Typed letter signed from the Archbishop of Baltimore to Perriton Maxwell, editor of Leslie's Weekly, calling the magazine "one of the oldest, most honorable and most respected of our American periodicals" and congratulating it on its 65th anniversary. Dated November 9, 1920, on letterhead of the Baltimore Cathedral. Folding creases and light toning; overall fine. 8.5 x 7 inches (21.5 x 17.8 cm).
Three autograph documents, two poems and a dialogue, from the highly influential French writer and philosopher, known as a key figure in existentialism. The texts are written on small notebook leaves, and come from the collection of Michelle Vian, one of Sartre's long-term mistresses who remained close to him throughout the later years of his life. The first poem, a nonsense rhyme, begins: "En Afghanistan / Il y avait un Khan..." The second document is a dialogue or fragment of a dialogue between two characters, Negrine and Stephane, with a note on the verso in another hand. Finally, a nonsense song penned in an unknown hand, "Je suis un con... un con... un con... / Con d'avoir composé cett' chanson / Cette chanson... / faite par un con / pour....our charmer les cons..." ("I am an idiot... an idiot... an idiot..An idiot for having composed this song / This song / composed for an idiot / to...charm idiots.") dated July 27, 1957, most probably Sartre's text penned in the hand of his lover, Michelle Vian. Each on a notebook leaf, 9 x 15 cm. Slight toning; otherwise in fine condition.