SAMUEL L. CLEMENS (MARK TWAIN) The author writes a humorous response to an autograph seeker. ALS: "Saml L. Clemens/Mark Twain," 1p, 5 x 8. Buffalo, 1871 February 17. To Miss Fannie Dennis, Brooklyn. In full: "To write an autograph is no trouble at all, when a body is used to it, but I never have tried to add a 'sentiment' in my life, & so I assure you it comes awkward enough. Therefore, let us judge just dodge the difficulty entirely & make use of somebody else's sentiment. Now I always admired that neat & snappy thing which good old John Bunyan said to the Duke of Wellington: 'Give me liberty, or give me death!' Isn't it pretty?" Fine condition. Accompanied by TLS: "Robert H. Hirst," General Editor, Mark Twain Project, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, regarding this letter. In part: "I cannot identify Fannie Dennis except to say that she was obviously an autograph collector and possibly a young one.
MARGARET MITCHELL A long personal letter to friend and fellow author Edwin Granberry, mentioning several literary friends and the exigencies of life in wartime Typed Letter signed: "Margaret", 3 pages, 7¼x10. Atlanta, Georgia, 1942 September 21. On personal letterhead to "Dear Mabel and Edwin" [Granberry], in part: "I have been laying off to write to you for the longest and foolishly postponed doing so until I could write a long letter. That time may never come, and so I am grabbing this opportunity while the house painters are out at lunch. … I've just come back from a quick trip to New York where John had to be on business. The only people I saw were the Clifford Dowdeys, who asked to be remembered to you. Clifford has been having fits trying to get into the army, with no luck so far because his eyes are bad. He has almost finished a new novel , which is about Memphis or Natchez in the 1830's. He told me news of Kenneth Littauer which I am passing on to you. He has been in the air corps for nearly a year, with the rank of major. His address is Headquarters 21st Bomb Group, MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida.
LORD BYRON Rare, signed autograph letter from 1814, to lifelong friend and fellow poet Francis Hodgson, discussing Byron's impending visit. Rare ALS: "Byron", 1 page, 7x9. No place, 1814 July 18.To Mr. Hodgson.In full: "Tomorrow (Tuesday) or Wednesday at farthest expect in all -- Capt. Byron (whom you know or will know) accompanies us. If there is not convenient room - we can dispose of him at the Hostel. Excuse haste -- in the hope of seeing you&c&c." Handwritten postscript: "P.S. Many thanks for today's epistle. I shall be happy to see you so." LORD GEORGE GORDON BYRON, 6th Baron Byron of Rothdale, wrote this letter to Reverend FRANCIS HODGSON (1781-1852), a poet and scholar whom he had met when he began studying at Trinity College in Cambridge in October 1805.By the time this letter was written, Byron had been lionized in Whig society after the 1812 publication of the first two of his four cantos of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (1812-1818). The opening lines of the canto had first been written to Hodgson on board a ship bound for Lisbon.
JOHN STEINBECK This contract, signed by the American author, authorized a German production of Of Mice and Men Typewritten contract signed: "John Steinbeck", 2p, 7½x12½ New York, New York, 1946 June 3.John Steinbeck signed this contract, dated June 3, 1946, allowing German-speaking actors to perform Of Mice and Men, his 1937 novelette featuring the tragic characters of Lennie and George, two migrant laborers. The work had been chosen by the Book-of-the-Month Club and quickly became a best seller, sparking both Broadway's and Hollywood's interest in adapting it into a play. While writing Of Mice and Men in 1936, Steinbeck was growing increasingly interested in the theater, believing it to be the best medium to reach the common working man. In fact, Steinbeck actually wrote the book with the intention of making it a novel/play - a novel which could be performed as it was without needing to be revised for the stage. However,this experiment failed, and Steinbeck was forced to adapt it - his first attempt at writing a screen play. He was advised and encouraged by dramatist George S.
MARGARET MITCHELL Pleased that friend and fellow author Edwin Granberry is writing again, the author shares with him her relief that the frenzy over the movie version of her book has abated with the outbreak of war: "The world has far more important things to think about these days than me." Several other literary notables are mentioned in this letter. Typed Letter signed: "Margaret", 3 pages, 7¼x10½. Atlanta, Georgia, 1940 September 23. To "My dear Mabel and Edwin [Granberry], you varmint". In part: "Here I've gone around feeling blue ever since I had the last news of you (Edwin) that you had given up any notion of writing any more. I had thought about what a waste of talent it was and had heroically restrined myself from writing and telling you so. Then, a month ago, vague rumors began trickling into my ears at parties that you were writing again. Don't ask me who told me because I don't know. I go places and meet two hundred strangers in thirteen and a half minutes, and some of them say, 'Oh, do you know Edwin Granberry who is doing some writing?' and before I could catch them they would disappear and twelve more strange faces would stand before me.
JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.Scarce Cabinet Card Photograph signed: "Faithfully yours:/Joel Chandler Harris". Sepia, 4¼x6½ overall, image 4x5¾ (two surfaces). Photographer's imprint beneath image and on verso: "C.W. Motes/Photographer,/No. 34 Whitehall St./Atlanta/GA." In the 1880s, Harris, a former journalist for Georgia newspapers, became one of the first American writers to use original dialects in his stories rooted in Black folklore. His lead character was Uncle Remus, a servant who entertains the young son of his master with tales of Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox and Brer Bear, animals with distinctly human qualities. His books, which are credited with preserving the African-American heritage of the old South, include Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings (1880), Nights with Uncle Remus (1883) and Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit (1906). Fragile condition. The photo had split, touching the "d" in Chandler. It is repaired by conservator's tape on verso. Stained on verso. Upper corners chipped, edges worn. Pencil notes on verso (unknown hand). 
SAMUEL L. CLEMENS (MARK TWAIN) Visiting Sweden in search of a cure for his daughter's epilepsy, Clemens asks a bookseller to send him some "the very best of Clark Russell's sea-tales". Autograph Letter Signed: "SL C.", 1p, 5½x8½. Sanna, Rosendala, Sweden, 1899 July 16. "Telegraphic address: Sanna Jonkoping, Sweden". To bookseller "C&W". In full: "Please send me a couple of the very best of Clark Russell's sea-tales that you've got in stock. If any of my photos are only about as big as this page, we shall be glad to have them here - but bigger ones we prefer to leave with you for the present. If you haven't heard from Clara when this reaches you, please drop her a line. Jonkoping is pronounced Zhenshepping - think of that!" Samuel, his wife Olivia and their daughter Jean had arrived in Sweden early in July 1899, and remained until October. JEAN CLEMENS (1880-1910), then 19 years old, suffered from epilepsy. Clemens had heard of an osteopathic treatment as practiced by Heinrick Kellgren in Sanna. Kellgren's method was known as the "Swedish movements".
RALPH WALDO EMERSON Autograph Letter signed: "R. W. Emerson". In black ink. 3p, conjoined leaves, 9¾ x 7. Concord, September 12. To “Hon L. Stanley”. In full: “Dear Mr. Stanley, / I was in Boston on Saturday, but could not find you at your Hotel. I wished to beg you to fix a a day when you will visit our village. Will you come & dine with me on Thursday of this week? Take the Fitchburg train at 11 o'c A.M. : you will arrive at noon, &, if it's a fair day, we can show you our meadows before dinner. I have much to hear from you of Oxford & of London. If Thursday does not suite you, will Friday? Or Saturday? With great regards, yours,” In September 1864, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote this note to the Honorable Edward Lyulph Stanley, who was visiting the United States during the Civil War. As friend and correspondent of Emerson, Thomas Carlyle had written the author in March of that year expressing that his letter would be delivered by the young Stanley, the son of Lord Edward John Stanley, postmaster general of England and relative of form Prime Minister Edward George Stanley.
STEPHEN CRANE The author of The Red Badge of Courage writes from England, where he had settled two years earlier. Calling Card Signed: "Yours faithfully/ Stephen Crane/ March 16, 1899", on verso of his personal 3x1½ card, printed: "Stephen Crane./ Brede Place./ Sussex” (not visible in frame). Also includes a black and white 3x4½ photograph of the author, 2x3½ visible. America's foremost "naturalistic" author Stephen Crane (1871-1900) moved to England in 1897. Although Crane never served in the military, he won international acclaim with The Red Badge of Courage, his 1895 book that told the story of a young soldier during the American Civil War. He later served as a war correspondent, covering the Greco-Turkish War (1897) and Spanish-American War (1898) for foreign newspapers. Crane's signature is virtually unobtainable in any form. The one offered here is especially desirable as it was penned by him on his calling card. Crane suffered from tuberculosis and died in a German sanitarium the year he signed this card. He was 28. Card lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition. Framed in the Gallery of History style: 20½x11.
MARGARET MITCHELL Writing to friend and literary ally Edwin Granberry the year she won the Pulitzer Prize, she declares herself "yearning for battle" against "lawsuits, racketeers and chiselers". The author of Gone With the Wind laments that "there are so few novels about happy married life." Typed Letter signed: "Margaret", 2 pages (front and verso), 7¼x11. Atlanta, Georgia, 1937 August 8. On personal letterhead to ""Dear Mabel and Edwin", [Granberry], in full: "Yesterday I sent Edwin, Jr. 'Microbe Hunters' and "two Little Confederates' and if they do not arrive shortly, please let me know and I will get behind the book store. I hope he likes them both. I found that John, during my absence, had not been devoting his time to riotous living and making the most of his opportunities. He and my brother had worked every night - and all night - on this and that and both looked tired and frayed. The suit against Billy Rose isn't to open tomorrow due to a delay in drawing up the papers and the suit against the Dutch pirate is also held up due to some complication or other but the opening guns of both should begin in a week or so.
SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH, FRANCIS SCOTT KEY, KATHERINE LEE BATES, IRVING BERLIN, AND SARAH M. WILSON Amazing collection of items signed by Americans who paid tribute to Old Glory. Framed collection consisting of: 1.) Sarah M. Wilson: Annotated Flag Signed. 4/1/1914. 10x6, red, white and blue silk U.S. American flag, made by Sarah M. Wilson (great granddaughter of Betsy Ross), signed on the white border, left side "Made by Sarah M Wilson great granddaughter of Betsy Ross/East Wing of Independence Hall Philadelphia April 1st 1914" Fine condition. 2.) Francis Scott Key: Autograph Check Signed "F.S. Key". In black ink, 6 x 2½. Paper check drawn on Corcoran and Riggs Bank, Washington City, in the amount of $100 payable to himself. Fine condition. 3.) Samuel Francis Smith: Annotated Poem Signed. 1 page, 4½ x 7½, printed copy of all 4 stanzas of his most famous poem "America" signed and dated at lower center at conclusion, "1832 S.F. Smith". Ornately bordered in black. Fine condition. 4.) Irving Berlin: Currency Signed "I. Berlin" WWII-era one-peso Philippine bank note picturing Mabini. 6 x 2½.
MARGARET MITCHELL Writing to friend and fellow author Edwin Granberry, she complains of the constant invasions of her privacy following publication of Gone With the Wind; Typed Letter signed: "Margaret", 1 page, 7¼x10½. No place, no date, but undoubtedly written from her home in Atlanta in the late in the late 1930s, before the appearance of the film. On personal letterhead to Edwin and Mabel Granberry in full: "I've been intending to write to you for a long time - but you see how far my wants have gotten me. The reason was that when I went to N. Y. to see about the movie contract, my over strained eyes practically gave up the ghost. Herschel B [Brickell, a friendly literary critic], loaded me on the train in a bad way and since that time (up until a week ago) I've been lying in a dark room with a black bandage over my eyes. No, there's nothing seriously wrong and I'm writing you all to tell you so far already the rumor is out that I've gone blind. I wouldn't like for you to hear that and not know the truth. My eyes just needed a rest and so did I. Now I have new glasses and can see very well. It may be some time before I can do any reading or writing but I'm glad enough at being out of the dark.
SAMUEL L. CLEMENS (MARK TWAIN) Signed 4½x7 autograph letter from a London hotel, writing that he hopes to lecture in Britain "if other & more necessary business shall permit." ALS: "Saml. L. Clemens", 1 page, 4½x7. Langham Hotel,/Portland Place, London. W, no year, October 18. To unknown recipient. Begins: "Sir". In full: "I think it will be 2 or 3 weeks before I shall really know whether I can lecture in Great Britain or not. So I am obliged to be thus indefinite in my reply. I certainly shall lecture about 8 or 10 times in this country if other & more necessary business shall permit." From the University of California Press review of Volume 5 of Mark Twain's Letters prepared by the Mark Twain Project at the University of California, Berkeley. "After beginning work on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, he [Clemens] set it aside to collaborate, almost as a lark, on a novel with Charles Dudley Warner.
LORD BYRON His handwritten quotation from an epic Celtic poem by Ossian and his signature. Autograph quotation unsigned: "Motto to Neustein, Adieu. Why dost thou build the hall, Son of the winged days? Thou lookest from thy towers today; yet a few years, and the blast of the Desert comes, it howls in thy empty Court. - Ossian". 6¾ x3½ page. Accompanied byhis signature: "Byron", on a 2x1 slip of paper affixed to a 4½x2¾ card. GEORGE GORDON BYRON (1788-1824), the sixth Baron Byron, commonly known as Lord Byron was among the foremost English poets of the Romantic movement. Among his best-known works are the poems "She Walks in Beauty" (1814) and "So, We'll Go No More a Roving" (published 1830). Even more renowned are his narrative poems, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (1818) and Don Juan, his 17-canto masterpiece (1819-1824). Byron was a political and social reformer, a defender even of the Luddites, but was also noted for his aristocratic excesses, which included huge debts, many love affairs and self-imposed exile from Britain (1816 to his death).
MARGARET MITCHELL and BRAM STOKER A unique collection of letters by two legendary authors! This set includes a typed letter, signed by Gone With the Wind author Margaret Mitchell in 1941, to the wife of a hospitalized friend. In it, she relates how reading Dracula helped her husband John Marsh recover from an illness: "Evidently the shock was beneficial, fro he began to get well the next day." Accompanied by a 1903 handwritten letter by Stoker. Comprises: (1) MARGARET MITCHELL. Typed Letter Signed: "Margaret", 2p, 6½ x 9½. Atlanta, Georgia, 1941 February 13.To Mabel Granberry. In full: "I cannot tell you how joyful and relieved we were to have your letter of February 11th written from the hospital. I read your letter at least six times to make sure I wasn't being guilty of wishful thinking. How good it is to know that Edwin is 'likely to have good vision in both eyes.' What you and Edwin, Senior and Edwin, Junior must have suffered recently is something I do not like to contemplate. It seems to me that I have spent years in hospital rooms and draughty hospital corridors with seriously ill friends and relatives, so I can understand a little what you have undergone.
AMERICAN PULITZER PRICE-WINNING AUTHORS Some of the greatest American authors in history have signed this first day cover. First Day Cover signed: "Katherine Anne Porter", "MacKinley Kantor", "Allen Drury", "James A. Michener", "Robert Penn Warren", "Bernard Malamud", "Shirley Ann Grau", "N Scott Momaday", "William Styron" and "Herman Wouk", 6¼ x 3½. FDC honoring the 400th anniversary of the year of William Shakespeare's birth (1564), 5-cent stamp affixed, postmarked Stratford, Conn., August 14, 1964, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE. Signed by ten authors who have won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.James A. Michener won in 1948 for Tales of the South Pacific. Herman Wouk won in 1952 for The Caine Mutiny. MacKinley Kantor won in 1956 for Andersonville. Allen Drury won in 1960 for Advise and Consent. Shirley Ann Grau won in 1965 for The Keepers of the House. Katherine Anne Porter won in 1966 for Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter. Bernard Malamud won in 1967 for The Fixer.
JOHN STEINBECK. Steinbeck authorizes the French production of a war-time play. Typewritten contract signed: "John Steinbeck", 3p, 8x12½ Paris, France, 1947 February 24.John Ernest Steinbeck Jr. signed this contract, dated February 24, 1947, to permit Madame Rose Belin, the Director of the Saint George Theater, to finance productions of his play, The Moon Is Down, in France and Belgium. The contract also provided for the translation of the play into French. Steinbeck had written the play during World War II (1939-1945); it had opened on Broadway on April 8, 1942. After completing the play, Steinbeck immediately adapted it into a novelette with the same title. The Moon is Down deals with the Nazi occupation of a European country; Steinbeck wrote it as a contribution to the war effort while working with the Coordinator of Information, an agency created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) to combat Nazi propaganda with Allied films and literary works. The play was criticized in the United Authors | Biographies
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ROBERT V. BRUCE - BIOGRAPHY SIGNED 06/11/1988 - HFSID 325177ROBERT V. BRUCE The Pulitzer Prize-winning author annotates and signs an abridged biography on his life and his book The Launching of Modern American Science 1846-1876. Dated in 1988. Extremely rare! Biography signed: "Robert V. Bruce/June 11, 1988" in black ink, 5x3 card. Signed June 11, 1988.Sale Price $198.00
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PEARL S. BUCK - BIOGRAPHY SIGNED - HFSID 169598PEARL S. BUCK The Pulitzer Prize winning author signs this biographical sketch Printed Biography signed: "Pearl S. Buck", 8p, 7¾x9½. Titled: "A Biographical Sketch of Pearl S. Buck".
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BARBARA H. CARTLAND - BIOGRAPHY SIGNED - HFSID 146280BARBARA CARTLAND Barbara Cartland signs a printed biography of her life. Printed Biography signed: "B Cartland", 10p, 21x6 when open. Headed: "Barbara Cartland/Britain's most popular and romantic novelist/Author of over 150 books".
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E. L. (EDGAR LAWRENCE) DOCTOROW - BIOGRAPHY SIGNED - HFSID 322891E.L. DOCTOROW A printed biography card honoring author Thornton Wilder, signed by Doctorow in black ink Biography signed: "E.L. Doctorow", in black ink, 5x7. Signed on a card featuring a printed biography of playwright Thornton Wilder.
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ALLEN GINSBERG - BIOGRAPHY SIGNED 02/20/1978 - HFSID 32503ALLEN GINSBERG. Photocopied Typed Biography signed: "Allen Ginsberg/Feb 20, 1978/Port Washington L I" in ink on first page, 3p, 8½x11, separate sheets. Biography is updated through 1977. Final 1¼ pages are a list of his writings.
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KAREN HESSE - INSCRIBED BIOGRAPHY SIGNED - HFSID 324143KAREN HESSE The young adult historical novelist tells fan to "Look to your roots!", signs name in black ink Inscribed biography signed: "Dear Irene -/ Look to your roots!/ Karen Hesse" in black ink. 1 page, 8½x11.
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ROBERT McCLOSKEY - BIOGRAPHY SIGNED - HFSID 201571ROBERT McCLOSKEY The beloved children's author is shown with his own daughters, above a printed biographic essay emphasizing his achievements as an artist Biography signed: "Robert McCloskey", 1 page, 8½x11. McCloskey is shown with his daughters, Sally and Jane, above a printed biography released by the Junior Books division of Viking Press.
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KATHERINE MILHOUS - BIOGRAPHY SIGNED 1973 - HFSID 205123KATHERINE MILHOUS The famed Pennsylvanian artist signs brief biography in black ink Biography signed: "Katherine Milhous/1973" in black ink. 1 page, 6x9, featuring printed 1½x2 photo of the artist. In pencil in bottom margin: "Photo taken at time of The Egg Tree".
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MARY RUSSELL MITFORD - BIOGRAPHY UNSIGNED - HFSID 56612[MARY RUSSELL MITFORD] A brief biography written on the author, written in an unknown hand Biography unsigned, 10x4½. The biography is written in an unknown hand. Best known as the author of
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