literature
VIRGINIA WOOLF POLITELY DECLINES WRITING THE ENTRY FOR WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY IN THE ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, SAYING THAT SHE KNOWS “SO LITTLE” ABOUT HIM!
WOOLF, VIRGINIA. (1882-1941). British novelist, essayist and critic. Scarce Typed Letter Signed, “Virginia Woolf”, on her light blue, imprinted 52 Tavistock Square, W.C.1. Telephone: Museum 2621 stationery. Full page, small quarto. Very fine condition. Bloomsbury, February 5, 1928. To: ‘Dear Mr. Lynd’.
THREE YEARS BEFORE PUBLISHING ALICE IN WONDERLAND, LEWIS CARROLL OFFERS EDITING ADVICE ON A POEM SUBMITTED TO HIM FOR REVIEW, AND ACCEPTS CONGRATULATIONS ON HIS NEWLY PUBLISHED WORK ENTITLED: COLLEGE RHYMES
DODGSON, CHARLES L. [LEWIS CARROLL]. (1832-1898). English logician, mathematician, photographer, and novelist, especially remembered for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass (1871). Good, early Autograph Letter Signed, “C.L. Dodgson”. Four full pages, octavo. “Ch[rist] Ch[urch] Oxford”, England, December 1, 1862.
EXCEPTIONALLY EARLY, GRAHAM GREENE LETTER ANNOUNCING THE SUCCESS OF HIS FIRST PUBLISHED NOVEL: THE MAN WITHIN ~~ ACCOMPANIED BY A LONG, DETAILED AND INSIGHTFUL LETTER FROM HIS WIFE
GREENE, GRAHAM. (1904-91). British novelist; known for: The Confidential Agent (1939), The Power and the Glory (1940), The Third Man (1949), The End of the Affair (1951), Our Man in Havana (1958), amongst many others. Enlightening and early Autograph Letter Signed, “Graham Greene”, to his uncle. One full page, octavo. “8 Heathcroft, Hampstead Way, N.W.11.” [September 30, 1929].
THE FAMOUS DEFENSE ATTORNEY, CLARENCE DARROW, TRANSFERS HIS STOCK IN AN ARIZONA MINING COMPANY
DARROW, CLARENCE S. (1857-1938) American lawyer who defended Eugene Debs, Leopold and Loeb, and John T. Scopes in the infamous “Monkey Trial”. Document Signed “C. S. Darrow” on the verso. Attractive orange bordered stock certificate for 50 shares in the Black Mountain Mining Company. One page, oblong folio, Territory of Arizona, Oct 22, 1906.
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.
EXCEEDINGLY RARE INSCRIBED COPY OF HENRIK IBSEN’S ‘LADY INGER OF OSTRAT’ — CHOICE PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY IBSEN TO POET AUGUST FRESENIUS
IBSEN, HENRIK. (1828-1906). Norwegian playwright, director, and poet; viewed as one of the founders of Modernism in theater. His book: Die Herrin von Oestrot : Historisches Schauspiel in funf Aufzuugen. Unter Mitwirkung von Emma Klingenfeld veranstaltete deutsche Originalausgabe der Fru Ingerd til Oestrot. Munich. Theodor Ackermann, 1877. Small octavo. [5 ¾ x 7 inches approximately], 171 pages. Original printed blue-green wrappers, browned around the edges/margins, and showing offset from ‘sunning’. A very good copy, that is internally fine. First edition, presentation copy inscribed by Ibsen to August Fresenius.
RAYMOND CHANDLER DISCUSSES CHANGING PUBLISHERS — “MYSTERY WRITES OF AMERICA… IS FUSSING ABOUT STORIES AGAIN”… “I DON’T LIKE THE CURTIS BROWN ORGANIZATION VERY WELL…NO ONE IN IT KNOWS ABOUT BOOKS OR WRITING, SO I AM THINKING ABOUT MAKING A CHANGE”
CHANDLER, RAYMOND. (1888-1959). Writer of crime fiction, and creator of the hardboiled detective Phillip Marlowe; best known for his: The Big Sleep (1939), The High Window (1942), and The Lady in The Lake (1943). Uncommon Typed Letter Signed, “Ray,” On his name imprinted 49 Carlton Hill, London, N.W. 8, Mai 4407 letterhead. One full page, quarto. February 21, 1956.