Letters and Holographic Documents

1902. September 22 [1902]. Written to Mr. [William V.] Alexander, editor of Ladies Home Journal, who had requested a series of articles from Keller that were later published as The Story of My Life. Keller humbly thanks Alexander for payment for the last article; in part: "I only wish I could have made the story of my life more worthy of the generous praise it has received...It has meant a great deal in my life, and in Miss Sullivan's too -- the thought of the happiness that she says my compliance with your request has brought her is sweeter even than the thought of the kindness shown me in the letters that come constantly from old friends long silent and new friends whose words go to the heart..." Two 5" x 8" pages, typed with blue ribbon and signed "Helen Keller." A very early letter by Keller, preceding her first book, with exceptionally good content. Fine. No Binding. Fine.

London: Longmans Green & Co. Ltd, 1927. First Edition . Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. 1927 Longmans, Green & Company TRUE FIRST EDITION, which preceded the US First Edition by a matter of days. A VG+/VG copy of this rare first made even more so by having a splendid **HANDWRITTEN SIGNED LETTER** by Mr. Wilder. The HB is very clean and tight with just some browning on the end pages. The unclipped DJ has a small piece missing from the upper spine end, not affecting the title. There are a few tiny other chips now in mylar and protected. A very strong copy and a wonderful combo! BONUS BOOK: A very early ex--library copy of "Our Town" which appears to be dated from April 5, 1938, two months after its Broadway premiere. Movie History Facts: Adapted for the screen three times: 1929 MGM Silent Film with Lili DAmita & Ernest Torrence (plus the legendary Lola Montes as a Spanish dancer) 1944 United Artists B&W Film with Lynn Bari & Akim Tamiroff 2004 New Line Cinema… Read More

Stanford White was an American architect and partner in the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White. He designed a long series of houses for the wealthy, and numerous public, institutional, and religious buildings. His design principles embodied the "American Renaissance" and is one of the great American architects of the 19th century.

Washington, D.C., 1871. unbound. Three-page handwritten letter with outstanding content, 8 x 5 inches, Washington, D.C., June 22, 1871. Written to former Confederate Brigadier General Marcus J. Wright, commander of the District of Atlanta, in full: "Your note of June 1, awaited me here on my return from Texas. It is sharp that you even noticed in the newspaper of the day the fact that less than a year ago Capt. Buel of the Ordinance Department, the same who was on my staff at Atlanta, and who was taken prisoner the day before we entered that place, was murdered at the U.S. Arsenal Fort Leavenworth, by a discharged soldier. Buel had punished this man for some offense and was retiring from a party inside Leavenworth to his own house, just outside after entering his own yard, with his wife on his arm, was shot dead by a man concealed in a brush within a few feet. The man for a time escaped, but was hunted and at last caught, he was so badly wounded in capture that he started confessing the deed,… Read More

1 page. Octavo (ca. 168 x 122 mm). Dated Thursday evening. On mourning stationery. In French (with translation). "I have to attend [?Louis] Laloy's premiere; naturally that is tomorrow, on Friday ... Would you change the enclosed tickets for Saturday? Thanks again ..." Slightly worn and browned; creased at folds and upper outer corner of final blank folio; small rust stain from paper clip to inner margin of final folio, not affecting text. "One of the most important musicians of his time, [Debussy's] harmonic innovations had a profound influence on generations of composers. He made a decisive move away from Wagnerism in his only complete opera Pelléas et Mélisande, and in his works for piano and for orchestra he created new genres and revealed a range of timbre and colour which indicated a highly original musical aesthetic." François Lesure and Roy Howat in Grove Music Online. "Laloy [1874-1944] was a noted defender of contemporary French music and was a close friend of, and mediator between,… Read More

N. P.: Privately written by le Carre and drawn by Chas, 1995 & 1991., 1995 & 1991. First edition. An autograph letter signed from John Le Carré regarding the retirement of George Smiley. Written in black ink on the author's letterhead and dated 19th November 1995 he writes "I think George Smiley has earned his retirement now, and I must write about other people and other times. But thank you for wanting him back, which is the greatest compliment you can pay him - Best wishes John Le Carré". Together with an original ink caricature of John Le Carré in pencil and black ink on white paper, signed by the artist Chas. bottom right. The drawing is also inscribed by the subject in black in at the upper right corner "For Phil Smallwood with my good wishes and thanks for his support! - John Le Carré, London Feb 21 1991". Both items are presented side by side within a white card mount. Condition is excellent, the letter… Read More

No Binding. Very Good. Printed letter, signed in ink, from H. Johnson, Governor of Louisiana, to the Governor of New York (DeWitt Clinton), dated February 16th, 1826, stating that the state of Louisiana rejects Ohio's plan for the gradual emancipation of slaves. 2 pages, 8 by 10 inches. The letter reads: In compliance with the request of the Legislature of this State, I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of a resolution of the said Legislature, passed at their present session, and to request that you will be pleased to lay the same before the Legislature of the State over which you preside . . . Your Excellencys Obedient servant, H. Johnson. The address leaf carries a New Orleans circular cancel with a 25 ms rate. Together with the resolution: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Louisiana in General Assembly convened, That this legislature does not concur in certain resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of Ohio, at their session in the year one thousand… Read More

Paris, 1953. One and one half page pen and ink letter (26.5 x 21.5 cm.) on single sheet of pale blue Paul Cushing Child stationery, with ink date stamp ("May 18 1953"), addressed, "USIS. 5 Place de Rome, Marseille (B du Rh)". ~ An early letter from Julia Child, written while she was living in Paris with her husband Paul and working on her first book, the seminal Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Child writes to a Mrs. Fairbanks: "What a nice hour we spent with you the other afternoon. I only wish it could be repeated, as I would love to hear more about Thomas Wolfe and all you know about him. It would also be fascinating for me to hear much much more about your culinary experiences. Mrs. de Santillana [Child's editor] says you are the best cooks she knows, and I can well believe it from the interest you take. It is indeed a fascinating subject and a beau métier. Had a nice talk about friture de cheval pour les frites [possibly french fries cooked in horse fat] with your chauffeur on the way home… Read More

Washington, D.C.: The White House, 1923. December 17, 1923, The White House - to Lew Wallace, Jr., (son of Lew Wallace, Union general in the American Civil War, governor of the New Mexico Territory and author of "Ben Hur")- "Dear Mr. Wallace, The growth of thrift and saving in this country promises well for our future. Only through sacrifice and hard work can we attain the cherished things in life. This means we must work and save. The progress of the United States Government Savings System, in giving to all our people an opportunity to invest in safe securities, is most worthy. By placing Treasury Savings Certyificates on sale in post offices, banks and trust companies, the Government has made available to everyone a security of unquestioned soundness. Their widespread sale makes for better citizenship, as each purchaser holds a stake in his Government. I believe, also, that the enlargement of a national Thrift movement will eventually stamp out the false and unsound practices of the… Read More

BOUGAINVILLE, LOUIS-ANTOINE. (1729-1811). French navigator who led the first French voyage around the world in 1766-1769, making significant geographical observations; the South American climbing plant Bougainvillea is named in his honor. ADS. ("De Bougainville"). ½p. Tall 4to. Versailles, September 5, 1764. To the French Minister of Foreign Affairs ÉTIENNE FRANÇOIS, DUC DE CHOISEUL (1719-1785). In French with translation.
"Memorandum

Mr de Bougainville begs Monseigneur the Duke de Choiseul to be good enough to grant Sir de Romainville an appointment of infantry lieutenant. This young man embarks with him and must be employed in the colony both for detachments and for the reconnaissance of the island. He's already participated to the campaigns of 1759 and 1760 and 1761 as volunteer in the chasseurs of Conflans and that of 1762 as aide-de-camp of Mr. Dennery chief of the Condé army general staff..."
A French army officer who worked in London's French embassy, Bougainville served as General… Read More

Frontispiece portrait of the author by Richard Cosway; two folding plates : "The English balloon and appendages in which Mr. Lunardi ascended into the Atmosphere..." and "Apparatus for filling Mr. Lunardi's balloon." Original sturdy full gilt ruled red morocco. Large gilt "A" to head of spine followed by title; gilt inner dentelles, gilt tooled edges. Tasteful bookplate of Revernd Richard Dickson to front pastedown together with small circular plate of Frances L. Dickson. Sixty-six oddly paginated pages (pp. 25-32 numbered 33-40, without loss & with proper catchwords) followed by Explanation of the Plates and one page of publisher's advertisements . A nicely bound copy without the usual losses. ; 12 mo; 67,[i] pages; 13 x 20.5 cm.; Signed by Author; All shipments through USPS insured Priority Mail.

2 pp. of a bifolium. Octavo. Dated "31 Juillet," no year. To an unidentified male correspondent. On lined paper. In French (with translation). Berlioz apologizes for not being able to edit his article on Bortnyansky, with which he hopes his correspondent will be satisfied. "The fragment of musical criticism which I wanted to add to the item on Bortnianski is in the hands of Mr. M. Levy's printer who is at present bringing out a book which contains this article. It is impossible for me - since the printer is not in Paris - to rework my manuscript. Therefore be good enough to be satisfied with the Russian article; it is accurate, on the whole, and it would be difficult for me to redo a study on Bortnianski and Emperor of Russia's singers that is already done." The composer/critic goes on say that he would be happy for extracts of the article to appear in L'Illustration and, in a postscript, asks his correspondent to send him a copy of the periodical in which his article appears. Slightly worn;… Read More

1897. Boston, April 10, 1897.. Boston, April 10, 1897. "Don't you Feel a Sort of Settled Intimacy as the Result of Time and our Writing and Every Thing?" [Manuscript]. Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Jr. [1841-1935]. [Castletown, Lady Clare (1853-1927)]. [Autograph Letter Signed "OWH" to Lady Clare Castletown, Boston (?), April 10, 1897]. 10" x 8" bifolium, content filling rectos and versos of both leaves. Light toning, vertical and horizontal fold lines, minor tears to folds in two places. $3,000. * This letter dates from the early years of Holmes's lengthy correspondence with Lady Clare Castletown, an aristocratic woman with whom Holmes had an intense flirtation. Holmes, then an associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, offers interesting remarks about the statesman John Hay, the historian Henry Adams and the recently-published book Farthest North (1897) by the Norwegian Polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen. The letter reads, in part: "To answer your question about our Ambassador [Hay], I… Read More

Fort Clark, Texas, 1938. Fort Clark, Texas: July 29, 1938. Typed letter signed "G.S. Patton, Jr." to "Morry" [Luxenberg] a friend and military uniform supplier. This letter is anticipating his general's stars just days after becoming a colonel. Patton was promoted to colonel on July 24, 1938, and given command of the 5th Cavalry at Fort Clark, Texas, and this letter was written on the 29th of July. Letter on single sheet stationary headed "Fifth Calvary/ Fort Clarkm Texas," (7 3/16 x 6 15/16 inches; 183 x 177 mm). Typed on recto only. Letter dated "July 29, 1938." Letter reads: "Dear Morry;/ Thanks a lot for the Eagles and for the good/ wishes about the stars which I hope will also come/ true./ If you plan to come to Clark you had better write/ the adjutant and ask him how many prospects there will/ be you see this is a pretty small place. I cant make/ inquiries for you as it would not look right./ With renewed thanks, I am/ Truly yours/ G S Patton [autograph]/ G. S. Patton Jr./ Col. 5th Cav."… Read More

NP. ND. . HAND TOOLED FINE BINDING. Large 4to. (7.4 x 5 inches.). A collection of maps, engraved views, bank notes, photographs and hand written letters, one detailing the writer's travels which accompanies the photo's. Engraved views and maps, some hand coloured, letters (one relating to travels across Kurdistan dressed as a Cossack, one an ill fated ships travels around the West Indies), documents, 2 signed etchings, one original pen drawing, early American passport (with small area of loss), and photos. ----- Attractive late 19th century or early twentieth century craft binding of full dark green morocco. Spine with decorative gilt border and emerald green morocco shamrock onlays. Boards with single gilt ruled borders. Each corner with circular design incorporating Fleur-de-lys and emerald green morocco onlays with gilt borders of Shamrocks. A similar design is in the centre of the board. The inner line of the border on both boards is decorated with morocco onlay and gilt shamrocks. Inner boards… Read More