Striking original drawing in red and white pencil, 13 x 15.5 inches on paper mounted to artist's board, of the great poet Seamus Heaney, signed by the artist lower right "Mervyn Cordner" and signed in black ink "Seamus Heaney / for Mervyn Cordner." Together with two communications from Heaney regarding the portrait: ANS ("Seamus Heaney") on the verso of a postcard photograph of T.S. Eliot as a young boy, postmarked 13 Nov, 1990, "Dear Mr. Cordner, Send the drawing to me at 191 Strand Road, Dublin 4 and I'll sign it."; TLS ("Seamus Heaney"), 1 p, 19 November, 1990, complimenting the quality of the "fine piece of work," but adding "You will not, I hope, think me unnecessarily officious if I make one request. I would appreciate a short formal note from you saying that the signed drawing is for your own personal collection and will not be reproduced in any way." All in fine condition.
Autograph letter from the Dutch painter known as a leading member of the Hague School of landscape painters, concerning the sale of a painting. The Hague, July 14, 1892. Israëls writes: "My dear Mr. Levy, I was very astonished and pleased to hear from Mr. Fred. Pawle that I have to send to you the picture that I have now finished called Before the Church. I did my best to give you a piece of work that I like myself and finished it to my best views. I hope you will be satisfied with it and tell me the good receipt. I shall be glad to hear how your brothers are and when I come in London perhaps next year where I can find them. With kind regards, yours faithfully, Jozef Israels. P. S. I believe I settled the prize [price] with Mr. Pawle upon 70 G. St.[?]" 2 pp. Heavy folding creases with several splits; two recent tape repairs to the recto and two older tape repairs to the verso. Overall in good condition. 5 x 8 inches (13 x 20 cm).
Typed letter signed from Random House chairman Bennett Cerf, regarding a change of schedule for royalty payments to the American poet Robinson Jeffers, and additionally signed by Jeffers at the foot, accepting the change. June 19, 1944. 1 p. Folding creases and light toning; overall fine. 8.25 x 10.5 inches (21 x 26.7 cm).
An original 2010 Valentine's Day card from the beloved American author of To Kill a Mockingbird to her longtime friend Bruce Higgison. Showing a furry puppy on the front, the card opens to read "Not even a cold, wet nose, and a furry coat can hide a heart that's true. Happy Valentine's Day" and is signed by Lee: "Much love, Nelle." Together with the original mailing envelope, addressed in Lee’s own hand and postmarked February 13, 2010. In fine condition, with a couple of small creases to the front of the card. 8 x 11 inches open. Read More...
Original portrait engraving of the Venetian patron of the arts Cipriano Moresini, by engraver Enea Vico ca. 1550–1564. Bust portrait facing left, set within an elaborate cartouche surrounded by trophies and figures. Lettered around cartouche 'M. Cipriano Moresini gentil huomo Venetiano', lower left 'Enea Vico da Parma inv f' at right 'Medaglia del Doni'. Stamped at the lower right by collector Georg Denzel. 11.5 x 15.5 cm. Read More...
Typed letter signed from Random House chairman Bennett Cerf, regarding a change of schedule for royalty payments to the important American playwright Eugene O'Neill, and additionally signed by O'Neill at the foot, accepting the change. June 21, 1944. 1 p. Together with a typed letter signed from Richard J. Madden of the Richard J. Madden Play Company, sending the signed agreement back to Cerf. Folding creases and light toning; overall fine. 8.5 x 11 inches (21 x 26.7 cm).
227.
[Literature & Art]
Saroyan, William. (1908–1981). "What does Bill Faulkner do when he feels so low he would like to turn Nazi and burn all the books ever written"- Autograph Postcard
Amusing autograph note on a postcard from the Armenian-American writer, recipient of a Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and an Academy Award in 1943. Addressed to Harrison Smith and postmarked April 22, 1934, the note is dated April 21, 1908 (apparently as a historical reference). Text, in full: "What the hell: Easter greetings, said Willy the Kaiser to Nicky the Czar: best wishes for a pleasant 1908. Those boys. Maybe I've got the gag wrong. Anyway, it is a good line. What does Bill Faulkner do when he feels so low he would like to turn Nazi and burn all the books ever written? That's the way I feel now. Saturday night is a hell of a night in America. I'm staying out of it this night. [good wishes though.] William Saroyan." Slightly irregular toning; overall fine. 3.25 x 5.5 inches (8.3 x 14 cm). Read More...
Typed letter signed from Random House chairman Bennett Cerf, regarding a change of schedule for royalty payments to the important Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, and additionally signed by Shaw at the foot, accepting the change. August 14, 1944. Shaw has signed and dated September 7, 1944. 1 p. Folding creases and light toning; overall fine. 8.25 x 10.5 inches (21 x 26.7 cm).
Sepia publisher's galley proof print on a large white sheet of semigloss white photograph paper, signed in black ink. Lightly curved with library stamp to the verso; overall fine. Steig has signed at the lower right. 11 x 14 inches (28 x 35.5 cm), framed. Read More...
Two amusing caricature sketches of the brother and sister writers Edith and Osbert Sitwell, attributed to or in the style of cartoonist and writer James Thurber, accomplished at the first complete American performance of Edith Sitwell and William Walton's entertainment Façade. Edith Sitwell is shown at a podium, draped in an ornate cape and she reads her poetry; Osbert Sitwell, who introduced the performance, is drawn reading from a paper through his large spectacles. "Facade" penned at the upper left corner and dated at the foot: January 1949, Museum of Modern Art. On letterhead of the Plaza Hotel. Together with an original flyer for the performance. Areas of heavy toning to the edges; otherwise very good. Drawings 11.5 x 7.5 inches (29.2 x 19.1 cm); flyer 8.75 x 12 inches (22.3 x 30.7 cm). Read More...
Original engraving by Pieter de Jode the Younger of the Dutch organist Hendrik Liberti, after the well-known portrait by Anthony van Dyck. Ca. 1645. Liberti is shown holding a piece of music titled "Canon a 4," with the text "Ars longa vita brevis." Light toning and foxing, the full sheet integrated to a contemporary page with hand-drawn black border lines, this sheet in turn tipped along the upper edge to rigid backing (easily removed). 20 x 27 cm. Read More...
Autograph letter from the important American author and intellectual to writer Kenneth Silverman, thanking him for sending a copy of his biography of Cotton Mather. 2 pp., n.d., with original envelope postmarked September 9, 1985. Vidal writes: "Dear Mr. Silverman, I cannot thank you enough for your Cotton Mather, a book known to me but unread — Now I begin — I've always thought the deepest of our roots — & by no means all malign — is that Puritan one which shapes us still— Best wishes, Gore Vidal." Folding creases; overall fine. 6 x 8 inches (14.9 x 20.7 cm). Read More...
Three signed books, listed below, from the important American Modernist painter, known for his abstract cityscapes and for his huge number of drawings of Isadora Duncan. Together with three exhibition flyers from 1966, 1970 and 1971, and a 1966 newspaper clipping. Read More...
An original design for a desk/phone table from the world-renowned Danish furniture designer, from the 800-office series. Drawn in pencil, signed at the lower right, and labeled no. 10, scale 1:20. One small stain to the upper right. 8.75 x 12.25 inches (21 x 30 cm.) From the workshop of cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen. Read More...
An original design for a counter from the world-renowned Danish furniture designer, from the 800-office series. Drawn in pencil, signed at the lower right, and labeled no. 11, scale 1:20. Some small edge tears and chips; overall fine. 8.75 x 12.25 inches (21 x 30 cm.) From the workshop of cabinetmaker Johannes Hansen. Read More...
236.
[Literature & Art]
Whistler, James McNeill. (1834–1903). "All troublesome people shall be hanged or locked up or browbeaten and destroyed as they should be"- Autograph Letter to William Heinemann
Autograph letter with his distinctive butterfly signature from the important American artist to publisher William Heinemann. With original envelope postmarked Paris, November 3, 1892. Reporting that he was relieved to hear from Heinemann after his sudden departure, Whistler goes on: "it's all right it appears after all [...] and all troublesome people shall be hanged or locked up or browbeaten and destroyed as they should be..." He promises to ask his friend, writer Stéphane Mallarmé "if there is not some book published with details about the Bruant" and also mentions that he will send Heinemann "both the etching and the proof of the little lithograph of Mallarmé—it is charming." (Full text below.) 4 pp. on a small bifolium. Overall light toning; fold largely split, with another unfortunate large tear to the first page; overall good. 5.5 x 4.75 inches (13.7 x 12 cm). Read More...
237.
[Literature & Art]
Wilde, Oscar. (1854–1900) . Original Photograph and Autograph Signature from his visit to New York
Full ink signature, “Oscar Wilde” on an off-white album page, 12.5 x 5.5 cm, mounted to a larger sheet measuring 13 x 19.75 cm together with an original albumen Sarony photograph (10.5 x 13.5 cm). The autograph sheet inscribed in a contemporary hand along the lower edge "Grand Hotel New York June 1st 1882". The photograph in fine condition, the signature page with large areas of foxing spots, else fine. An albumen photograph (partially torn) of soprano Carlotta Patti is affixed to the verso. Read More...
Typed letter signed from Random House chairman Bennett Cerf to New York Times theatre critic Lewis Funke, regarding a conflict between Random House and Jacqueline Kennedy. May 19, 1966. 1p. Cerf writes: "Dear Lewis: I am sorry to say that I have drawn a complete blank with Mrs. Kennedy. She is still very miffed with Random House because we are Jim Bishop's publisher, and there doesn't seem to be any way for me to convince her that if we didn't do Bishop, 50 other publishers would be delighted to grab him ... Maybe she will look more kindly on your proposal if you take it to another publisher..." Folding creases, paperclip mark and struck-through note on the verso; overall fine. 8.5 x 11 inches (21.7 x 28 cm). Read More...
An interesting collection of items relating to the Israeli stateswoman Golda Meir and the actress Anne Bancroft, who portrayed her in the 1977 play Golda. Highlights include a touching autograph letter from Bancroft to Meir, written one week after her 1977 visit to Israel, when she met Meir in preparation to play the role; an original Playbill signed by Bancroft and a souvenir program signed by Meir; and an original address book containing contact information for people involved in the production of Golda, including Bancroft, her husband Mel Brooks, theater personnel and doctors and therapists. Also included are four autograph notes from Bancroft and her family to the collector, Mary Jane Vineburgh (who appears to have worked as a wardrobe dresser on Golda), a group of 8 x 10 photographs of Meir, Bancroft, and others, and several other pieces of related correspondence. Read More...