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.

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.

His signed autograph letter from 1884, framed with his picture and commemorative plaques to an overall size of 31x24 ALS: "C.L. Dodgson.", 1 page, 3¾x6. Ch[rist]. Ch[urch]., Oxford, 1884 May 18. To an unnamed recipient. In full: "My old friend, and your brother-in-law, Mr. F.H. Atkinson, tells me your mother & Sister are now in England. Can you tell me how long they are likely to remain, & what is their London address, as I might find some opportunity of calling, & renewing a pleasant acquaintance begun in Jersey last Eastertide." Oxford don and mathematician at Christ Church in Oxford, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832-1898) wrote this letter 19 years after his most famous work, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865), was published. A shy, serious-minded young man, he nonetheless had his whimsical side, which he reverted to when around children, and with whom he did not stammer. Urged to pen the imaginative stories that he told to the daughters of Oxford Dean Henry Liddell, Dodgson transposed his name, Charles Lutwidge, to Ludovic Carolus, resulting in the name Lewis Carroll.

Signed, sepia-toned photograph of the legendary author. Photograph signed: "very sincerely / Rudyard Kipling". In black ink. 4x6. Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), the first English author to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (1907), was born in India but raised in England. His novels include Wee Willie Winkie (1888), The Jungle Book (1894), Captains Courageous (1897), Kim (1901) and Just So Stories for Little Children (1902). His well-remembered poems include "Recessional", "White Man's Burden", "Gunga Din" and "If". Pin sized dots over photograph, possibly ink however not near signature. Toned. Inscription is beaded at "VE". Fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 22¾ x 14¼. Minor surface scratches of frame throughout and wearing at corners.

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.

Author Herman Melville wrote this letter to publisher George P. Putnam from Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It had accompanied a proof of one of his stories. Melville's signature is one of the rarest of all, and handwritten letters by him are highly desirable. Autograph letter signed "H Melville". 1 page, 4¾x7½, with embossing in top left corner. Pittsfield, Massachusetts, dated "Jan 27th". Addressed to George P. Putnam, Esq., 10 Park Place, New York City. In full: "Dear Sir: Re-enclosed is the proof [not included]. Very Truly Yours". We believe this letter was written between 1852 and 1855, when Putnam's publishing company G. Putnam Broadway was based at 1010 Park Place, New York City. Melville published a number of short stories through Putnam's Monthly Magazine during this time, including Bartleby the Scrivener (1853), The Encantadas, or: Enchanted Isles (1854) and Benito Cereno (1855). GEORGE PALMER PUTNAM (1814-1872, born in Brunswick, Maine) published many important American authors, like Melville, through his publishing house of G. Putnam Broadway, which later became G. P. Putnam's Sons. He was also one of the founders of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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.

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.…"

Scarce Typed DS: "Ayn Rand" on page 3, 3p, 8½x11, separate sheets. New York City, 1976 June 12 (dated by Rand). Letter of Agreement to Rand from Palo Alto Book Service. Begins: "Dear Ayn". In full: "This will serve as our Agreement for the Palo Alto Book Service for the purpose of promoting and selling the remaining inventory of The Ayn Rand Letter, The Objectivist, the bound copies of The Objectivist Newsletter, and the pamphlets published by The Objectivist Newsletter and The Objectivist. We will receive the physical inventory of the above as well as any remaining stock of your novels and non-fiction works, including Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology, all of which are held by The Objectivist Book Service, Inc. The inventory will be shipped to us, insured, via book rate, or by truck, if that method should prove less expensive. We will share the cost of shipment with the Objectivist Book Service, Inc. The physical inventory shall, at all times, remain your property. We agree to insure the inventory for its replacement value, and shall share equally with you the cost of insurance. We shall be charged with the responsibility of maintaining the inventory in sound condition.…"

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.

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". Jean benefited by the Kellgren treatment and her parents had for a time the greatest hopes of her complete recovery.

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.…"