Autograph Quotation signed by Herman Melville, one of the rarest of all signatures, framed with a picture of Melville and an explanatory metal plaque. AQS: "Hours bright./Herman Melville/March 8, 1882.", 7¾x4¾. Herman Melville (1819-1891) worked at a young age as a cabin boy and sailor on merchant vessels. During an unsuccessful whaling expedition, he took part in a mutiny, was jailed and escaped. His seafaring inspired many of his later works, including Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life (1846), Omoo, a Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas (1847) and his masterpiece, Moby Dick (1851). Moby Dick, unlike his earlier works, was neither a critical or financial success. Melville's later writings, such as Pierre (1852), The Confidence Man (1857) and the short stories "Bartleby the Scrivener" and "The Encantadas" reflected his despair and contempt for society's corruption, hypocrisy and materialism. He wrote this quotation at a period during which he withdrew from the literary world and took work as a customs inspector on the docks of New York. Melville returned to writing and published a collection of poetry, John Marr, and Other Sailors, as well as With Some Sea-Pieces (1888) and wrote a new novel, Billy Budd, unpublished until 1924.

SIR WALTER SCOTT 1823 promissory note signed by Sir Walter Scott highlights relationship with publisher James Ballantyne. Promissory Note signed: "Walter Scott", 8x3¼. Edinburgh, 1823 May 3. The great Scottish poet and novelist agrees to repay his publisher in twelve months. In full: "Twelve months after date, pay to our order, at our Printing Office here, eight hundred and seventy five pounds sterling, for value received. James Ballantyne & Co." Sir WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832), considered to be the father of the historical novel, had first met JAMES BALLANTYNE (1772-1833) in 1783 while attending Kelso Grammar School. In 1799, Ballantyne privately printed the two pamphlets with which Scott began his writing career, An Apology for Tales of Terror and The Eve of St. John, a ballad, beginning a literary and business partnership that would last throughout Scott's lifetime. The greatest success of James Ballantyne and Co. came in 1808, when Scott's second narrative poem, Marmion, was printed by Ballantyne for publisher Archibald Constable (Scott's first narrative poem, The Lay of the Last Minstral, had been published by Constable in 1805). Scott's romantic work, Rob Roy (1818) was also published by James Ballantyne and Co.

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. I didn't believe a word I heard because I hear such remarkable stories about my own second book which is non-existent.…"

. ALS: "Yours Truly/J.M. Barrie", 2p, 5x6. Leinster Corner, Lancaster Gate, W., 1906 February 3. To Miss Bowman. In full: "This is the present London company that is going on tour with Peter Pan, so there is no vacancy, but suppose you come here and have a talk with me. Say, on Tuesday at 5:30. This is the first house past Lancaster Gate in the Baywood Rd." Scottish novelist and playwright James Barrie is most recognized today for Peter Pan, a character based on the children in Barrie's life and on Barrie himself. The story of Peter Pan began with a book called The Little White Bird, published in 1902. The character, Peter, was introduced as a baby, and he was later developed into the play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up. The play premiered in 1904, and productions and adaptations are still common, including Steven Spielberg's movie, Hook (1991). Barrie also wrote What Every Woman Knows in 1908 and Mary Rose in 1920. Sir James Barrie's work is still popular today because of the many rich elements he took from his own life and the lives of people around him. He believed in the power of emotion, but he also was possessed of an irrepressible humor.

Signed and notarized 1930 contract selling Paramount the rights to one of his stories Typed Contract signed: "Dashiell Hammett", 4 pages, 8½x11, separate sheets. No place, but County of Los Angeles, 1930 November 26. Contract between Hammett and Paramount Publix Corporation regarding the sale of the rights "to an original story entitled AFTER SCHOOL written by the seller [Hammett]." Hammett was paid "the sum of Five Thousand ($5000.00) Dollars, receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged." Countersigned by the Executive Manager of Paramount Publix Corporation. Lightly creased. Nicked at upper right blank corner of first page, file holes at blank left margins. Fine condition. Accompanied by typed notarized statement signed: "Alfred A. Grosser" as Notary Public, 1 page, 8½x11. Attesting that "personally appeared DASHIELL HAMMETT, personally known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument...." Lightly creased, chipped at upper right blank corner. File holes at blank left margin. Fine condition. After School became City Streets, released in 1931 and starring Gary Cooper.

Recently arrived in London, he signs a handwritten 1937 letter apologizing for his late reply. He's been too sick to "do anything except moon & moan about." ALS: "Dylan Thomas.", 1 page, 4½x7. 68, Parliament Hill, Hampstead, N.W. 3., 1937 December 9. On imprinted letterhead to Mr. Byron. In full: "I want to apologise for not having written to you before, explaining why I didn't come up to town the week I intended. I've only just arrived here, after nearly a month of poverty and bad health in the country, a time when I really couldn't write any letters at all or do anything except moon & moan about. Could we meet this week, or early next week? I shall be in London, I hope, until just before Christmas. Now I am here I do hope I'll be able to get some work, and that, in spite of my rudeness in not writing to you or getting in touch with you in any way, you'll be able to help me. I [word crossed out] rang you up the day of of my arrival, but could get no answer. Apologies again." Although Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) had received immediate critical acclaim when his first book of poetry, Eighteen Poems, was published in 1934, and he followed it with a 1936 work, 25 Poems, he was living in poverty in England and Wales in 1937.

She writes, signs and dates the first two lines of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" on a book plate, which is affixed to the inside cover of her book, Later Lyrics. Autograph quotation signed: "Mine eyes have seen the glory/of the coming of the Lord./Julia Ward Howe./May 9th 1898." On a bookplate 3½x5½ affixed to inside front cover, 326p, 5x7, hardcover. Her book, Later Lyrics, J.E. Tilton & Company, Boston: 1866. Howe has written the opening line of her poem, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, which she was inspired to write after visiting army camps in Washington, D.C. in 1861 during the Civil War. Howe's poem, first published in the February 1862 issue of "The Atlantic Monthly", was later set to music to the tune of the popular antislavery song, "John Brown's Body", and became the semi-official song of the Union Army. Bookplate is lightly soiled at upper blank margin. Exterior cover of book and spine slightly worn. Internally sound. Fine condition.

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.

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 by his 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). He may even be considered the first celebrity; his wife Annabella even coined the term "Byromania.…"

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. After a few months of intense labor in the winter of 1872-1873, they produced The Gilded Age, which gave a lasting name to the era it satirized.…"

The author of The Red Badge of Courage knew conflict from football, not the battlefield. Rare AQS: "Stephen Crane", 1p, 5½x2¾. In full: "I have never been in a battle, of course, and/I believe that I got my sense of the rage/of conflict on the foot ball field." America's foremost "naturalistic" author had moved to England in 1897. Although he never served in the military, Crane won international acclaim with The Red Badge of Courage, his 1895 book that powerfully 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 the Spanish-American War for foreign newspapers. Crane, who suffered from tuberculosis, died in a German sanitarium at the age of 28. Crane's signature is virtually unobtainable in any form. Fine condition. Accompanied by PSA/DNA LOA.

This framed image is signed and inscribed to a young woman named Mary Lawton Inscribed Photograph Mount Signed: "To Mary Lawton from G. Bernard Shaw", 15x11 visible, actual image 14x11 (visible) and mounted to a larger page. B/w. Dated November 1938. Includes plaque and fine decorative frame. GEORGE BERNARD SHAW (1856-1950) was born in Dublin, Ireland. During his life, he wrote dozens of plays, most famously Man and Superman (1903), Pygmalion (1913), and Saint Joan (1923). In addition to Shaw's prolific creative writings, he was also outspoken on politics, religion, and current events. One of his more unique passions was fighting for an improved alphabet. A book of his improved alphabet was published 12 years after his death to crickets. All his life, he wanted to be referred to as Bernard Shaw, but in his signature he always signed as G.B.S. or G. Bernard Shaw. In 1925, he received the Nobel Prize for literature. Thirteen years later, he became the first person to win both a Nobel Prize and an Academy Award, the latter for the 1938 film Pygmalion. Frame lightly chipped around edges. Mounting page toned. Otherwise, fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 30½x20½.