Literary Autographs and Memorabilia Gift Ideas

JOHN HERSEY Early handwritten draft of a page of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author's novel, The War Lover, complete with his own personal notes and revisions. Incredible handwritten signed letter included explaining his notes and how he edits his writing. Remarkable combination! (1) Autograph Letter Signed: "Sincerely yours,/John Hersey", 1p, 7¼x10. Southport, Conn., 1960 April 14. On his personal stationery to "Dear Miss Barnowsky". In full: "In answer to your interesting request, and I hope not too late, I'm sending you a page of an early draft of my last novel, The War Lover. Scraps of this page, including most of the long paragraph, appear on pages 13 and 15 of the novel. All the rest has been cut. I write the first and much of the second drafts longhand, and revise further on the first typescript. At the stage of the page I'm enclosing, most of the revision is in the form of interlinings and insertions; from that point on it's all cutting. I hope this small sample will give some hint of the work of writing." Lightly creased and soiled. Paper clip stains at upper left margin. (2) Autograph Manuscript Unsigned, 1p, lined sheet, 8½x11. read more...

JOHN STEINBECK French-language edition, Of Mice and Men, inscribed by Steinbeck in Spanish on the flyleaf, with his sketch of a bird added after his signature Book inscribed and signed: "Para Nelly Planque/con respeto [respectfully]/John Steinbeck/[his drawing of a bird]", 221 pages, 5x7½. De Souris et des Hommes (Of Mice and Men), by John Steinbeck, translated with an introduction by M. E. Coindreau. Paris, Librairie Gallimard, 1946. Hardcover. Novelist John Steinbeck (1902-1968), who was noted for his portrayals of hard-working people and social themes, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962. The works of the famed novelist, include Tortilla Flat (1935), Of Mice and Men (1937), The Grapes of Wrath (1939; Pulitzer Prize, 1940), Cannery Row (© 1937, published in 1945) and East of Eden (1952). In all, Steinbeck wrote 16 novels, 6 non-fiction works, and five collections of short stories. As this volume indicates, Steinbeck's works had worldwide appeal. The volume has had its boards professionally replaced. Pages are toned and edges are chipped. Otherwise, fine condition. read more...

HARPER LEE Collection including a charming Christmas letter from the celebrated American author and the original mailing envelope in which it was sent Comprises: (1) Autograph Letter signed: "Harper" in black ink, 2p (front and verso of a single piece of card stock), 5¼x7½. 2009 December 17. On her personal stationery with emblazoned letterhead containing her initials: NHL (Nelle Harper Lee). To "Dear Don" In full: "Santa Claus arrived today!/ The candy is gorgeous and I do thank you for it. You have been so kind to me for so long, you are the best friend I never met!/ Merry Christmas, and may the new year bring you an abundance of good things!/ With love,/ Harper". Corners and edges gently worn. Otherwise, fine condition. (2) Envelope signed: "N.H. Lee" on seal flap with "Post Office Box 278/ Monroeville, Alabama 36461" printed beneath, 8x5½. Addressed to in the author's hand on front to "Mr. Don Salter/ 1201 New St. Francis Street/ Mobile, Alabama 36604". Postmarked Montgomery, Alabama, December 21, 2009. read more...

ERLE STANLEY GARDNER Book inscribed and signed twice: "To/Normie and Helen/with best/wishes and/my thanks for/your loyal friend-/ship./Yours Erle/Erle Stanley Gardner/October 30 1968", 205 p, 6½x9½, hardcover, Mexico's Magic Square, William Morrow & Company, Inc., New York, 1967. Signed on first title page. Best known for creating Perry Mason, the lawyer-detective, who appears in more than 80 of his novels, Gardner (1889-1970) also wrote a series of novels featuring District Attorney Doug Selby and 29 books featuring detective Bertha Cool and legalist Donald Lam (under the pseudonym A. A. Fair). The prolific author, whose books have sold hundreds of millions of copies, also wrote Western novels, science fiction, travel books (like this one), short stories and articles. Gardner was also creator of the Perry Mason TV series (1957-1966), appearing in one episode as a judge. Clear plastic wrap protects dust jacket. Fine condition. read more...

ERSKINE CALDWELL The author fills out and signs this check for $4.30 to Alma Butler Check filled in and signed: "Erskine Caldwell", 6¼x2¾. Augusta, Maine, 1937 January 18. Check No. 20, drawn on the First National Granite Bank, payable to Alma P. Butler for $4.30. Endorsed on verso: "Alma P. Butler". In 1941, Erskine Caldwell (1903-1987) traveled to Russia through China with his then-wife, photographer Margaret Bourke-White, and the couple was present on July 22, 1941, when the first German bombs exploded over Moscow. In 1942, Caldwell, who had sent dispatches to CBS Radio as a war correspondent, published "Moscow Under Fire", an essay, and All Night Long, A Novel of Guerilla Warfare in Russia based on his experiences there. The writer of 25 novels, 150 short stories and 12 non-fiction books, Erskine Caldwell (1903-1987) is best known for his depictions of poverty stricken blacks and whites in the South. His 1932 novel Tobacco Road (1932) became a long-running Broadway play and God's Little Acre (1933) sold over 14 million copies; both were made into feature films. read more...

EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS Edgar Rice Burroughs signs a check for $45.00 Check signed: "E.R. Burroughs", 7¾x3. October 31, 1935. Check No. 156 drawn from the account of Edgar Rice Burroughs at Citizens National Trust & Savings Bank of Los Angeles. Payable for $45.00 to Collette Stenger. Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) is best known as the creator of "Tarzan of the Apes", whom he introduced to readers in his 1914 novel of the same name. Over the years, his "Ape Man" appeared in 20 novels (printed in 50 languages with sales of 20 million copies) and was featured in motion pictures, radio serials, television shows and a comic strip. Burroughs also wrote science fiction (his first sale was a serialized version of a Martian tale) and crime novels. Science fiction fans probably know him best for the Barsoom or John Carter of Mars series of novels. Vertical fold through the "o" in Burroughs. Ink note (unknown hand) at upper left corner. Bank stamp on verso lightly shows through to signature. Bank stamp and cancellation holes touch some writing. Otherwise, fine condition. read more...

ERNEST HEMINGWAY Ernest Hemingway sends an unsigned typed letter but adds one line in his own hand. Annotated Typed Letter unsigned, but with one line in Hemingway's hand, 1p, 8x8. St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota, 1961 January 18. To Mr. & Mrs. Milton Wolff, Linden Point, Stoney Creek, Connecticut. Begins: "Dear Milt and Ann". In full: "Thanks for the note. Have the blood pressure thing about licked now and will be out of here shortly. It got really too high this time and they are controlling it by keeping my weight down. But 175 is a rough weight for me to make x Salud and take it easy." Highlighted line in Hemingway's hand. American novelist and journalist ERNEST HEMINGWAY (1899-1961) wrote this note just four days before being released from St. Mary's Hospital at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota - and less than six months before he ended his own life. Hemingway had entered the hospital incognito on November 30, 1960, suffering from severe depression and anxiety that had forced his blood pressure up to 250/125. read more...

ROBERT FROST. Program signed: "Robert Frost" on front cover, 8p, 6½x10. New York, 1949 November 16. Titled: "Program & Menu for/A Vermont Breakfast Party/COMMEMORATING/THE FIFTH AWARD OF/THE LIMITED EDITIONS CLUB'S/GOLD MEDAL/The WALDORF-ASTORIA/NOVEMBER 16TH 1949". Frost had started to inscribe it, writing "To", but then crossed it out and just signed his name. Robert Frost (1874-1963), who had published his first poem "My Butterfly: An Elegy" in 1894, was America's most celebrated poet by the 1920s. Noted for his metaphoric sketches of life in New England, he was awarded Pulitzer Prizes in 1924, 1931, 1937 and 1943. Frost, who publicly read and recorded a number of his poems, read his poem "The Gift Outright" at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961, becoming the first poet to take part in a Presidential inauguration. Lightly creased. Stray ink marks at blank right area. Fine condition. read more...

RAY BRADBURY Color publicity photograph of Ray Bradbury wearing glasses with his arms crossed in front of him. Photograph signed: "Ray Bradbury! 4-13-98". Color, 10x8. Ray Bradbury (1920-2012) is the favorite science fiction writer of many readers who don't normally like SF. Among his classic novels - all these became films - are The Martian Chronicles (1950), The Illustrated Man (1951), Fahrenheit 451 (1953) and Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962). His Ray Bradbury Theater ran on TV from 1985 to 1992. The Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated writer won the Science Fiction Writers Association's Grand Master Award (1988) and the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters (2000). Fine condition. read more...