sends an interesting wish to his correspondent, stating `I hope that you have enjoyed a good crossing and that Mrs. rose, your daughter and the "leading feminine authority on the Autogiro" will enjoy the vacation´ Small overall minor creasing and staining, with a very light blue stain partially affecting the signature. De la Cierva's work on rotor dynamics made possible the modern helicopter. Autogiros were built in many countries under his licenses, including France, Germany, Japan, Russia and USA. The understanding that he established is applicable to all rotor-winged aircraft. De La Cierva died in an airplane crash
LINDBERGH CHARLES: (1902-1974) American Aviator who made the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic from Paris to New York in the Spirit of St. Louis, May 1927. T.L.S., Charles, one page, 4to, n.p. (Darien, Connecticut), n.d. (February 1954), to Miss. Emily Davie. Lindbergh sends his correspondent some letters (no longer present) regarding a bomb inscription and asks 'How about using some quotes from William Ernest Hocking?', continuing 'They're pretty good - - I think he is top, in philosophy and otherwise - - Anne discovered him for me, as usual'. Lindbergh further states 'I see you have Whitehead's name in the outline, now. have (sic) you read his Adventure of Ideas? I think the first two or three and the last chapters are wonderful. The middle of the book is too much for me - - or at least it was the last time I attacked it, several years ago. I enclose a book (no longer present) Hocking gave me the last time I saw him. Please be very careful of this one. I went up to Cambridge to talk to Whitehead once, years and years ago. He was an extraordinary man'. Accompanied by the original envelope hand addressed by Lindbergh. Some light age wear and creasing, otherwise VG Emily Davie (1915-1989) American author of Profile of America: An Autobiography of the U.S.A. (1954) for which Lindbergh wrote the foreword. William Ernest Hocking (1873-1966) American idealist philosopher at Harvard University. Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947) English mathematician and philosopher, best known as the defining figure of the philosophical school known as process philosophy.
APOLLO XI: A good, large signed and inscribed colour 20 x 16 photograph by all three crew members of Apollo XI (1969) individually, comprising Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) American astronaut, Commander of Apollo XI, the first man to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin (1930- ) American astronaut, Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo XI, the second man to walk on the moon, and Michael Collins (1930-2021) American astronaut, Command Module Pilot of Apollo XI, the image (14 x 11) depicting the three astronauts standing and seated together in three-quarter length poses, each wearing their white NASA spacesuits, and with a large image of the moon in the immediate background. Signed and inscribed by Armstrong, 'Best wishes to James E. Rogan - Neil Armstrong', in black ink, signed ('M Collins') by Collins with his name alone (the signature slightly faded although perfectly legible) and signed ('Buzz Aldrin') by Aldrin in black ink with his name alone, all three signatures to the lower mount beneath their images. Some extremely light, uniform age toning to the mount, evidently caused by previous framing, and with a few light, minor creases to the edges of the mount. About VG James E. Rogan (1957- ) American judge of the Superior Court of California and author of And Then I Met...Stories of Growing Up, Meeting Famous People, and Annoying the Hell Out of Them (2014) and Shaking Hands with History: My Encounters with the Famous, the Infamous, and the Once-Famous But Now-Forgotten (2020), the latter featuring Rogan's reminiscences on meeting Neil Armstrong as well as other individuals including Muhammad Ali, Ronald Reagan and Ted Kennedy.
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