literature

MOURNING CARD ISSUED ON THE DEATH OF CHARLES DICKENS ~  1870

DICKENS, CHARLES. (1812-1870).  Beloved English novelist.  A wonderful black bordered mourning keepsake issued on the death of Dickens in 1870. 

SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE  — THE CREATOR OF “SHERLOCK HOLMES”  —  DECLINES TO PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION

DOYLE, SIR ARTHUR CONAN.  (1859-1930).  British physician, novelist and detective-story writer.  Autograph Letter Signed, “A. Conan Doyle”.  One page, octavo.  “2 Clarence Parade, Southsea”, September 8, no year.  Very fine condition.

AN ATTRACTIVE CDV OF HARRIET MARTINEAU

MARTINEAU, HARRIET.  (1802-1876).  English essayist, novelist, journalist, and economic and historical writer who was prominent among English intellectuals of the 19^th Century; one of the first female writers to support herself by her own talent; considered the first female sociologist; observed a link between slavery and the oppression of women’s rights; considered one of the first feminists.  A CDV of Martineau depicted in old age, seated in a chair. 

SIR JOHN MARTIN-HARVEY DEPICTED IN HIS MOST FAMOUS ROLE

MARTIN-HARVEY, SIR JOHN.  (1863-1944).  English stage actor and manager;  his most famous play, and role, was first produced at the Lyceum on 16 February 1899 — The Only Way, an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities in which Martin-Harvey played the lead role of ‘Sydney Carton’.  We offer a superb, Signed Cabinet Photograph depicting him in character as ‘Sydney Carton’, circa 1902.   Boldly signed, above his image, on the photographic surface “J Martin Harvey”.  

T.E. LAWRENCE a.k.a ‘LAWRENCE OF ARABIA’  ~~  IN A REMARKABLE LETTER REVEALS: ”I DO NOT WRITE. YEARS AND YEARS AGO, IN 1922 TO BE EXACT, I TRIED FOR THE THIRD TIME TO WRITE A BOOK, FAILED AGAIN, AND DECIDED TO PACK UP WRITING FOR GOOD. ONE HAS TO BE BORN TO IT, I FANCY. OLD G.B.S. AND THE REST TURN IT OUT LIKE SAUSAGES. I SWEAT AND SWEAT… ”

LAWRENCE, T(HOMAS) E(DWARD) [Lawrence of Arabia].  (1888-1935). British adventurer, soldier and author.  Wonderful Typed Letter Signed, “Yours sincerely, T.E. Shaw”.  One full page, quarto.  “R.A.F. Mount Batten, Plymouth”, October 30, 1931.  Very fine condition.  To Flight Lieutenant John G. Hawtrey.  Accompanied by two letters from Hawtrey to British poet Sigfried Sassoon describing the circumstance surrounding the creation of these letters. 

THE HOLY GRAIL FOR ALL CHARLES DICKENS COLLECTORS!  ~~  A SIGNED AUTOGRAPH QUOTATION FROM “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”.

“AND SO, AS TINY TIM OBSERVED, GOD BLESS US EVERY ONE!”   

WITH A LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL FROM WILKIE COLLINS

Simply superb Autograph Quotation Signed, “Charles Dickens”, being the most famous quotation from his timeless Christmas classic:  A Christmas Carol,  penned on his  imprinted Gad’s Hill Place, Higham by Rochester, Kent stationery, with a bold paraph under his name.  One page, small square octavo.  [approx. 4 1/5 x 5 inches]. “Saturday, 13^th February 1869”. 

J.M. BARRIE, THE AUTHOR OF “PETER PAN” WRITES TO “LAWRENCE OF ARABIA”

HOPING TO GET ON THE SUBSCRIPTION LIST FOR T.E. LAWRENCE’S MONUMENTAL  SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM AND NOTING THAT THE THOMAS HARDYS’ ARE STAYING WITH HIM DURING THE STAGING OF HARDY’S TESS OF THE D’URBERVILLES, WHILE IN THE MEAN TIME, THE GEORGE BERNARD SHAWS’ RESIDE JUST ACROSS THE STREET, AND MAY COME FOR A VISIT!

BARRIE, SIR JAMES MATTHEW.  (1860-1937). Scottish novelist and dramatist. Outstanding Autograph Letter Signed, “Yours sincerely J.M. Barrie,” on imprinted Adelphi Terrace House, Strand, W.C. 2 letterhead. Two pages, octavo. January 3, 1926. To “My dear [T.E.] Lawrence.”