Literature

[ Herman Wouk and the making of the 'Winds of War' television series. ] Eighteen Typed Letters Signed and three Autograph Letters Signed from Wouk to screenwriter Jack Pulman, with copies of Pulman letters, and other material relating to the project.

Author: 
Herman Wouk (b.1915), American novelist [ Jack Pulman (1925-1979), British screenwriter; Stanley Kallis; Dan Curtis (1927-2006), director; Paramount Pictures ]
Publication details: 
Washington, Los Angeles and London. Most of Wouk's letters on his Washington letterhead. Between 2 December 1977 and 22 April 1979.
£1,800.00

From the Jack Pulman papers. Pulman's distinguished career is well described on the British Film Institute's website, which descibes the background to this material, although its author us clearly unaware of the increasing tension between Pulman and Wouk revealed by material in the present collection: 'In early 1978 Paramount TV producer Stanley Kallis and author Herman Wouk approached Pulman to write a treatment (to be followed by a screenplay) for Wouk's sweeping World War Two novel 'The Winds of War'.

[ R. H. Mottram, author of the 'Spanish Farm' trilogy. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('R. H. Mottram') to 'Mr Pettitt', regarding the autographing of books and his Rankin relations in Rochford.

Author: 
R. H. Mottram [ Ralph Hale Mottram ] (1883-1971), English novelist, author of the 'Spanish Farm' trilogy
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Poplar Avenue, Eaton, Norwich. 11 July 1928.
£30.00

1p., 8vo. Lightly aged, and with creasing and closed tear at head. He will be pleased to autograph any copies of his book which Pettitt would like to send, and concludes: 'Are there any Rankin's in Rochford now? They are related to me'.

[ Printed volume. ] Arnold Bennett (1867-1931), A Bibliography by Norman Emery, A.L.A. Chief Bibliographer.

Author: 
Norman Emery, A.L.A., Chief Bibliographer, Central Library, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent [ Arnold Bennett ]
Publication details: 
[ City Librarian's Office, Central Library, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. ] Horace Barks Reference Library, Bibliographical Series No.3. 1967.
£100.00

iii + 66pp., 4to. Duplicated typescript in printed card covers, with green tape spine. Internally in fair condition, slightly dogeared, in worn covers. Stamps of the London Borough of Southwark Reference Library. As Emery explains in the preface, the first bibliography of Bennett's works, produced to coincide with the centenary of his birth. Divided into 25 sections including 'Film Scenarios', 'Operas', 'Poems' and 'Bookseller's Catalogues', and ending with its own bibliography. An uncommon item.

Number of the South Atlantic Bulletin, inscribed by Fredson Bowers, author of the leading article 'Death in Victory'.

Author: 
Fredson Bowers [ Harry Levin; William Shakespeare ]
Publication details: 
[ Chapel Hill, North Carolina. ] South Atlantic Bulletin, South Atlantic Modern Language Association, Vol. XXX No. 2, March 1965.
£50.00

16pp., 4to. Stapled. In fair condition, on aged paper a little rolled at head and foot. Bowers' article, 'an attempt to understand the workings of Shakespeare's tragic effect', is on the first seven pages. He has inscribed the head of the first page: 'For Harry Levin - | With my compliments - | Fredson Bowers'. From the papers of the American critic Harry Levin (1912-1994). Now scarce.

Inscribed offprint of review by Irving Ribner of Roland M. Frye's 'Shakespeare and Christian Doctrine', titled 'A Chain of Fallacies'.

Author: 
Irving Ribner [ Harry Levin; William Shakespeare; Roland M. Frye ]
Publication details: 
'Reprinted from Tulane Drama Review Vol. 10, No. 4, Summer, 1966'.
£25.00

10pp., 12mo, paginated 265-274. Stapled. In good condition, on lightly-aged shiny art paper, with vertical crease. Inscribed at head of first page: 'For Harry Levin | - with regards - | Irving Ribner'. Frye's book was published by Princeton University Press in 1963. From the papers of the American critic Harry Levin (1912-1994). Scarce: no copy of this offprint on COPAC.

[ Printed article, inscribed by the author. ] Edith Wharton's New York: Two Period Pieces. [ The Progress of a Social Indictment ]

Author: 
Louis Kronenberger [ Edith Wharton; University of Michigan ]
Publication details: 
Extracted from the Michigan Quarterly Review [ Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, Vol. 4 No. 1, Winter 1965 ].
£25.00

11pp., 4to, paginated 3-13. On six leaves extracted from the magazine, stapled together at head. In fair condition, aged and a little worn. Inscribed at head of first page: 'Best as always. Hope to see you soon | Louis.' From the papers of the American critic Harry Levin (1912-1994).

[ Inscribed offprint. ] Marlowe's Doctor Faustus: The 1602 Additions.

Author: 
Fredson Bowers [ Harry Levin; Christopher Marlowe ]
Publication details: 
'A reprint from Studies in Bibliography, Papers of the Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia.' Vol. 26, 1973.
£35.00

18pp., 8vo. Stapled into yellow card wraps with publication details printed on cover. In good condition, lightly aged. Inscribed on cover: 'For Harry Levin | with my compliments, | Fredson Bowers'. From the papers of the American critic Harry Levin (1912-1994). Scarce: no copy of this offprint on COPAC.

[ Inscribed offprint. ] Establishing Shakespeare's Text: Notes on Short Lines and the Problem of Verse Division. By Fredson Bowers.

Author: 
Fredson Bowers [ Harry Levin; William Shakespeare ]
Publication details: 
'A reprint from Studies in Bibliography, Papers of the Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia.' Vol. 33, 1980.
£35.00

58pp., 8vo, paginated 73-130. Stapled in lavender card wraps with publication details printed on cover. Offprint itself in good condition, wraps heavily-worn at spine. The article is inscribed at the head of the first page: 'To Harry | with my very best - | Fredson'. From the papers of the American critic Harry Levin (1912-1994). Scarce: no copy of this offprint on COPAC.

[ Inscribed offprint. ] Today's Shakespeare Texts, and Tomorrow's. By Fredson Bowers.

Author: 
Fredson Bowers [ Harry Levin; William Shakespeare ]
Publication details: 
'A reprint from Studies in Bibliography, Papers of the Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia.' Vol. 19, 1966.
£35.00

27pp., 8vo, paginated 39-65. Stapled into light-green card wraps with publication details printed on cover. Inscribed on cover: 'With my compliments - | Fredson Bowers'. Footnote describes the article as: 'An address delivered in the President's Lecture Series at Wayne State University, 10 March 1964.' From the papers of the American critic Harry Levin (1912-1994). Scarce: no copy of this offprint on COPAC.

[ Tolstoy in English. ] Printed advertising handbill by London publisher Walter Scott, beginning with the first collected edition of 'Count Tolstoi's Works', with the first volume 'A Russian Proprietor And other Stories. By Count Lyof N. Tolstoi'.

Author: 
Walter Scott, London publisher; Nathan Haskell Dole (1852-1935), American editor and translator; Count Leo Tolsoy [ 'Count Lyof N. Tolstoi' ], Russian novelist
Publication details: 
London: Walter Scott, 24 Warwick Lane, Paternoster Row. Regarding the Tolstoy edition: 'Vol. I ready October 25th.' [ 1888 ].
£80.00

The handbill is 4pp., 8vo. on a bifolium. In good condition, on aged paper. The upper half of the first page carries the advertisement for 'Count Tolstoi's Works', headed 'Vol. I ready October 25th.' With coloured illustration of the book's design, captioned 'Reduced fac-simile of binding'. Regarding what is the earliest edition of Tolstoy's collected works in English (predating those of Wiener and Garnett by more than ten years), the publisher writes: 'Mr.

[ Katherine Thomson ('Grace Wharton'), Victorian novelist and historian. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('K. Thomson') to an unnamed man, regarding the publication of a novel after 'the storm of adverse criticism is over'.

Author: 
Katherine Thomson ('Grace Wharton') [ née Katherine Byerley; Mrs A. T. Thomson ] (1797-1862), Victorian novelist and historian
Publication details: 
37 <Sheffield?> Road, Derby. 4 December [ 1861 ].
£56.00

4pp., 16mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly-aged. She assumes that her work ('Celebrated Friendships', 1861), 'published with Messrs Hogg', has attracted his attention. 'Now about my novel, about which you have been very kind. Till the storm of adverse criticism is over, I think it will be much better to delay the work. Any notice it may have, will be cursory, & slight.' She wishes to postpone publication: 'My name will not appear in any book next year, that I know of, at present.' She will be in Derby for a few days, and will be happy to hear from him.

[ Émilie Broisat, actress with the Comédie-Française. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Monsieur Laval', declining an invitation.

Author: 
Émilie Broisat (1846-1929), French actress with the Comédie-Française
Publication details: 
'Dimanche soir' [ no place or date ].
£30.00

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Gracefully declining an invitation.

[ Jane Porter, English novelist. ] Part of Autograph Letter from 'Miss Porter' to 'Monsr. Ventouillac'.

Author: 
Jane Porter (1776-1850), English novelist [ Louis Théodore Ventouillac (1798-1834), Professor of French Literature at King's College, London ]
Publication details: 
Place and date not stated.
£30.00

On both sides of 7 x 11 cm. piece of paper, cut from a letter. On one side is the address: 'Monsr. Ventouillac | to the care of Master Morgan | From Miss Porter -'. And on the other a fragment of the letter: '<...> that the same volume will be so presented to him, by the Revd Mr. Pole and Mr. Ventouillac. Miss P - hopes Mr. V - <...> success in his <...>'.

[ Thomas Hughes, author of 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'. ] Autograph Signature on part of letter.

Author: 
Thomas Hughes (1822-1896), English lawyer and judge, author of 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'
Publication details: 
Place not stated. [ 1873. ]
£25.00

On 3.5 x 16.5 cm piece of paper, cut from the end of a letter. Ruckled and lightly stained, with small closed tear (not affecting signature). Good firm signature. Reads: 'Kindest regards to your wife | Ever most truly yours | Thos Hughes'. At bottom left: '1873'. Same year printed on reverse, which carries more autograph text by Hughes, written at right angles to the text on the other side.

[ Mapp and Lucia; Benson ] Autograph Letter Signed "Mary Benson" to a "Miss Chittenden" discussing partner Lucy Tait's illness etc.

Author: 
Mary Benson, lesbian wife of the Archbishop of Canterbury, mother of E.F. Benson
Publication details: 
[ Headed notepaper ] Tremans, Horsted Keynes, Sussex, 8 May [no year].
£80.00

4 pages, 16mo, bifolium, black-bordered. She explains at length why she finds it difficult to arrange a visit to her correspondent, including the illnes of a Miss Tait (awaiting doctor's orders) [Lucy Tait was her partner], and her daughter who has just returned from Egypt. She hopes to be in London with her daughter on the 21st, and perhaps take a train to Broxbourne to see her. Note: "Her future husband was so impressed by her intellect at their first meeting that he vowed to marry her on the spot, despite her being only eight years old at the time.

[ Edward Lear, artist and writer of nonsense verse. ] Autograph Signature ('Edwd Lear.').

Author: 
Edward Lear (1812-1888), artist and author, famed for his nonsense verse
Lear
Publication details: 
Without place or date.
£80.00
Lear

On 2 x 6cm strip of paper, cut from a letter. In good condition, lightly aged. A good firm signature, underlined, with the tiniest part of the head of the loop of the iniitial 'E' of 'Edwd' has been shaved off.

[ Joseph Warton, Poet Laureate. ] Autograph Receipt Signed ('Jos. Warton') of monies (presumably tuition fees) from Hugh Rogers.

Author: 
Joseph Warton (1728-1790), Poet Laureate [ Trinity College, Oxford ]
Publication details: 
No place. 16 July 1767.
£250.00

On one side of 11 x 18.5 cm piece of paper. In good condition, lightly aged and creased. On reverse is small circular printed paper label of the Ray Rawlins Collection. Reads: 'July 16 1767 Received of Hugh Rogers Esqr the Above Sum in Full for His Son till Last Whitsuntide | by me | Jos. Warton'. Hugh Rogers of Helston, had a son, John, at Trinity, Oxford, presuambly tutored by Warton.

[ Charles Partington, Manchester sci-fi author, magazine editor and bookshop owner. ] Two Typed Letters (one signed 'Charles') to Don Malcolm, one reviewing Malcolm's story 'Between the Tides', the other on a short story of his Savoy Books are taking

Author: 
Charles Partington, Manchester science-fiction [ Michael Butterworth, Dave B and Savoy Books; Don Malcolm ]
Publication details: 
ONE: 56 Staffin Court, Darn Hill, Heywood, near Manchester. 12 January 1975. TWO: On his letterhead, 274 Longridge, Knutsford, Cheshire. 7 April 1978.
£125.00

ONE (12 January 1975): 1p., 4to. In good condition. First page of letter only, and lacking signature. A generally positive review ('When I write, I suffer from excess, a disease which you and your contemporaries, Aldis, Brunner, Bulmer, etc long since cured yourselves of. [...] The story was, as I am sure you know, good.'), but with some caveats ('I also don't think that a female covered with body hairs would also have hair reaching down to her waist.'). TWO: 1p., 8vo. Signed in green ink. In fair condition, on aged paper with wear at head.

[ Poul Anderson, 'Golden Age' science fiction author. ] Typed Letter Signed (' Poul') to 'Don' [ Scottish science fiction expert Donald Malcolm ], discussing Malcolm's plans for a checklist of his work, his family background, and Scotland.

Author: 
Poul Anderson (1926-2001), American 'Golden Age' science fiction author [ Don Malcolm ]
Publication details: 
3 Las Palomas, Orinda, California. 30 June 1964.
£150.00

34 lines of typed text on air mail letter on blue paper. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Addressed to Malcom at Paisley, Renfrewshire.

[ Caradoc Evans, Welsh author ] Autograph Letter Signed "Caradoc Evans" to [Sewell] Stokes [" novelist, biographer, playwright, screenwriter, broadcaster and prison visitor. "]

Author: 
Caradoc Evans [David Caradoc Evans], (1878–1945), Welsh story writer, novelist and playwright.
Publication details: 
26 Thornton Road, East Sheen, Tuesday [n.d. between1923 and 1929]. Perhaps when he edited T.P.'s Weekly, Sewell Stokes as assistant editor
£180.00

One page, 8vo, fold mark, small closed tears on fold, good condition, pencilled ticks (by Stokes?). "I am in bed, now reading a bit of Ben Johnson [sic] now a bit of 'Moll Flanders", now a bit of [?] & now a bit of Marie Corelli." He anticipates when he'll next be in the "office". New paragrph, "Will you and Mr Moore go through that basket of mine marked "Current" & send off for setting that wghich appeals to you. There is an article on Arthur Machen, which should be cut [...].

Autograph Note Signed 'Will. H. Lizars' on receipt of payment for work on Walter Scott novels.

Author: 
[ William Home Lizars ] William H. Lizars (1788–1859), Scottish painter and engraver.
Publication details: 
Edinburgh, 8 June 1827.
£180.00

One page, 21 x 8cm, one dge frayed and sunned, text clear and complete. Lizars acknowledges paymentof £49.14 from "John Gibson Junr, Esqre for the Trustees of Sir Walter Scott, Bart [...] payment of [annexed?] account [not present] for Titles to Tales & Romances."

[Roy Vickers, crime writer] Five Typed Letters Signed and other signed material [T.C.H. Jacobs of the Crime Writers' Association (CWA)].

Author: 
Roy Vickers.
Publication details: 
1961.
£100.00

ROY VICKERS, Detective Story Writer, 5TLSs, total 6pp., 4to, all 1961, jokey, gossipy letters concerning CWA affairs - Rosemary Robinson being co-opted to the general committee, German rights to an Anthology sold, an enquiry from Japan about Anthologies (leading to a discussion), subject for debate in A.O.B., analysis of membership ("talented amateur mixed with pro"), a new detective publishing house in the U.S.A., guests for the Dinner. Attached to letter of 3 March 1961: copy TL and typescript, total 5pp., including the letter to Gielgud on CWA Anthologies [= source of income for the Asso

[Julian Symons, crime writer] A large collection of Typed Letters Signed to [T.C.H. Jacobs of the Crime Writers' Association (CWA).

Author: 
Julian Symons.
Publication details: 
c.1959.
£150.00

Julian Symons, Detective Story Writer and Historian of the Genre, Founder Member, sometime Chairman of CWA (1958/9), 12 TLSs, one page each, 8vo and 4to, some with ms. additions, concerning CWA affairs - news of the Anthology, financial dealings, expenses, the funeral of a member, the Exhibition, Jacobs election as Vice-Chairman, "Margery Allingham has joined!" (3 April 1959, having declined to do so in 1953), personal, the Awards ceremony, appreciation of congratulations on an award, an "abridged novel venture", a criminal case re-enacted (potential BBC tie-up).

[Ethel Boileau, novelist.] Corrected Autograph Manuscripts of two of her best-selling novels: 'Clansmen' and 'Turnip-Tops'.

Author: 
Ethel Boileau [Lady Ethel Mary Boileau, née Young] (c.1881-1942), English novelist [Ayn Rand]
Publication details: 
'Turnip-Tops' dated 1932; 'Clansmen' dated 'Strath-peffer Ross-shire | September 4th. 1934.' and at end 'Jan 11th. 1935. | Ketteringham | Wymondham Norfolk'. Both published by Hutchinson & Co., London: 'Turnip Tops', 1932; 'Clansmen', 1936.
£600.00

Boileau was extremely popular throughout her career, her novels propounding her philosophy (as expounded in 'Turnip Tops') that 'Courage is the foundation of all character and achievement.' In 1936 'John o'London's' magazine described her as the author of books 'whose editions have run into tens of thousands'. Her novel 'Turnip Tops', published in 1932 (and in America by Dutton as 'A Gay Family'), had sold 28,000 copies by 1936 ('one of the merriest sellers of the last few years', according to Maboth Moseley), and 25,000 copies of 'Ballade in G Minor' (1938) were sold before publication.

[Caxton Club; inscribed by many members] Printers' Marks and Devices

Author: 
Howard W. Winger
Publication details: 
The Caxton Club, Chicago, 1976.
£230.00

Limited Edition, no.464 of 600, designed by John B. Goetz. There is a calligraphic presentation inscription on the front free endpaper, "Presented to Anthony Rota [distinguished modern first dealer] on the occasion of the Septmber 28, 1988 meeting of the Caxton Club with the appreciation of the members and guests whose signatures appear below." There are 81 signatures, commencing with Charles [?] Cullen, David G. Hilliard and concluding with Harrison Hayford and an indecipherable.

[F. G. Kitton, Dickensian.] Autograph Letter Signed and Autograph Card Signed (both 'F. G. Kitton') to Winfield S. Moody, editor of The Book Buyer, discussing the claim that Dickens's works were written by Herbert Spencer', and a query on Thackeray.

Author: 
F. G. Kitton [Frederic George Kitton] (1856-1904), illustrator, writer and authority on Charles Dickens [Winfield S. Moody (1816-1894), editor of The Book Buyer; Dickensiana]
Publication details: 
Both items from Pré Mill House, St Albans, England. 19 and 27 March 1999.
£140.00

LETTER: 3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on aged and worn paper. Kitton writes that he has received two copies of the Book Buyer for March, and is 'much interested' in it for two reasons: 'Mrs. Garlands flattering comments upon myself and my work', and 'a very generous notice of my latest Dickens production'. He finds illustrations 'excellently reproduced', and praises 'the careful attention that has obviously been bestowed upon the preparation of both blocks and letterpress'. Turning to another matter, he notes 'a query (no.

Anonymous manuscript First World War narrative poem titled 'The Message of the King', concerning a blinded soldier who asks a doctor to kill him.

Author: 
[First World War dramatic monologue; Royal Army Medical Corps, Delhi Barracks, Tidworth, Wiltshire]
Publication details: 
[RAMC Delhi Barracks, Tidworth, Wiltshire.] Circa 1918.
£80.00

Four pages, 4to. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged ruled paper, with watermark 'D. K & Co. | LONDON'. Sixty-four lines, arranged in eight eight-line stanzas. Apparently unpublished. Evocative of the sensibilities of a more naive age: sincerely meant, but coming across somewhat in the style of a Stanley Holloway monologue.

[Book; Association copy; G.B. Shaw] Too True To Be Good, Village Wooing & On the Rocks

Author: 
George Bernard Shaw, playwright
Publication details: 
Constable, 1934 (Standard Edition of the Works of Bernard Shaw)
£220.00

First edition, 8vo. Laurence A216a. Original red cloth, speckled, lettered in gilt on spine, hinges cracked, in damaged dustwrapper. below). Inscribed on the half-title: "to Yvette Pienne, player and writer, | G. Bernard Shaw | Malvern | 23/8/36." WITH: unpublished photograph, 19 x 14.5, of Bernard Shaw with a bevy of youngish ladies including Yvette Pienne according to a note (NOT in Shaw's hand, prob. Pienne's) on the reverse, "Malvern Festival 1938 || G. Bernard Shaw | [?] Lewis | Yvette Pienne|".

[Pamphlet, lacking covers] Darton's Instructive Stories. Old Times

Author: 
[Darton and Co., London]
Publication details: 
[18402. 1850s?]
£120.00

16pp., 8vo (publisher says "foolscap Quarto"), coloured illustrations, missing paper wraps (scans of Oxford copy covers enclosed). Listed on the wraps, back a list of sister works, front full title "Darton's Instructive Stories. Old Times" (titlepage just has "Old Times". Titlepage grubby, marked, wear and tear at edges, contents complete and attractive. Only one copy recorded on COPAC/WorldCat, at Oxford.

[R. M. Ballantyne, author of boys' books.] Large mezzotint photograph of Ballantyne in his library by Fradelle & Young of London, with facsimile of his signature on mount.

Author: 
R. M .Ballantyne [Robert Michael Ballantyne] (1825-1894), Scottish author of boys' books
Publication details: 
Undated (1880s?). Fradelle & Young, 246 Regent Street, W. [London.]
£95.00

The black and white photograph is 24 x 19 cm, and is laid down on a 36.5 x 28 cm mount. The photograph is in good condition, on lightly-aged matte paper; the mount is brittle, chipped and discoloured, with closed tears and a detached corner reattached on reverse with archival tape. Facsimile signature in bottom right-hand corner of mount: 'Yours sincerely | R. M. Ballantyne'. On reverse, in contemporary hand: 'R. M. B. about 1893' (although the photograph does not look as if it dates from the year before Ballantyne's death), and at head of reverse, in the same hand: 'R. M.

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