LITERATURE

BERTRAND RUSSELL TO HIS TYPIST: ”…YOU WERE GOOD AT DECIPHERING BAD HANDWRITING. IT OCCURS TO ME THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE ENCLOSED MANNUSCRIPT”.

RUSSELL, BERTRAND [EARL]. (1872-1970). British philosopher, mathematician and Nobel laureate. Typed Letter Signed, ”Bertrand Russell”, on imprinted Telegraph House stationery. One full page, octavo. ”Harting, Petersfield”, March 12, 1937.

DICKENS – OLIVER TWIST

WRITING ABOUT THE PUBLICATION OF OLIVER TWIST IN BENTLEY’S MISCELLANY, FROM HIS EARLY 48 DOUGHY STREET LONDON RESIDENCE, WHERE THE MANUSCRIPT WAS WRITTEN

DICKENS, CHARLES. (1812-1870). English novelist.  Superb early, Autograph Letter Signed, “Charles Dickens”. One full page, quarto. ‘48 Doughty Street, London, January 19, 1838’.  To Thomas Lydely.  

ORNATE CHECK SIGNED BY PETER PAN CREATOR,  J.M. BARRIE  — MADE PAYABLE TO HIS DOCTOR

BARRIE, SIR J[AMES] M[ATTHEW].  (1860-1937).  Scottish dramatist and novelist[ Creator of Peter Pan.  Partly-Printed Check Signed, “J.M. Barrie”, drawn on Barclay & Company Limited Bank.  London, July 11, 1908.

JAMES BOSWELL  ~~  AN EXCESSIVELY RARE LETTER FROM THE SCOTTISH BIOGRAPHER OF DOCTOR JOHNSON

BOSWELL, JAMES.  (1740-1795).  Scottish lawyer and biographer of Samuel Johnson.  Excessively Rare Autograph Letter Signed, “James Boswell”.  Four very full pages, small quarto.  London, March 14, 1792.  Very fine condition.  To “Andrew”, the overseer of Boswell’s estate. 

MARK TWAIN GIVES ADVICE ON JUDICIAL SELECTION:   “…HAVE A LAWYER WHOSE FACE AND MANNER ARE NOT A FATAL INFLUENCE WITH JUDGE AND JURY.”

CLEMENS, SAMUEL L. [MARK TWAIN].  (1835-1910.)  American humorist, lecturer and writer.  Humorous Autograph Letter Signed, “S.L.C.”  One full page, octavo.  No date, no place.  One spot of toning,  else very fine condition.  To “Dear Mr. Hall”.

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.