BECQUEREL HENRI: (1852-1908) French physicist and engineer, the first person to discover radioactivity. Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1903. A good autograph manuscript, unsigned, incorporating several explanatory drawings, two pages (written to the first and fourth sides of the bifolium), n.p., n.d. (circa 1895), in French. Becquerel's manuscript is entitled Historique des machines, and particularly concerns direct current dynamo-electric machines, and was most likely prepared as an aide-memoire for one of his first physics courses at the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris. Becquerel has listed the names of various famous inventors alongside the dates of their discoveries and summary notes, several with explanatory scientific drawings alongside, including Faraday ('1831 Anneaux de fer......d'une bobine'; Translation: '1831 Iron rings......a coil'), Pixii ('En 1832......aimants dans un disque bois mobile devant des bobines'; Translation: 'In 1832......magnets in a moveable wooden disk in front of coils'), Ritchie ('bobines mobiles'; Translation: 'moving coils'), Clarke, Nollet, Siemens, Wilde ('aimants et electro aimants'; Translation: 'magnets and electro magnets'), Ladd, Pacinotti, Gramme, Varley, Wheatstone, Alteneck and Edison. To the foot of the first page appear various scientific equations and drawings in pencil, most crossed through. A good manuscript featuring the names of many inventors and physicists who inspired and influenced Becquerel. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VGMichael Faraday (1791-1867) English scientist who contributed to the study of electromagnetism and electrochemistry.Hippolyte Pixii (1808-1835) French instrument maker who built an early form of alternating current electrical generator based on the principle of electromagnetic induction discovered by Faraday.Edward Samuel Ritchie (1814-1895) American inventor and physicist who made important contributions to science and navigation.Hyde Clarke (1815-1895) English engineer, philologist and author.Floris Nollet (1794-1853) Belgian physicist, engineer and inventor who designed plans for large-scale generators.Werner von Siemens (1816-1892) German electrical engineer, inventor and industrialist.Henry Wilde (1833-1919) English electrical engineer who invented the dynamo-electric machine.William Ladd (1815-1885) English manufacturer of microscopes and other scientific instruments including the Dynamo-Magneto-Electric machine (1867).Antonio Pacinotti (1841-1912) Italian physicist, best known for inventing an improved form of direct-current electrical generator (1860).Zenobe Gramme (1826-1901) Belgian electrical engineer, inventor of the Gramme machine, a type of direct current dynamo capable of generating smoother and much higher voltages than the dynamos known to that point (1871).C. F. Varley (1828-1883) English engineer particularly associated with the development of the electric telegraph and the transatlantic telegraph cable.Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875) English scientist and inventor who made many scientific breakthroughs during the Victorian era.Friedrich von Hefner-Alteneck (1845-1904) German electrical engineer, one of the closest aides of Werner von Siemens.Thomas Edison (1847-1931) American inventor of the electric light bulb among many other items.
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TOLSTOY LEO: (1828-1910) Russian writer, regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time. A good L.S., `Leon Tolstoy´, two pages, oblong 8vo, n.p., also dated in Tolstoy´s hand, 14th June 1901, in French. Tolstoy responds to his correspondent about his request for authorizing the translation of his works, and initiates his letter stating `J´ai pour principe de ne donner aucune autorisation spéciale pour les traductions, ainsi que pour les adaptations pour la scene de mes ouvrages, de sorte que je regrette beaucoup de ne pouvoir concéder à votre désir´ (Translation: “It is my principle not to give any special authorization for translations, as well as for adaptations for the stage of my works, so that I very much regret not being able to grant your request”) Tolstoy further sends an honest but sharp comment explaining without doubts what he does or will do if he receives the manuscript from his correspondent, saying `Dans tous les cas ne cous donnez pas la peine de m´envoyer votre manuscript. Si même je le reçois, je ne le lirai pas et ainsi ne serai pas en état de formuler mon opinión sur le mérite de votre travail´ (Translation: “In any case, don't bother sending me your manuscript. Even if I receive it, I will not read it and thus will not be able to formulate my opinion on the merit of your work”) Paper with watermark. With blank integral leaf. Very small overall minor age wear with two very small stains, otherwise G In 1901, the year of the present letter, the publication of Resurrection led to Tolstoy's excommunication by the Holy Synod from the Russian Orthodox Church. Resurrection, also translated as The Awakening, was the last novel written by Tolstoy. The book was the last of his major long fiction works published in his lifetime. Tolstoy intended the novel as a panoramic view of Russia at the end of the 19th century from the highest to the lowest levels of society and an exposition of the injustice of man-made laws and the hypocrisy of the institutionalized church.
SAND GEORGE: (1804-1876) French novelist. An excellent autograph manuscript signed, George Sand, thirty pages, 8vo, n.p., n.d. (1872), in French. Sand’s manuscript, with various corrections and deletions, is written in the wake of the publication of Hugo’s collection of poems L’Annee terrible and states, in part, ‘Voici un poete sublime, le poete de la France. Il est veritablement la voix de la partie, et c'est pour cela qu'en parlant de lui on sent qu'on s'adresse a la France elle-meme dont il est l'ame et l'expression, le dechirement terrible, l'organe souverain....,je sens pour lui quelque chose de plus que de l'admiration, je sens que je l'aime...Quand le poete sans rival qujourd'hui monte sur le coursier aile pour interroger le ciel sur les destinees de la terre, il depouille sa personnalite reelle, il oublie son propre nom, il se spiritualise, il est le penseur et le poete, il exerce son sacerdoce, il joue son role, il rompt avec l'usage, il meprise le bon ton, il depasse le bon gout. il use de son droit qui est de monter autant qu'une pensee peut monter au-dessus d'une situation, une aspiration au-dessus d'un fait, une volonte au-dessus d'un obstacle.....Il a le delire sacre des pythonisses, il s'eleve a la manifestation de l'espirit degage de tout ce qui pese sur nous. Il prend une place dont personne ne peut etre jaloux, puisque personne n'eut ose la prendre, et que nul ne peut lui contester puisqu'il peut seul l'occuper......Ceci dit une fois pour toutes et ce divin orgueil accepte comme une pretention, non legitime chez le poete en general mais legitime chez celui-ci, voyons si la lucidite est a la hauteur de l'emotion et si ce voyant inspire, qui semble percer l'inconnu, a la vision nette des choses connues......oui et non. Oui, au point de vue de l'eternelle philosophie; au point de vue immediatement historique, non.....son veritable nom serait le passionne, car tout est passion chez lui: la haine et l'amour, la mansuetude et la colere, l'indignation et la pitie; son organe visuel est fait de passion comme son sens intellectuel; son esprit a la faculte de se dilater au point d'embrasser l'univers dans une etreinte gigantesque, et des lors tout se dilate et devient colossal dans son appreciation.....d'une mouche il fait un monstre, d'une fourmi un elephant......il y a une troisieme voix que le genie de l'antithese n'a pas daigne entendre: c'est la voix juste......quand malgre soi on est reste debout entre les deux cadavres, doit-on traiter l'un de martyr et l'autre d'assassin? Ils se sont egorges l'un l'autre, martyrs tous les deux ou assassins tous les deux, il n'y a pas a dire.....il n'a pas fletri avec son energie accoutumee les chefs et les membres de cette bande; il s'est contente de dire qu'il ne les approuvait pas.....il n'eut eu de cris de colere que contre la repression et de cris de pitie que pour les infames qui tentaient de detruire Paris apres l'avoir deshonore...... son esprit a eu une defaillance de lumiere, les etoiles en ont bien!......c'est que je le place plus haut que vous, les amis de sa gloire litteraire, ne songez a le placer. Pourvu qu'il chante, vous etes ravis, et lui, il veut etre quelque chose de plus que le chantre, il veut etre quelque chose que je lui accorde de toute mon ame. Il veut etre le penseur du siecle. Il l'est, je vous l'ai dit, il est la voix de la patrie, il resume en lui toute son histoire, il en subit toutes les ivresses et toutes les tortures, tous les dechirements et toutes les aspirations.......Lui, il a vu les choses en grand, en gros quelquefois, jamais en petit. Mais ce qu'il a bien vu, personne ne l'a vu comme lui. il a vu tres loin devant lui, et il a dit des verites souveraines que rien ne pourra detruire.......Des siecles passeront sur nos desespoirs et l'espoir fleurira encore dans le monde. Alors on lira ce poete et on tiendra bien peu de compte de ce qui offense les delicats d'aujourd'hui. Ce sera encore un livre de vie pour les jeunes; les traces de nos malheurs seront effacees, nos ruines seront ensevelies dans des oeuvres de renaissance, nos drames d'un jour seront contemples comme des reves et racontes comme des legendes; nos monceaux de livres seront juges, oublies pour la plupart, un nom restera eclatant, attache a la robe funebre du XIX siecle comme une etoile au manteau de la nuit et ce nom ce sera celui de l'auteur de l'Annee terrible’ (Translation: ‘Here is a sublime poet, the poet of France. He is truly the voice of the party, and that is why in speaking of him we feel that we are addressing France itself of which he is the soul and the expression, the terrible heartbreak, the sovereign organ……I feel for him something more than admiration, I feel that I love him…..When the poet without rival today mounts the winged steed to question heaven about the destinies of earth, he strips away his real personality, he forgets his own name, he spiritualises himself, he is the thinker and the poet, he exercises his priesthood, he plays his role, he breaks with custom, he despises good tone, he goes beyond good taste, he uses his right which is to rise as far as a thought can rise above a situation, an aspiration above a fact, a will above an obstacle…..He has the sacred delirium of the pythonis, it rises to the manifestation of the spirit released from everything that weighs on us. He takes a place of which no one can be jealous, since no one would have dared to take it, and that no one can challenge him since he alone can occupy it…….Having said this once and for all and this divine pride accepted as a pretension, not legitimate in the poet in general but legitimate in this one, let us see if the lucidity is to be the height of the emotion and if this inspired seer, who seems to pierce the unknown, has the clear vision of the known things……yes and no. Yes, from the point of view of eternal philosophy; from the immediately historical point of view, no……his true name would be the passionate one, because everything is passion with him: hatred and love, gentleness and anger, indignation and pity; his visual organ is made of passion like his intellectual sense; his mind has the faculty of expanding to the point of embracing the universe in a gigantic embrace, and from then on everything expands and becomes colossal in his appreciation……of a fly he makes a monster, of an ant an elephant…..there is a third voice that the genius of the antithesis has not deigned to hear: it is the right voice……when in spite of oneself we remain standing between the two corpses, should we treat one as a martyr and the other as a murderer? They slit each other’s throats, both martyrs or both assassins, there is no need to say……he did not with his usual energy denounce the leaders and members of this band; he was content to say that he did not approve of themhe only had cries of anger against the repression and cries of pity only for the infamous people who tried to destroy Paris after having dishonoured.his spirit had a failure of light, the stars certainly did!......OWING TO LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY THE SALEROOM THE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION FOR THIS LOT CAN NOT BE DISPLAYED.Please contact IAA Europe directly for further information.
LOUIS VII: (1120-1180) Louis the Younger. King of the Franks 1137-80. A fine D.S., within his monogram (a bold and attractive example) at the foot, as King, one page (vellum), 8vo (approx. 17 x 15.5 cm), Sens ('Senonis'), 1146 ('Anno ab incarnatione domini m c xl vi Regni vero nostri x'; in the tenth year of Louis VII's reign), in Latin. The manuscript document, in the hand of a scribe, with thin and elongated letters to the first line (a mistake appears between the words franc. and dux, with the scribe originally omitting the word Rex, and afterwards adding it in small letters above), is a Royal Charter confirming to the monks of 'Roseio' (i.e. the Benedictine abbey of Rozoi-le-Jeune, arrondissement of Sens, in the departement of Yonne, founded in 1106) all grants made to them by his predecessors or his feudatories, although without specifying any donors or locations of property, in part, 'In nomine sanctte et individuae et individuae trinitatis ludovic dei grat. franc. Rex dux Aquitano.Hubis quidem pro regie dignitatis officio principalte incumbre. ecclarum possessiones ac iura benigne protegere et predecellorum ntos. elemosinas Ctabiles conservare Prope. nocum facimus um versis et presentibus parte et sicuris ancillis xpi. de Rosero ad opanendum possidendiuns per [ill] nos [ill] de dono precellorum lesatoriung (?) nros. um ules ad hordiernum diem in elemosinam sulcepunc’. concluding with the subscriptions (not actual) of several Royal officers, namely Raoul, 1st Comte de Vermandois (Seneschal), Guillaume de Senlis (Grand Butler), Mathieu, 1st Comte de Beaumont-sur-Oise (Grand Chamberlain) and Mathieu de Montmorency (Constable), all of whom served as witnesses, and given by the hand of the Chancellor of France, Cadurc. Lacking the seal although with the original tags still inserted to the plica. Some light staining and minor age wear, and with a few very small holes to parts of the vellum, only very slightly affecting a few letters of text, and not the signature. Loosely housed within a handsome crimson quarter bound morocco presentation folder with gilt stamped title to the front cover. VGRaoul I (1085-1152) Comte de Vermandois, known as Raoul I the Brave, and a first cousin of King Louis VI of France. Raoul was appointed as a seneschal within the Royal household in 1131 and continued in the service of the King (with gaps in 1138 and 1139) until his death in 1152. In 1142 he married his second wife, Peronella of Aquitaine, the sister of King Louis VII’s consort, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Guillaume de Senlis served as Grand Butler of France from 1129-47 and accompanied King Louis VII on his crusade. Mathieu II de Beaumont-sur-Oise (1110-1174) Grand Chamberlain of France.Mathieu I de Montmorency (d.1160) Constable of France 1138-60. Cadurc was appointed as Chancellor of France in 1140 and remained so until 8th June 1147.The Royal Charter is typically signed within Louis VII's monogram, following the form adopted by predecessors with the name Louis, including King Louis VI, and is composed of the letters which make up the Carolingian word ‘Hludovicus’ or ‘Hludovuicus’. The Charter gives the year as 1146, in the tenth year of King Louis VII’s reign. The King succeeded on 1st August 1137, therefore the tenth year began on 1st August 1146. The calendar year began at Easter, which was 20th April in 1147. The document therefore dates from between 1st August 1146 and 19th April 1147, although to narrow it down any further would appear unfeasible. Documents bearing the Royal sign manual of King Louis VII are of the utmost rarity and very seldom appear at auction, most being held in public collections. The present document is recorded in Etudes sur les actes de Louis VII (1885) by Luchaire (as no. 181) but only from a 15th century copy, and also in Bibliographie generale des cartulaires francais (1907) by Stein (as no. 3277), although Stein attributes it to a 16th century copy. Neither author makes any mention of the original grant and presumably were unaware of its existence.
SOLZHENITSYN ALEKSANDR: (1918-2008) Russian writer and prominent Soviet dissident, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1970. An unusual book signed and inscribed, being a softcover edition of The Oak and the Calf - Sketches of Literary Life in the Soviet Union, second revised and expanded edition, published by Soglasie, Moscow, 1996. Signed and inscribed by Solzhenitsyn in Cyrillic to the title page, 'To dear Mira Gennadievna Petrova, the unforgettable "invisible" one, A. Solzhenitsyn' and dated 9th July 1996 in his hand. With a further note by Petrova at the head of the title page requesting a transfer to the manuscript department of the IMLI (i.e. the Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences). With numerous pencil and ink annotations throughout to the margins. An interesting presentation copy. Lacking the spine and endpapers and with some extensive tears and areas of paper loss to the title page, only very slightly affecting the inscription but not the signature. Accompanied by the dust jacket (some minor faults). Only FRThe second, expanded edition of the Russian text to Solzhenitsyn's memoir The Oak and the Calf included new material on the people who helped the writer in his literary tasks prior to his exile. Solzhenitsyn had previously called these anonymous helpers Nevidimki (the invisible ones) and Petrova, to whom the present book is inscribed, was one such helper. Indeed, Solzhenitsyn wrote of Petrova that 'she was so talented in literary perception that she replaced immediately 10-20 other readers for me - an invaluable quality for an underground writer......she occupied such a special position - apart from all my conspiracy she preserved a separate sacred territory for me, where I was not a conspirator, but a pure writer'.
AUBRUN EMILE: (1881-1967) French pioneer aviator. Blue ink signature ('Tres amicalement, E Aubrun') to the verso of a postcard issued as a souvenir on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of 'des grandes journees mondiales d'aviation' in Champagne, 1960, the image to the recto depicting an early aircraft, also hand addressed by Aubrun and with three large circular stamps, one of the President of the Aero-Club de Champagne. Together with two original telegrams (received copies), both sent to Aubrun, being official folding oblong 8vo printed French telegramme messages, the first sent on 7th August 1910 by a correspondent of Le Matin, in French, 'Erreur materielle a fair arriver Leblanc avant vous sur aerodrole vous etes arrive premier la rectification sera faite dans notre edition demain matin votre admirable exploit vous classe tous premiers ons l'admiration de la France' (Translation: 'Serious error put Leblanc as arriving at the airfield first. You got there first. The correction will be made in our issue tomorrow morning. Your splendid achievement puts you right at the top in French esteem') and the second sent a few days later, on 11th August 1910, by a correspondent for the Daily Mail, in French, 'Vous etes actuellement en tete pour prix 25,000£ offert par Daily Mail pour plus grande distance parcouru a travers campagne entre 14 Aout 1909 & 14 Aout 1910. Vous avez fait 610 kilometres, Paulhan a 526, Leblanc 508. Felicitations et bonne chance' (Translation: 'You are currently in the lead for the prize of £25,000 put up by the Daily Mail for the longest distance flown cross-country between 14th August 1909 and 14th August 1910. You have done 610 kms, Paulhan 520, Leblanc 508. Congratulations and good luck'). Also including an 8vo page of manuscript notes, unsigned, in the hand of Aubrun, in French, relating to the two telegrams etc., and further including an A.L.S. by Aubrun's wife, two pages, 8vo, Marcillac Lanville, 7th September 1960, to Mr. Malfanti, in French, and stating, in part, 'I should personally be keen to get hold of the magazine of the 'Broken Wings', for which you sent us a draft article, full of praise for my husband, and by which he was very touched. Would you be kind enough to let me know where I should apply, in order to obtain a copy. My husband apologises for not writing to you himself, but he is suffering from an attack of rheumatism, particularly in both wrists', as well as one other piece of printed ephemera ('Bulletin Officiel de L'Ae-C.F.') in French, September 1960. Some age wear and minor tears to the two telegrams, G to generally VG, 6The telegrams relate to Aubrun's participation in the Circuit de l'Est, a six-stage air race organised by Le Matin which took place in August 1910. Alfred Leblanc (1869-1921) won the race, and the prize money of 100,000 Francs, and Aubrun finished second. Both aviators piloted Bleriot XI monoplanes in the race, and were the only two to complete the six-stages.
CHAVEZ HUGO: (1954-2013) President of Venezuela 1999-2013. Signed manuscript diary, seven pages, folio, Fuerte Guaicaipuro, from 11th to 16th September 1974, in Spanish. Chavez writes his own training camp diary, in Charavalle, state of Miranda. Chavez starts his short period diary on Wednesday 11th stating in part `I was appointed squad commandant, with all the responsabilities attached to the post...Today I learned a lot about engineering military campaign...I have decided to start this short diary during the training camp, it will be a week and a new experience in my life.´ Thursday 12th `With the sound of the rain falling on the tent, breathing the smoke of my cigar, I can´t stop remembering intensively a woman. I take my thoughts back to the last time I saw her, last saturday, in Barinas...´. Friday 13th Chavez refers to his role as Che Guevara `I went later to a camp training activity where I had the role of the commandant Ernesto "Che" Guevara. We were having a guerrilla camp, ambushing the new soldiers, and we were singing protest songs. I enjoyed it a lot, I´m hoarse so much I screamed.... I can´t stop thinking in the same woman. What would she be doing now? I shouldn´t act as I do. She might be happy, and I really hope she is, but I feel "something" inside which put me in fire.´ Saturday 14th, interesting thoughts of Chavez who says knowing very well what he wants and refers once more to Ché `..The new soldiers will be scared tonight, swalling tear gas, creeping underneath the barbed wires, feeling the machine gun bullets close over their heads. "They will feel dying tonight"....I feel the shock of the rain against the ground and the cold in my feet, and I think in how is this life. Today is Saturday and I wonder what would the young people, same age as me, be doing somewhere else, those who live free, without sacrifices. For sure they will be having fun, in a disco with their girlfriends, at the cinema or anywhere else. If they would know what we are doing they would say we are crazy. But I am not crazy. I know very well what I want and what I do, and why I make this sacrifice. I remember now a thought of "Ché": "The present is of fight, the future belongs to us". Sunday 15th `...he suffered an ugly wound in his hand, he falled on the barbed wires full of despair due to the tear gas.... I don´t want to keep on writing, I am tired, I am going to think in my family and in the same woman. She might be thinking in me...´ Monday 16th, on his last training camp day Chavez states `I was the whole day shooting the Afag machine gun with war ammunition, when the new soldiers were crossing the area. It was really good shooting. The feeling and sound of the bursts of gunfire excites you and you don´t want to remove your finger from the shutter.´ Further ending with a predicting statement `It was a good week. It was a further step on the present fight which will transform in a victorious future.´ An excellent content diary on which Chavez expresses his thoughts and his future expectations. Boldly written in blue ink, with multiple corrections and side annotations. Small creasing and left border irregularly trimmed as a result of taken them out of the diary book. Also including Herma Marksman´s transcription. VGWith provenance from the private collection of Herma Marksman and with her own transcription. Herma Marksman: (1949- ) Born of a peasant woman and a German immigrant she was in her 30s when she met the future Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, who was then married and in his twenties. She became his mistress. They both were students of socialism and idealistic and she helped him in his academic studies. After the failed 1992 coup attempt Chavez left both his first wife and mistress. Marksman will later repudiate Chavez, and described his government as imposing a "fascist dictatorship". She has written several essays and a book titled El Otro Chávez, "The other Chavez", describing her relationship with him.
LOUIS XII: (1462-1515) King of France 1498-1515 and King of Naples 1501-04. D.S., Loys, one page (vellum), oblong folio, Orleans, 15th December 1499, in Middle French. The manuscript document is addressed to Jehan Lalemant, receiver general of finances in the Duchy of Normandy, and is a warrant to raise the sum of thirteen thousand one hundred and eighty-eight livres fifteen sols turnois from grain collectors and farmers, commencing on the 1st January, in order to make a payment to Jacques Petremot which has been committed to by the exchequer and further giving instructions for the amount to be allocated within the accounts. Signed by the King at the foot and countersigned by Hobineau. A large portion of the lower right of the document has been neatly excised. A few heavy creases, one just affecting the signature, and some light overall age wear and dust staining, G
LOUIS XVI: (1754-1793) King of France 1774-92, the last King of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. Executed by guillotine on the Place de la Revolution at the age of 38. A good D.S., Louis (a fine, large example), as King, one page, large folio (25.5 x 34 cm), Versailles, 13th November 1787, in French. The boldly penned manuscript document confirms the financial state of la Généralité de Soissons as being 'Cent quatre vingt seize mil trois cent quatre vingt cinq livres un sol six deniers' (Translation: 'One hundred and ninety-six thousand, three hundred and eighty five livres, one sol, six deniers'). The document is decreed by the Royal Council of Finances and bears five countersignatures including those of Henri Lefevre d'Ormesson (1751-1808) French politician who briefly served as Finance Minister, and later as Mayor of Paris; Claude Guillaume Lambert (1726-1794) French jurist who served as Comptroller General of Finance, executed by guillotine; Pierre-Charles Laurent de Villedeuil (1742-1828) Controller-General of Finances under King Louis XVI; and two others. Lightly tipped at the left edge to a folio page removed from an album. Some very light, minimal age wear, VGLa Généralité de Soissons was an administrative district composed mainly of countries from the province of Picardy united to the government of Ile-de-France at that time and created in 1595.
MANSON CHARLES: (1934-2017) American criminal who led the cult-based Manson Family, responsible for multiple deaths (including the murder of Sharon Tate) and the subject of Quentin Tarantino's film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Autograph manuscript, unsigned, one page, 4to, n.p. (San Quentin State Prison, California), n.d. (1980s). Manson writes in a typically rambling fashion, largely about prison life, in part (spelling mistakes retained), 'I find it almost impossible how San Q[uentin] has changed.....you get to pick what gang your in before you can go to the yard as your labled rat for walking by your self. If you dont rat & show respect you git O if you rawjaw & play fear.....as for frame of mind I lost it long ago. I got all the time in the world. NBC came & I told them to fuck off......I moved a pawn & they fell off the bord. In a way I was glad to git away from that place to long in one place. They will miss me as I was & am the high point in the rest of their lives. They will go back to living again & it will go back to crazy drs. etc. I did like a lot of the people there but they didnt like me looking at there doubts & fears. I never learnt to live with hope........There are no old men in San Q any more. 19 years olds & a lot of what we would call madness......I told the judge you may not see my world as true but I speak loud......I told him they gave me no father no man & no rights he said dont pick it back up for them & just let the rat run untill they give you your rights so now its come around that I may go back on new tryp in L.A.......so if I raze from this I'll need a place to hide'. Two small staple holes to the lower left corner and with some light creasing, VG
IMPERIAL GUARD: An attractive manuscript document, three pages, oblong 16 x 12.5 (40cm x 31,5cm), Utrecht, 1st April 1810, in French. The document being the detailed information of the veterans Grenadiers of the Napoleonic Imperial Guard, former members of the Royal Holland Guard, including their names and surnames, rank, age, military campaigns they served, time since they enroled, etc… Many of them are former soldiers who served during the revolutionary campaigns and fought against the French in 1793. The interesting list incudes examples such as `Grenadier Hendik, 43 years old, too weak to walk because of hi sage and his long time serving. Fought in the Brabant in 1792 and 1793, later in the north of Holland in 1799, again in 1800, participated at the Hannover campaign in 1806 and again in Brabant in 1809. In total 31 years and four months…´ Another young one is also on the list to be retired, `Jan Kaster, suffering rheumatism, 25 years old, has participated in the campaigns against the Austrians and the Prussians..´ Signed by a Colonel. A cleanly written and interesting document. VG
ROUSSEAU JEAN-JACQUES: (1712-1778) French Writer and Philosopher. A very fine and interesting autograph manuscript, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d. [1745-48], in French. Rousseau writes a short text, being related to the history of women, and annotates to the upper left corner `Ordon: des Rois de Fr. T.4, p. 499´, referring to De Lauriere´s work Traité des Régences et Majorités des Rois de France. Rousseau states `Ordonnance du Roy Charles 5 du mois d´Octobre 1364 qui défend à tous chirurgiens et chirurgiennes d´exercer à Paris sans avoir été examinés par les chirurgiens jurés au châtelet et autres licenciés en cet art, établis à Paris´ (''Order of King Charles V, from October 1364, which prohibits all surgeons from practicing in Paris without having been examined by sworn surgeons at the Chatelet and other licensees in this art established in Paris.''). Small overall minor age wear, mostly to edges, with uneven bottom edge, otherwise G. The present text corresponds to Rousseau´s work about the history of women, written between 1745 and 1751 for his benefactress Mrs Louise Marie Madeleine Dupin, and which would never be published. At the time Rousseau wrote these pages, between 1745 and 1751, he was working as secretary to his benefactress Louise Marie Madeleine Dupin. Charles V ''The Wise'' (1338-1380) King of France.
THOMAS DYLAN: (1914-1953) Welsh poet. An exceptional autograph manuscript, unsigned, of the poem To Others Than You, three pages (separate leaves, written to the rectos only), 8vo, Laugharne, 5th June 1939. The working manuscript, with a number of corrections and deletions, comprises several versions of the poem and offers a unique insight into Thomas's creative process before deciding on the final form of the poem. The drafts are simply entitled Poem and the first variant begins with the line 'Friend my enemy I call you out', which Thomas retains in the final version, although continues with several significant differences, in part, 'You with a dud bad dud coin in your socket/ Try not to pass it palm it/ Who tries to palm its gleam on me the glint on me/ were once my golden friend…..whose/ your pursed eye has a bad coin in it/ My enemies, my friends, my friends/ (refrain:) My friends are enemies on stilts’ and also includes several lines which did not appear in the final text (‘You with a swan-enamouring voice/ that calls but dogs to heel’). The second page of the manuscript shows that Thomas had almost reached the final version of the short poem, however he still reorganises some lines, indicated with an arrow and parenthesis, to ensure balance and rhythm, and to the third page Thomas, having satisfied himself with the work, writes the poem out in a version identical to that which would appear in print (although still without the title To Others Than You; beneath his title Poem Thomas crosses through one line, ‘My friends are enemies’, which may have been, in the spirit of the poem, an incipit) – Friend by enemy I call you out.You with a bad coin in your socket, You my friend there with a winning air Who palmed the lie on me when you looked Brassily at my shyest secret, Enticed with twinkling bits of the eye Till the sweet tooth of my love bit dry, Rasped at last, and I stumbled and sucked, Whom now I conjure to stand as thief In the memory worked by mirrors, With unforgettably smiling act, Quickness of hand in the velvet glove And my whole heart under your hammer, Were once such a creature, so gay and frank A desireless familiar I never thought to utter or think While you displaced a truth in the air,That though I loved them for their faults As much as for their good, My friends were enemies on stilts With their heads in a cunning cloud.A wonderful and rare autograph manuscript. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, minimal areas of paper loss to the upper left edges of each page and the final page with a slight paperclip rust stain to the upper right corner. VGTo Others Than You was published in 1946 as part of the volume of poems by Dylan Thomas entitled Death and Entrances. One of the best-known collections of Thomas’s poems, many of the pieces dealt with the effects of World War II which had ended a year earlier.
EDWARD VIII: (1894-1972) King of the United Kingdom January - December 1936. Later Duke of Windsor. A good, large D.S., Edward R I, as King, at the head, one page, large oblong folio, Court at Saint James's, 30th March 1936. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, is addressed to Maurice Downer and appoints him to be an officer in the Royal Air Force from the 19th September 1935, and states, in part, 'You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the Rank of Flying Officer or in such higher Rank as We may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote or appoint you to, of which a notification will be made in the London Gazette, and you are at all times to exercise and well discipline in their Duties both the inferior Officers and Airmen serving under you and use your best endeavours to keep them in good Order and Discipline'. With the facsimile signatures of Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick William Bowhill (1880-1960) and Sir Christopher Bullock (1891-1972) at the foot, alongside a circular blind embossed seal. Documents signed by King Edward VIII as King are rare and desirable. Some light overall foxing and minor age wear, about VG
SMITH STEVIE: (1902-1971) English poet and novelist. T.L.S., Stevie, one page, 4to, Avondale Road, Palmers Green, London, 8th January 1970, to Tom Maschler. Smith writes seeking advice in order to value a manuscript and states, in full, 'It really is most awfully nice of you and thank you very much. I was afraid it might be rather a bore for you. I will certainly take your advice and come back to you. I rang Eric White up today and asked him to suggest a starting price as I had no idea about it and he said he would try and get his committee to do this, without first presenting it to Rota or someone to value. But the committee does not meet until next month, so it will be after then that I come back to you - with the manuscript. Many thanks again.' and in a holograph postscript further adds 'I shall be delighted to inscribe the book for you. I expect it will arrive tomorrow'. A few minor, small tears to some edges and some light creasing, not affecting the text or signature, otherwise VGTom Maschler (1933-2020) British publisher who, from 1960, was head of the publishing company Jonathan Cape for more than three decades. Maschler was also instrumental in establishing the Booker Prize in 1969.
LE CORBUSIER: (1887-1965) Charles-Edouard Jeanneret. Swiss-French architect, designer and urban planner, a pioneer of modern architecture. An exceptional typescript MS, Le Corbusier, ten pages (separate leaves, typed to the rectos only), 4to, Paris, 1st March 1938 (although the place and date struck through in ink by Le Corbusier), in French. The working manuscript, with many holograph corrections, is titled Un Homme Chez Lui ('A Man at Home') and states, in part, 'C'est ici que la notion de liberte prend toute sa force. Au sein de cette organisation saine de la vie des hommes reunis en societe: "La Ville Radieuse", commandee par une discipline acceptee avec joie, la cellule d'habitation s'ouvre derriere une porte de logis. Et ici, la clef tournee, un homme est chez lui. Il est entre. Que fera-t-il? Ce qu'il voudra! Ce qu'il pourra.......Et il sera maitre de son destin, un un sens limite, bien entendu: celui de la libre expression de son imagination. Et nous trouverons alors, au pied du mur, ce terrible "Francais individualiste" dont les mechantes langues et les decides-a-rien-faire levent les fantomes innombrables a chacune de nos propisitions. J'avais mis en exergue a mon rapport sur l'urbanisation de la Ville de Moscou, en 1930, ceci: Je place comme pierre angulaire de toute urbanisation moderne le respect sacrede la liberte individuelle. On m'en avait voulu. Mais qu'importe!.......Cette gageure qui fut proposee dans "Urbanisme" en 1924 elle a ete meme: "La Ville Radieuse". Il existe desormais une doctrine d'equipement des villes dont la clef de voute est: soleil, espace, verdure, en chaque logis. En chaque logis! Voici donc ce que la societe moderne peut apporter a chacun de ses membres, par l'enterprise des grands travaux de readaptation des villes aux besoins d'une conscience nouvelle.......Une telle transformation dans la coupe du logis est une veritable revolution architecturale. Le logis devient une petite maison. Et que m'importe que ces petites maisons soient a dix, rangees les unes au-dessus des autres et qu'elles s'alignent innombrablement au long d'une "rue interienne": l'homme est entre chez lui, il a ferme la porte. Il a recu le choc de set amenagement architectural: grand et puis intime, et tout ce soleil, cet espace et ces verdures que cette reforme a precisement permis de capter. Je dis que cet homme desormais n'est plus jamais le chien battu qui hante les "boites locatives" de nos villes......cet homme chez lui a perdu le souvenir des lourdes tribulations que lui et sa famille ont vecu depuis toujours. Riche ou miserable, c'etait l'absence pour tous des "joies essentielles". Les "joies essentielles" sont apportees a la societe moderne par les techniques modernes, l'invitation urbanistique et la poesie de l'architecture. Ceci n'est pas d'utopie. Depuis 20 ans, des travaux limites ont ete accomplis, fixant les etapes constructives. Chez nous et ailleurs, par nous et par d'autres. Il existe deja des fragments - des jalons, des preuves - de "Ville Radieuse"......' (Translation: 'This is where the notion of freedom comes into its own. Within this healthy organisation of the life of men gathered in society: "La Ville Radieuse" (The Radiant City), governed by a discipline accepted with joy, the living cell opens behind a door of dwelling. And here, with the key turned, a man is at home. He has entered. What will he do? Whatever he wants! Whatever he can.......And he will be master of his destiny, in a limited sense, of course: that of the free expression of his imagination. And then we'll have that terrible 'individualistic Frenchman' at our heels, whose nasty tongues and decide to do nothing raise countless ghosts at every one of our proprieties. In my report on the urbanisation of the City of Moscow in 1930, I wrote the following: I place as the cornerstone of all modern urban development the sacred respect for individual freedom. People were angry with me. But never mind!.......This challenge, which was proposed in "Urbanisme" in 1924, was even called "La Ville Radieuse". There is now a doctrine for equipping towns and cities, the key to which is sun, space and greenery in every home. In every home! Here, then, is what modern society can bring to each and every one of its members, by undertaking the great work of readapting cities to the needs of a new consciousness......Such a transformation in the cross-section of the dwelling is a real architectural revolution. The dwelling becomes a small house. And it doesn't matter to me that there are ten of these little houses, arranged one above the other and lined up innumerably along an "internal street": the man has entered his home, he has closed the door. He received the shock of the architectural layout: large and then intimate, and all the sun, space and greenery that this reform made it possible to capture. I'm saying that this man will never again be the beaten dog that haunts the 'rental boxes' of our cities.......this man at home has lost all memory of the heavy tribulations that he and his family have always endured. Rich or miserable, it was the absence for all of the "essential joys". These "essential joys" are brought to modern society by modern technology, inviting urban planning and poetic architecture. This is not utopia. Over the last 20 years, a great deal of work has been done to define the constructive stages. Here and elsewhere, by us and by others. There are already fragments - milestones, proof - of the "La Ville Radieuse"......'). A rare manuscript of excellent content. A few minor tears and light creasing to the edges of some pages and the final page with a small area of paper loss to the lower left corner. GVille Radieuse (The Radiant City) was an unrealised urban design project designed by Le Corbusier in 1930. It constitutes one of the most influential and controversial urban design doctrines of European modernism.Le Corbusier's essay Un homme chez lui was published in Les Plans de Paris 1956-1922 in 1956.
ROBESPIERRE AUGUSTIN: (1763-1794) Robespierre the Younger. French lawyer and politician, the younger brother of French Revolutionary leader Maximilien Robespierre. Robespierre the Younger was arrested (at his own request) along with his brother and subsequently the two were executed by guillotine along with twenty of their supporters. D.S., Robespierre je., one page, small folio, Nice, 16th June 1794, in French. The partially printed document, completed in manuscript, is issued in the name of the French people by 'Les representans du peuple deputes par la convention nationale pres l'armee d'Italie et les departemens du var et des alpes maritimes' (Translation: 'The representatives of the people deputed by the national convention to the army of Italy and the departments of Var and Alpes Maritimes') and orders that a payment of 'Quinze cent mille livres' (Translation: 'Fifteen hundred thousand pounds') be made by the Paymaster of the Army. Signed by Robespierre at the foot and countersigned by an army inspector. A little roughly torn to the right and lower edges with a few small areas of paper loss, only very slightly affecting the text. GThe present document was signed by Robespierre in the month before his execution by guillotine.
DAVOUT LOUIS NICOLAS: (1770-1823) Marshal of France, Duc d´Auerstaedt and Prince of Eckmuhl. Known as the Iron Marshal, Davout was the only Napoleonic Marshal not to have been defeated in battle by 1815. Unusual A.L.S., `L. Davout´, two pages, 4to, Skierniewice (between Lodz and Warsaw), in Poland, 1st of January [1808], to his wife Aimée Leclerc, in French. Davout sends a bold ink manuscript letter to his wife from Poland, where he has been few months earlier appointed by Napoleon Governor-General of the new created Duchy following the Treaties of Tislit few months before. Davout refers to an important property they intend to buy in France, and confirms that he fully trust and support his wife´s decisions, stating in part `Je reçois ma chère aimée ta lettre où tu m'annonces que l'on t'a devancé et que l'hôtel de Rohan-Chabot est acheté. Je te répète que j'approuverai tout ce que tu feras et que je ne verrai jamais une folie dans l'acquisition que tu feras, quelle qu'elle soit, il me sera suffisant que cela te convienne pour avoir ma pleine et entière approbation...´ (Translation: "My dear beloved, I receive your letter in which you tell me that you have been beaten and that the Rohan-Chabot hotel has been purchased. I repeat to you that I will approve everything you do and that I will never see folly in the acquisition you make, whatever it may be, it will be enough for me that it suits you to have my full and complete approval...") Davout further refers to the money need referred by his wife which he cannot understand, saying `Je te prierai d'excuser mon laconisme, ma chère Aimée, je veux expédier tout le travail de cette journée auparavant le départ de l'ordonnance et j'ai des choses pressantes. J'espère que l'arrivée des 29 000 f. t'auront un peu soulagé, mais comment peux-tu te trouver dans l´embarras, le Major Général ayant 300 000 qu´il te remettra à son arrivée...´ (Translation: "I will ask you to excuse my laconicism, my dear Aimée, I want to get through all the work of this day before the departure of the orderly and I have pressing matters. I hope that the arrival of the 29,000 f. will have relieved you a little, but how can you find yourself in an embarrassment, the Major General having 300,000 which he will give you upon his arrival...") Davout refers to Louis Alexandre Berthier when mentionning the Major General who will bring thee 300.000 fr, being a grant given by Napoleon I to Davout in order to help him to buy the hotel he wished and dederved according to his rank. With address leaf in Davout´s hand `a Madame La Maréchale Davout, cour de l´orangerie, Paris´, also bearing an ink stamp and an attractive and in good condition red wax seal, showing a crowned coat of arms with the Marshal´s batons and his own initials. Overall creasing, with few tears to the adress leaf as a result of the letter opening. G
CATHERINE II THE GREAT: (1762-1796) Empress of Russia 1762-96, Catherine the Great. An excellent and very attractive fully manuscript D.S., `Ekaterina´, in Cyrillic, a bold and fine signature, two pages, 10.5 x 16 (26.5 cm x 40.5 cm), large folio, Saint Petersburg, 24th February 1796, on the 34th year of the Reign, to King of The Two Sicilies and Jerusalem, Ferdinand I, in Cyrillic. The document is entitled, "Catherine II the Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias", and refers on the marriage of her grandson Konstantin Pavlovich, stating in part `On the 15th of February, took place the marriage of our most gracious grandson, His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich, to Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna of All the Russias, born Princess Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld´ At the bottom of the page it is written `To Count Ivan Osterman´. A cleanly written document. Accompanied with the original large envelope, addressed to the King of Naples, and bearing a large paper seal affixed to the verso, with large remnants of red wax beneath. VGFerdinand I (1751-1825) King of the Two Sicilies 1816-25 (upon his restoration following victory in the Napoleonic Wars) and previously, as Ferdinand IV, King of Naples 1759-99, 1799-1806, 1815-16 and, as Ferdinand III, King of Sicily 1759-1816Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich (1779-1831) Grand Duke of Russia, son of Emperor Paul I. Tsesarevich of Russia during the reign of his brother Alexander I. He secretly renounced to the throne in 1823. After the death of Alexander I, and for 25 days, he was known as “His Imperial Majesty Konstantin I Emperor of all Russias”.Grand Duke Konstantin married in 1796 Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1781-1860), also known as Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna of Russia, a German Princess of the ducal house of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld .
EINSTEIN ALBERT: (1879-1955) German-born theoretical physicist, Nobel Prize winner for Physics, 1921. T.L.S., A. Einstein, one page, 4to, Mercer Street, Princeton, New Jersey, 25th February 1942, to Hermann Broch, in German. Einstein states that he has read Broch's manuscript with great interest, remarking 'I really believe that your method brings the important subject closer to understanding' and concluding 'I will be pleased if I am given the opportunity to be of use to you through my judgement'. A letter of interesting association. One small, light stain to the upper edge and some very light creasing and a couple of extremely small, minimal tears to the edges, VGHermann Broch (1886-1951) Austrian writer, remembered for two works of modernist fiction, The Sleepwalkers (1930-32) and The Death of Virgil (1945). From August to September 1939 Broch had resided in Einstein's Mercer Street home while the physicist and his wife were on vacation.
DRABBLE MARGARET: (1939- ) English biographer, novelist and short story writer. Correspondence collection of eight A.Ls.S. and three T.Ls.S., Maggie, and one with a full signature, thirteen pages (total), mainly small 4to and several on plain postcards, London and Somerset, 1971-84 and others with n.d., all to Tom Maschler. Drabble writes a series of friendly letters on a variety of subjects, in part, 'Would you mind forwarding the enclosed to Doris Lessing whose recent address I haven't got?' (6th September 1971), 'I thought you might like to see this evidence that your missionary work on behalf of Barthes has not gone quite unnoticed. Indeed at dinner last night various people expressed something approaching dismay at news of his death' (5th April 1980; with an attached newspaper clipping relating to Roland Barthes), 'Thank you for making me read The Sioux. It is a strange & memorable work, & oddly haunting. I long to hear more about it....It really is very odd!' (24th April [1984]), 'I can't use words like 'wonderful' any more, but you could try 'unforgettable' or 'highly original'? Or 'startling'? Anyway, re-arrange any of these as you wish!' (1st May 1984), 'It is quite wonderful here, like a very ancient garden of Eden with drooping cypresses & rooks & primroses & a cooker/Raeburn which will neither go out nor stay in. Could you get someone to forward enclosed to Salman? I loved the book when I'd cracked the first 100 pages' (Nettlecombe, Somerset, 15th April n.y.), 'It was nice to see you on the Martini Terrace....I went on to dinner with (or rather a dinner at which there was) a rabbi and we spent most of the time talking about the different kind of leavening in whisky and brandy, and why one could drink one during passover and not the other. As I wasn't drinking either or observing anything this was only of academic interest' (n.d. 'Sunday'), 'I have been asked by the University Press of New England to give an opinion on a manuscript about Doris's Children of Violence: it's very good and very perceptive, as I shall tell them......All that I wanted to ask you is this: do you know of any new books on Doris that are being written or are about to be published that I ought to know about? The material in this book is new as far as I know, but maybe there's something I've missed' (5th December n.y.). A few of the letters with slight creasing and minor age wear, generally VG, 11Tom Maschler (1933-2020) British publisher who, from 1960, was head of the publishing company Jonathan Cape for more than three decades. Maschler was also instrumental in establishing the Booker Prize in 1969.
Oscar Nemon (1906-1985) - A maquette for - “Married Love’’, depicting Sir Winston Churchill and Clementine Churchill, plaster with a verdigris patination, 39cm wide, 27cm high, raised on a shaped mahogany plinth, together with a manuscript letter from Oscar Nemon, to Capt. Evans , dated 31.5.70 - ‘’Dear Capt. Evans,[Capt. R. Evans, Chairman of the Trustees of the Winston Churchill Fund-Westerham] Thank you for your letter. I thought my proposal was the best solution in the circumstances. So far there has been no plans for a copy, and I was merely seeking the freedom to make such a copy should the occasion arise.I am glad this meets with your approval. It is pleasant for me to hear that the statue is appreciated. Yours sincerely, Oscar Nemon’’; H. W. Thompson - ‘’Statue of ‘’Churchill 1874-1965, Westerham Green’’, pencil, signed and inscribed, 28 x 17cm. and a 33rpm EP recording of Unveiling of Sir Winston Churchill’s statue at Westerham 23rd July, 1969.Note: Oscar Nemon (1906-1985) created a plaster maquette depicting Sir Winston Churchill and Lady Churchill seated on a bench, famously named 'Married Love,' at the request of Lady Churchill, in 1978. Impressed by Nemon's earlier portrayal of her husband on Westerham Green, she remarked, 'This is how I see him and that is how I love him,' prompting her to sit for Nemon in her London residence. This allowed the sculptor to incorporate her likeness alongside her husband's in the final sculpture. The full-size bronze versions of this sculpture can be found at Chartwell and in Kansas City, America.***CONDITION REPORT***PLEASE NOTE:- Prospective buyers are strongly advised to examine personally any goods in which they are interested BEFORE the auction takes place. Whilst every care is taken in the accuracy of condition reports, Gorringes provide no other guarantee to the buyer other than in relation to forgeries. Many items are of an age or nature which precludes their being in perfect condition and some descriptions in the catalogue or given by way of condition report make reference to damage and/or restoration. We provide this information for guidance only and will not be held responsible for oversights concerning defects or restoration, nor does a reference to a particular defect imply the absence of any others. Prospective purchasers must accept these reports as genuine efforts by Gorringes or must take other steps to verify condition of lots. If you are unable to open the image file attached to this report, please let us know as soon as possible and we will re-send your images on a separate e-mail.
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