JAMES WATT ~~ PREPARES TO SIT FOR A MEDAL AND BUST TO BE MADE OF HIM, MARKING HIS ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE LAST 80 YEARS ~~ AND REFERENCES FINISHING ONE OF HIS LAST STEAM ENGINES
WATT, JAMES. (1736-1819). Scottish mechanical engineer and inventor. Rare and fine, Autograph Letter Signed, “James Watt”. One full page, quarto. Heathfield, February 19, 1818. Very fine condition. To F. L. Chantrey, Esq.
E.E. CUMMINGS — “ONE OF THE VERY FEW / ’YOUNGER AMERICAN WRITERS’ WHO / DESERVES TO BE CALLED A POET…”
CUMMINGS, E(DWARD) E(STLIN). (1894-1962). American poet. Uncommon Typed Letter Signed, “E.E. Cummings”, in red crayon, written in the style of his poetry. One page, quarto. “4 Patchin Place, New York City, 11”, May 16, 1955. Very fine condition. To “Dear Miss Nicolson”.
JOHN STEINBECK ~~ INSCRIBED ADVANCED PROOF COPY OF: THE SHORT REIGN OF PIPPIN IV
STEINBECK, JOHN. (1902-1968). American writer and Nobel laureate, who described in his work the struggle of people who depend on the land for their livelihood; his most powerful novels, include: Of Mice and Men (1937); The Grapes of Wrath (1939); and Cannery Row (1945). Unrevised proofs for Steinbeck’s The Short Reign of Pippin IV. n.p. (NY), n.p. (Viking Press), n.d. (before March of 1957), first edition thus, spiral-bound blue paper wrappers.
PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND’S SUMMER WHITE HOUSE ~~ THE LAND DEED AND PURCHASE CONTRACT FOR: ”GRAY GABLES”
CLEVELAND, GROVER. (1837-1908). Twenty-second and twenty-fourth President of the United States (1885-9, 1893-7). Manuscript Document Signed, “Grover Cleveland.” 4 full pages. Legal folio. August 1, 1890. The purchase contract for his summer White House on Cape Cod.
D.H. LAWRENCE WRITES TO CURTIS BROWN ~~ ”NEXT WEEK I’LL SEND THE MS [MANUSCRIPT] OF THE PLUMED SERPENT (QUETZALCOATL), MY MEXICAN NOVEL, TO THE NEW YORK OFFICE, ASKING THEM TO MAKE THE CORRECTIONS ON THE DUPLICATE AND FORWARD A COPY TO YOU AT ONCE. I CONSIDER THIS MY MOST IMPORTANT NOVEL, SO FAR.”
LAWRENCE, D.H. (1885-1930). English novelist and poet; his novels: Sons and Lovers (1913), The Rainbow (1915), and Women in Love (1920) made him one of the most influential English writers of the 20th century. Good and enlightening Autograph Letter Signed, “D.H. Lawrence”. Two full pages, quarto. “Del Monte Ranch, Questa, New Mexico”, June 23, 1923. Very fine condition. To “Dear Curtis Brown”. [Albert Curtis Brown, the founder of the Literary agency which bears his name].
PRESIDENT ULYSSES S. GRANT STATES THAT: “IN VIEW OF HIS YOUTH… [AND] OTHER GOOD AND SUFFICIENT REASONS…I DO HEREBY GRANT [HIM] A FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL PARDON”
GRANT, ULYSSES S. (1822-1885). Eighteenth President of the United States. Uncommon Document Signed, “U.S. Grant”, as President, pardoning John Connors. Countersigned by Secretary of State Hamilton Fish. 1 ½ pages, large folio, with integral blank and large impressed U.S. Seal of State paper seal completely intact and in superb condition affixed to the left of Grant’s bold signature. Washington, D.C. September 15, 1875.
MARY CASSATT, THE IMPRESSIONIST ARTIST, DISCUSSES THE GREAT ART COLLECTOR HAVEMEYER ~~ A PROPOSED PROJECT TO CATALOGUE THE GREAT COLLECTIONS; HER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER PARIS ART DEALER DURAND-RUEL, AND THE REASONS SHE CAN’T SELL HER CORRESPONDENT A PAINTING
CASSATT, MARY. (1844 –1926). American painter and printmaker who exhibited with the Impressionists; lived much of her adult life in France where she befriended Edgar Degas; Cassatt often created images with a particular emphasis on the intimate bonds between mothers and children. Good Autograph Letter Signed, Mary Cassatt, on her imprinted black-bordered mourning Mes Nil Beaufresne / Mensil-Theribus (Oise) stationery. Four very full pages, large octavo. “Dimanche”, no date, but June, 1912.