ERNEST HEMINGWAY Handwritten 1936 manuscript intended for publication in Esquire magazine, vividly describing the horrors of war, with his third person signature in the text Autograph Manuscript signed in text: "Mr. Ernest Hemingway" in pencil, 1 page, 8½x11. No place, c. 1936. Headed by him: "Please Mr. Ernest Hemingway by Paul Harris, The American Criterion, Dec 1935, about 'letters' appearing monthly in Esquire...." Ernest Hemingway was a frequent contributor to "Esquire" magazine. He wrote a total 31 "letters" which were published in "Esquire" in the 1930s. In the September 1935 issue, he wrote: "Notes on the Next War: A Serious Topical Letter". This may be a rough draft of one of the 31 "letters". Hemingway has made an "X", crossing out the entire letter. In part: "Mr. Hemingway, you were at the front. You saw people die? I was ten and I saw people, I saw something in them die and they had to go on making believe they were alive still with their guts out of them. I saw people age. I saw the unseeable, the drawn faces, the haunted eyes...A child is sensitive to change in those he knows [he is referring to an aunt, a cousin, involved in changes resulting from life in wartime]. read more...

ERNEST HEMINGWAY He signs an autograph note replying positively to a request to send a fundraising letter in his name. Autograph note signed: "Ernest Hemingway" at lower margin of a typed letter signed: "Abner Green", 1 page, 8¼x14. New York, 1939 December 21. On letterhead of Fourth Annual Conference for the American Committee for Protection of Foreign Born, listing Hemingway and Dr. William Allan Neilson as Co-Chairmen, Committee of Sponsors. Hemingway's note, in full: "Enclosed signed letter. [Not present]. Haven't any money yet because writing on this novel since 1st of March. Turned down all other work. Wish me luck. I hope everything goes well with the committee." Green's letter, in full: "Dear Hemingway:-It's the usual thing. We've got our Conference under way - and without doubt you must have read about it in the Times and other papers. We've got enough moral support to make us feel like David with his sling-shot. And then there comes the question of money. Honestly, I wouldn't bother you if the matter of money weren't so damned important. read more...

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. read more...

PIERRE CURIE A week after he and his wife Marie Curie were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work in radiation, he sets up a meeting with the Dean of the Science Department at the Sorbonne; he was only 47 when he was killed in a traffic accident three years later. ALS: "P. Curie", 1p, 4½x5½. Paris, Friday (1903 December 18). In French, fully translated. Paris Express Letter postmarked Paris, December 18, 1903 to Paul Appel. Addressed by Curie to: "Mr. Appel, Dean of the Faculty of the Sciences, Sorbonne". "Sorbonne" has been crossed out and "17 rue Bonaparte" is added in another hand. In full: "I have just seen Mr. Brusson and I have arranged a meeting for Monday morning at 11:00 at his house 29 rue Lauriston. If this time is convenient to you, I will come and pick you up by car Monday morning at 10:15 at the Sorbonne or at your house if you prefer." On verso, where the address, printed stamp and postmarks appear, Curie has penned his name and return address: "Curie/108 Rd Kellerman" read more...

ALBERT EINSTEIN. TLS: "A.E.", 1p, 8x9½. Le Coq-sur-mer, 1933 May 4. To L.M. Ettlinger, Brussels. In German, with translation. In full: "I shall be very pleased to see you Saturday, the 6. May in the Fondation Universitaire, rue d'Egmont 11 in Brussels between four-thirty and five o'clock in the afternoon.-By the way I already initiated steps, some weeks ago, on behalf of Mr. Lasareff to get his German visa". Albert Einstein (1879-1955) developed the theories used to build models of the universe. Einstein's first major contribution, the "Special Theory of Relativity", was published in 1905. The "General Theory of Relativity" followed in 1916. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 "for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect". Written from his temporary home on the Belgian coast less than five weeks after Einstein renounced his German citizenship and resigned from the Prussian Academy of Sciences. When Hitler came to power in January 1933, Einstein's property was seized and a price put on his head. His books were among those burned publicly on May 10, 1933, six days after this letter was written. read more...

ERNEST HEMINGWAY Handwritten letter to associate Peter Buckley, signed "Papa," filled with tales of his time spent in Spain and France meeting bullfighters and other famous friends. Autograph Letter signed: "Papa", 1 page, 8¼x10½. Paris, 1956 November 24. On letterhead of the Hotel Ritz to "Dear Peter" [Buckley], in full: "Thank you very much for the lovely big pictures. The ones at Zaragosa and the one of Antonio [Ordonez] and Mary were especially good. Would you do me a very big favour and be a good boy and do it promptly? Please send the pictures you took of Mary and me and Cooch Behar and Gina Egan in the bariera to Miss Gina Egan [at London address]. I promised to see they were sent and have worried about them. Please do this Peter. We saw a lot of Juanito Madinaveitia and also had lunch once and dinner twice with Juan Belamonte . We had a wonderful time together. Mary is much better in every way. I've been following Juanito's regime faithfully. When get next pressure taken will assess how things go. Coldest Nov. 23 in Paris since 1914, -4°. Shot a lot of partridges in Spain. Got some good pictures. We took Caro to the shoot. He sends his best to you. Mary and I send love. read more...

JOHN STEINBECK Remarkable Holiday letter to a friend, reporting that his dog was poisoned and that he himself had shot Santa Claus Autograph Letter signed: "John Steinbeck", 1 page, 5½x8½. No place, December 17, n.y. To "Dear Ballou", in full: "I had intended to acknowledge your good letter, and then didn't because we were subjected to a maddening tragedy. For it developed that Tillie had been given ground glass. It took her two weeks to die of it and we only knew what it was after she was dead. It made me very said and quite tired. I gave her salt injections every fifteen minutes for almost sixty hours. No chance of knowing who did it of course as I might get a little national publicity for an ax murder. I don't know whether you celebrate Christmas. If you do I hope it's a good one. We shot Santa Clause and are having him for dinner. His skin is pretty good too if the hair doesn't slip. By the way (not by the way at all of course) Mc & O in a letter of the middle of November, said a check would be forthcoming on the first of December. Can it be that this has been lost in the mail. Would you mind asking them whether or not they sent it? These are my Christmas cards. Have you heard of the one C. read more...

WOODROW WILSON As President he signed and dated this hardbound copy of his speech to a joint session of congress requesting a Declaration of War on Germany. Book signed: "Woodrow Wilson/1 August, 1920" as President on first flyleaf, 16 pages, 8x12¼, hardcover. Address of the President of the United States Delivered at a Joint Session of the Two Houses of Congress April 2, 1917, privately printed in 1918. The complete text of President Wilson's speech requesting that Congress declare war on Germany and her allies. On April 6, four days after Wilson delivered this "War Message", Congress overwhelmingly passed the War Resolution that brought the U.S. into WWI. In part: "The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them…. read more...

ALBERT EINSTEIN This typed letter is signed by the physicist and framed in the Gallery of History style to a size of 34x20 Typed Letter Signed: "A. Einstein" in ink. 6½x8½ letter. One page. Letterhead from Knollwood, Saranac Lake, New York. Dated August 1, 1940. Sent to Dr. Alvin Johnson. In Full: "Mr. Hermann Broch has informed me that I may be asked about Professor Karl Feldmann of Leyden(Holland). My knowledge of Professor Feldmann's work, however, is not sufficient to give a valuation of it. I should be grateful if some papers by him would be sent to me. / With the expression of my highest appreciation of your admirable activities". Framed with two plaques and a 7x9 color reprinted painting by Rick Parks to a total size of 34x20. Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was born in Ulm, Germany. When he was a teenager, his family moved throughout Europe due to his father's work. At various times in his life, he held citizenship from Switzerland, the Weimar Republic, and the United States. Most of his ground-breaking work in physics came well before WWII in the form of his special theory of relativity and his studies in the general theory of relativity. read more...