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DR. DAVID LIVINGSTONE BEFORE SETTING OUT TO AFRICA ~~ REMEMBERS FONDLY “A REVEREND DR. ROBERT FERGUSON WHOSE FATHER WAS VERY KIND TO ME WHEN I WAS A STUDENT” AND OFFERS: ‘A BLESSING BE ON’ THE RELATIVE OF THAT MAN
LIVINGSTONE, DAVID. (1813-73). Scottish missionary and physician, who spent half his life exploring southern and central Africa. Autograph Letter Signed, “David Livingstone”, 2 ½ pages, octavo. ‘Clifton, September 25, 1864.
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW WRITES ABOUT HIS FUTURE BIOGRAPHER
SHAW, GEORGE BERNARD. (1856-1950). Irish-born writer. Autograph Note Signed, ”G. Bernard Shaw”, on his imprinted Ayot St. Lawrence correspondence card. One full page, small octavo [approx 4 ½ x 3 ½ inches]. ”Welwyn, Herts.”, November 12, 1907. Very fine condition.
“THERE IS NOTHING HARDER THAN TO FIND WHETHER AN ACT WHICH WOULD CAUSE ONE GREAT EMPERICAL DISTRESSES IS OR IS NOT ONES DUTY. FOR OF COURSE AN ERROR IS EQUALLY POSSIBLE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS: EITHER TO THINK IT CAN’T BE DEMANDED BECAUSE IT IS SO HARD, AS TO THINK IT MUST DEMANDED JUST BECAUSE IT IS SO HARD” – C.S. LEWIS
LEWIS, C.S. [IN FULL: CLIVE STAPLES LEWIS]. 1898-1963. Irish-born scholar, novelist, and author of about 40 books, many of them on Christian apologetics; best known for his: The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of seven children’s books that have become classics of fantasy literature; friend and associate of J.R.R. Tolkien. Superb, scarce, lengthy, and apparently unpublished Autograph Letter Signed, “C.S. Lewis”, on imprinted Magdalen College / Oxford stationery. Two very full pages, octavo. “Magdalen College, Oxford” November 20, 1953.
LEONARD TSUGUHARU FOUJITA — LETTER ILLUSTRATED WITH AN INK SKETCH OF A STORK
FOUJITA, LEONARD TSUGUHARU. (1886-1968) Japanese–French painter and printmaker, who applied Japanese ink techniques to Western style paintings; has been called “the most important Japanese artist working in the West during the 20th century”; he achieved great fame as a painter of beautiful women and cats. Scarce Autograph Letter Signed, “Leonard Foujita”, in French, on the back of a picture postcard bearing an image of Foujita’s “La Vierge à L’enfant.” October 4, 1967. Incorporating a small drawing of a stork.
STUART MERRILL ON TO GUSTAVE KAHN ABOUT KAHN’S WIFE AND: “HER CONVERSION TO JUDAISM…[A REPLY] TO THE IGNOMINIES AND HYPOCRISIES OF MODERN CHRISTIANITY”
MERRILL, STUART. (1863-1915). American poet; known for Petits Poemes d’Automne, Les Fastes, and other works. Uncommon Autograph Letter Signed, “Stuart Merrill”, in French. Three pages, octavo. “53 Quai de Bourbon”, [Paris],
GLADSTONE COMMENTS ON THE WINE DUTY
GLADSTONE, WILLIAM E. (1809-1898) British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister (1868-74, 1880-85, 1886 and 1892-94). Autograph Letter Signed “W Gladstone”, as Chancellor of the Exchequer. 2 pages, octavo. April 11, 1853.
JOSEPH BARTLETT PENS A LETTER ON HIS STUNNING BARTLETT STREET LAMP COMPANY LETTERHEAD
BARTLETT, JOSEPH WEATHERBY. (1835-1902). American inventor of both sewing machines and street lamps; received patents on sewing machines in 1865, 1868, and manufacturer of Bartlett Street Lamps [circa 1870]; his economical street lamps were used throughout New York City as well as in Troy, New York. Exceedingly scarce Autograph Letter Signed, “J.W. Bartlett,” on his fabulous illustrated Office of Bartlett’s Reflecting Boulevard, Street & Park Lamps letterhead. Two separate pages, octavo. “619 Broadway, N.Y.” “Nov[ember] 11, 1876.”