autograph
LAURENCE BINYON — A FINE, REVEALING ARCHIVE OF 6 LETTERS —
‘I AM ABOUT TO BRING OUT A TRANSLATION OF DANTE’S PURGATORIES IN TRIPLE RHYME; AND I WONDER IF A PAPER ON THIS AND ON THE PROBLEM OF TRANSLATING DANTE WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE? ‘
‘AS I CAN’T SELL MY OWN POEMS, I DON’T SUPPOSE ANY RECOMMENDATION OF MINE IS LIKELY TO SELL ANYBODY ELSE’S’
BINYON, LAURENCE. (1869-1943). British poet and art critic; best known for his poem “For the Fallen,” written at the onset of World War I; Binyon also wrote and translated verse drama and worked as an art historian. Fine group of six Autograph Letters Signed, “Laurence Binyon”, on his imprinted Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks. Telephone: Goring 100 stationery. Eight total pages, octavo. Berkshire, England, May 27, 1938 to March 30, 1939. Very fine condition.
MARK TWAIN AND HIS FELLOW HARTFORD, CONNETICUT CITIZENS SEEK TO ARRANGE A LECTURE ON MADAGASCAR!
CLEMENS, SAMUEL L. [MARK TWAIN]. (1835-1910.) American humorist, lecturer and writer. Manuscript Letter Signed, “Mark Twain”, in committee and by other prominent Connecticut residents. Two pages, quarto. Hartford, October 9, 1884.
SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN RECOMMENDS HIS GODSONS COMPANY, WHO JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE SON OF SIR GEORGE GROVE — THE FOUNDING EDITOR OF GROVE’S DICTIONARY OF MUSIC AND MUSICIANS
SULLIVAN, SIR ARTHUR S. (1842-1900). English composer. Autograph Letter Signed, “Arthur Sullivan”. Two pages, octavo. “Grove House, Weybridge”, July 19, no year.
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.
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.
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].
JULES VERNE REFERS TO THE SECOND ATTACK OF FACIAL PARALYSIS [BELL’S PALSY] WHICH AFFLICTED HIM THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, AND FOR WHICH HE SOUGHT TREATMENT BY ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
VERNE, JULES (1828-1905) French author; pioneered the science-fiction genre; best known for his novels: A Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1864), Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, (1870), and Around the World in Eighty Days (1872). Uncommon Autograph Letter Signed, “Jules Verne,” in French. One full page, octavo. “Boulevard Bonne, Nouvelle 18”. Paris, Thursday, February 15th, no year. [1855].