Sell or Auction Your Voltaire and Rockwell Kent Candide of 95 1928 for up to Over $3,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders Auctions
FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Voltaire and Rockwell Kent Candide of 95 1928 that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
Free Appraisal, Auction or Sell Your Voltaire and Rockwell Kent Candide of 95 1928
François-Marie Arouet (French: [fʁɑ̃swa maʁi aʁwɛ]; 21 November 1694 – 30 May 1778), known by his nom de plume Voltaire (/vɒlˈtɛər, voʊl-/; also US: /vɔːl-/; French: [vɔltɛːʁ]), was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher famous for his wit, his criticism of Christianity—especially the Roman Catholic Church—as well as his advocacy of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state.
Rockwell Kent (June 21, 1882 – March 13, 1971) was an American painter, printmaker, illustrator, writer, sailor, adventurer and voyager.
Below is a recent realized price for a Voltaire and Rockwell Kent Candide of 95 1928 item. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to these amounts or more for you:
Voltaire and Rockwell Kent Candide of 95 1928. Sold for over $3,000.
Here are some recent items that our auction house, Nate D. Sanders (http://www.NateDSanders.com) has sold:
Exceedingly Rare First Printing Dust Jacket of “The Great Gatsby” — Scarce Jacket Houses First Printing of the Classic Novel
Rare first edition, first printing of one of the most desired books in the history of literature, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”, with the nearly impossible to find first printing dust jacket, showing the lowercase “j” in “Jay Gatsby” on the rear flap hand-corrected in ink, indicative of the first printing. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1925. Designed by artist Francis Cugat, the dust jacket echoes the romantic tone of the novel, with hints of loss and opulence at its core, showing a pair of feminine eyes, with two nude figures in her irises, gazing over a Coney Island carnival. Fitzgerald’s reaction to the jacket was captured in a 1924 letter to editor Maxwell Perkins, “For Christ’s sake, don’t give anyone that dust jacket you’re saving for me. I’ve written it into the book.” It is perhaps one of the few instances where the jacket design actually influenced the novel, and is one of the scarcest first printing jackets in modern literature.
For the book itself, every first printing point is present: 1925 printed on title page; Charles Scribner’s Sons logo appears on the copyright page with no subsequent printing statements; “chatter” appears on page 60; “northern” appears on page 119; “it’s” printed on line 16 of page 165; “sick in tired” found on page 205; “Union Street station” mistyped on line 7-8 of page 211. Bound in teal cloth boards with title and author’s name blind-stamped to front board and gilt lettering to spine. Book runs 218pp., and measures 5.5″ x 7.75″. Minor shelf wear and discoloration to half-title page, overall in very good plus condition for book. Light chipping to spine of jacket, and small losses on spine and upper front portion expertly restored, as well as light edgewear. Also in very good plus condition. Housed in custom blue morocco slipcase. A very seldom-encountered true first printing of an enduring classic. Sold for $84,000.
Harry Potter Philosopher’s Stone 1st Printing Hardback
The most coveted book in the Harry Potter canon, the first edition, first printing hardback of J.K. Rowling’s first novel, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”. This book is one of only 500 hardback copies published in the first printing, more scarce and collectible than the softcover published at the same time. Sold for $53,550.
Rare first edition, first printing of one of the most desired books in the history of literature, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ”The Great Gatsby,” published by Charles Scribner’s Sons: New York: 1925, with the nearly impossible to find first printing dustjacket. Every point is present: 1925 is printed on title page; Charles Scribner’s Sons logo appears on the copyright page with no subsequent printing statements; ”chatter” appears on page 60; ”northern” appears on page 119; ”it’s” is printed on line 16 of page 165; ”sick in tired” is found on page 205; ”Union Street station” is mistyped on line 7-8 of page 211. Bound in dark green cloth boards with title and author’s name blind-stamped to front board and gilt lettering to spine. Francis Cugat’s scarce original unrestored first printing dustjacket has the lowercase ”j” in ”jay Gatsby” on the back panel hand-corrected in ink. Sold for $50,000.
F. Scott Fitzgerald Lot of Two Extraordinary, Unpublished & Handwritten Poems: “…Tenderest evidence, thumb-print of lust…”
Incredible grouping of F. Scott Fitzgerald original prose, written for Helen Hayes’ daughter Mary MacArthur, who died of polio at the young age of 19. Here, the already famous author pens two lyrical poems, dated 1931 and 1937. At the time he writes the first poem, Fitzgerald was completing “Tender is the Night” while caring for his ailing wife, Zelda, whose mental illness had left her hospitalized in 1930. Fitzgerald handwrites the first, shorter poem in green ink. Inscribed “For Mary MacArthur”, it reads in full: “‘Oh Papa — / My Papa — / Say Papa’ / So! / ‘Is Papa / Your Papa / My Papa?’ / No! / So Spoke You / Why Joke You? Just For To-day / Our Word Is / (Like Birdie’s) / Plenty To Say”. Signed, “F. Scott Fitzgerald / Feb. 13th 1931”. The second, lengthier poem appears on the verso of the same sheet, titled, “Addenda (seven years later)”. Reads in full, “What shall I do with this bundle of stuff / Mass of ingredients, handful of grist / Tenderest evidence, thumb-print of lust / Kindly advise me, O psychologist / She shall have music — we pray for the kiss / of the god’s on her forehead, the necking of fate / How in the hell shall we guide her to this / ‘- Just name her Mary and age her till eight.’ / What of the books? Do we feed her our bread / of the dead, that was left in their tombs long ago / Or should all the fervor and freshness be wed / To next year’s inventions? Can anyone know? / How shall we give her that je ne sais quoi – / Portions of mama that seem to be right / Salted with dashes of questionable pa? / ‘- Age her till eight and then save me a bite.’ / Solve me this dither, O wisest of lamas, / Pediatrician – beneficent buddy / Tell me the name of a madhouse for mammas / Or give me the nursery – let her have the study / How can I pay back this heavenly loan / Answer my question and name your own fee / Plan me a mixture of Eve and St. Joan / ‘- Put her in pigtails and give her to me.'” Signed, “F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nyack 1937”. Sheet measures 7″ x 8″ with poem to front and longer prose poem to verso. From the estate of Helen Hayes. An extraordinary collection, adding to the catalogue raisonne of Fitzgerald’s known works. Sold for $30,875.
Exceptional Ernest Hemingway autograph letter and signed envelope, one day after catching the 500 lb. marlin in Bimini that inspired ”The Old Man and the Sea”, apocryphal until this letter which documents for the first time in Hemingway’s own words not only the size of the marlin, but also its attack by sharks, similar to the plot of Hemingway’s novel. Letter is accompanied by a photo of Hemingway and his friend, Henry Strater, with the half-eaten marlin. Dated 8 May (identified as 1935 by the “Hemingway Letters Project”), Hemingway writes to Erl Roman, the fishing editor of the ”Miami Herald”, describing the catch in detail, the attack by the sharks, and also mentioning that he is sending some photos to Roman. Letter in pencil reads in part,
”Will make this very short on acct. Bill Fagen leaving May 8 / Dear Erl: Yesterday May 7 Henry H. STRATER, widely known painter of OGUNQUIT Maine, Pres. Maine Tuna Club, fishing with me on Pilar landed Blue Marlin which weighed 500 lbs on tested scales after all of meat below anal fin had been torn away by sharks when fish was brought to gaff– Had him ready to take in when sharks hit him– Fish 12 feet 8 1/2 inches– Tail 48 inch spread–girth 62 in. (will send all other exact measurements when have chance to use Steel tape on him). Fish hooked off Bimini, hooked in corner of mouth, never layted, jumped 18 times clear, brought to boat in an hour such a heavy fish jumped hell out of himself. We worked him fast our system. Had him at boat when shark hit him. Strater has football knee, went out of joint, had hell with it, we wouldnt handline fish, he got him up himself, in one hour 40 minutes, we got him over the roller after Some lifting boy, all blood drained, meat gone below anal fin to tail, but fish completely intact, Fred Parke is mounting it–“
Two page autograph letter is accompanied by an envelope signed in pencil, addressed in Hemingway’s hand to ”Erl Roman Esq. / Miami Herald / Miami / Fla.” and signed by Hemingway on the verso, ”E. Hemingway / Yacht Pilar / Bimini / B.W.I.”
Importantly, Hemingway’s account of the marlin catch differs from other anecdotal stories of it, one of which describes Hemingway using a ”machine gun” on the shark, which purportedly attracted more sharks to the feeding frenzy. It’s likely Hemingway left out this detail, as Strater would blame its use on attracting more sharks to the marlin, depriving Strater of a world record marlin catch. “Old Man and the Sea” has been noted by Hemingway scholars as most likely inspired by this particular 7 May 1935 trip, including Michael Culver in his biography “Sparring in the Dark: Hemingway, Strater and The Old Man and the Sea”.
Letter measures 8.5” x 11”, envelope measures approximately 6.25” x 3.625” and photo, which is a modern reproduction, measures 7.75” x 9.75”. Letter is uniformly toned with some chipping along edges, and small piece of tape at very top. Envelope has some foxing and torn edge from opening. Both items are in very good condition. A remarkable letter in Hemingway’s own words of a legendary fishing adventure that inspired one of his most popular, Pulitzer-Prize winning novels. Sold for $28,000.
Ayn Rand first edition, signed copy of “Anthem.”
Alice O’Connor (born Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum; February 2, [O.S. January 20] 1905 – March 6, 1982), better known by her pen name Ayn Rand (/aɪn/), was a Russian-American writer and philosopher. She is known for her fiction and for developing a philosophical system she named Objectivism. Born and educated in Russia, she moved to the United States in 1926. She wrote a play that opened on Broadway in 1935. After two early novels that were initially unsuccessful, she achieved fame with her 1943 novel, The Fountainhead. In 1957, Rand published her best-known work, the novel Atlas Shrugged. Afterward, until her death in 1982, she turned to non-fiction to promote her philosophy, publishing her own periodicals and releasing several collections of essays.
Hardcover with dustjacket. Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, LTD.: 1953. Copy given to Nathaniel Branden, her purported protege and lover. Signed and inscribed by Rand in blue ink, “To Barbara and Nathan – – who are now fully my children – to mark your first six-months wedding anniversary – Ayn / July 14, 1953.” Book, which measures 6″x 8.5″, runs 105pp. Thinly-veiled sci-fi-ish allegory supports Rand’s classic Objectivist thesis regarding the subjugation of the ego for the greater whole of society. Dust jacket in near fine condition with minor chips at top. Slight cloth board spotting and very mild toning to interior. A near-perfect signed Ayn Rand first edition copy. Our most expensive Ayn Rand first edition that we have handled. Sold for $22,500.
Scarce Jonathan Swift autograph letter signed as Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The satirist datelines his letter from the Deanry-house in Dublin, 14 October 1736, just two years before becoming debilitated by mental illness. He writes to Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset, in full: ”My Lord, In a former Letter to Your Grace, I taxed you with a Debt of 110 lb a year in church Livings, being by Arithmetic an Arrear of 150 lb a year which Your Grace was pleased to promise me for a Friend, and of which I onely received 40 lb a year. I often did my self the Honor of being so bold (which – is no great Honor) of telling you that a very worthy Clergyman had been long a weight upon my Shoulders to get him some addition, and that his circumstances were such that the addition I desired must consist with the small Preferment he hath already. There is now a Prebendary vacant, which will answer my Wish. One Mr. Williamson dyed about 36 hours ago; He was Treasurer of Christ-church in Dublin, the Place is worth between ninety and a hundred pounds a year, and no more; The Person whom I desire may have it is Mr John Jackson, Minister of Santry three miles from Dublin, and a Relation of the Grattans, he hath been often and earnestly recommended by me to Your Grace, and your answers have been favorable; I have added severall times that you would by such a favor oblige this whole City, and the most honest gentlemen in the Kingdom, and I hope such a consideration will have weight with you. I do therefore hope and expect that Your Grace will by the next Post, send an Order to have a Patent made out for Mr. John Jackson Vicar of Santry Rector (which ever he be) to confer on him the Treasurership of Christ-church, Dublin; and at the same time (which is now near the twentyth) that my chief Regard is to Your Grace’s honor, that you will reward a most deserving Gentleman of this Kingdom, who had the misfortune to be born in it, with one mark of Your Favor. Otherwise, I shall think it very hard, that as I am of some station, and perhaps of some little Distinction, beside the Honor of being so long known to your Grace and family, I could never have the least Power of prevayling on you to reward Merit, for which no Party will repine…Jonath: Swift”. Dean Swift and the date are handwritten on a panel to verso. 2pp. on card-style stationery measures 7.5” x 9”. Light toning, some show through and a small tear to the right edge, else near fine. Sold for $19,103.
J.K. Rowling Signed First Edition, First Printing Harry Potter Signed Book — “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” — With PSA/DNA COA
Extremely rare J.K. Rowling signed first edition, first printing Harry Potter signed book: “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” Bloomsbury: London: 1997. The author signs the dedication page “To Bryony / with best wishes / JK Rowling”. A true first edition, it features the number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page, and the first printing misprint on page 53 of “1 wand” listed twice, as well as the Wendy Cooling cover quote: “A terrific read and a stunning first novel”. Indeed, this first of Rowling’s wildly successful Harry Potter book series was published later in the U.S. under the title “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Its film adaption became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. Issued as a paperback, novel runs 223pp. and measures 5″ x 8″. Toning to leaves and edges. Rubbing to spine edges and creasing to hinges, else near fine. With PSA/DNA COA. Sold for $17,000.
First Edition Set of Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” — “Fellowship of the Ring” & “Return of the King” Are First Printings; “Two Towers” Is Second Printing — All Three Are Near Fine
Very rare first edition, early printing set of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1954 & 1955. All three are in extraordinarily near fine condition for both the books and their original dust jackets. “The Fellowship of the Ring” is a first edition, first printing (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954) with map attached to rear flyleaf. Publisher’s red cloth with gilt spine titles. With signature mark “4” at the bottom of page 49. Original dust jacket priced “21s net”. “The Two Towers” is a first edition, second printing (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954) with map attached to rear flyleaf. Publisher’s red cloth with gilt spine titles. Original dust jacket priced “21s net”. “The Return of the King” is a first edition, first printing (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1955) with map attached to rear flyleaf. Signature mark “4” present on page 49, and all lines of type sag in the middle. Publisher’s red cloth with gilt spine titles. Original dust jacket priced “21s net”. All measure 5.75″ x 9″ with top edges red. A beautiful set with only minor edge wear, toning to endpapers and very light wear to jackets. One of the nicest “Lord of the Rings” sets available. Sold for $14,588.
James Joyce Autograph and an Henri Matisse Autograph in a Scarce Limited Edition of “Ulysses”
Scarce copy of “Ulysses” rare book by James Joyce, illustrated by Henri Matisse. New York: The Limited Editions Club: 1935. Number 297 of a limited edition run of 1500 copies. One of only 250 such copies signed by both Joyce and Matisse. Boldly signed by the author and illustrator on limitation page. Full brown buckram boards with gilt embossing to front cover and backstrip. Large octavo measures 9″ x 11.5″. Volume runs 420pp. with an introduction by Stuart Gilbert and illustrations by Henri Matisse including 20 reproductions of preliminary drawings and six original soft-ground etchings. In 1935 George Macy, founder of the fledgling Limited Editions Club, made the bold decision to commission Matisse to illustrate Joyce’s controversial and previously banned masterpiece, “Ulysses.” Matisse, understanding that Joyce’s work parodied the original eighteen episodes of the “Odyssey,” chose to create his 26 full-page illustrations as actual illustrations of Homer’s original work. Matisse later signed all 1500 of Macy’s limited edition, however, as legend has it, when Joyce realized that Matisse had been working from Homer’s “Odyssey” rather than his novel, he refused to sign any more than the 250 copies he had already signed making this double-signed edition exceedingly rare. Rare book without original slipcase, else fine condition. Sold for $14,460.
Incredible F. Scott Fitzgerald Typed Letter Signed on His Top 3 Influences as a Writer
Rare F. Scott Fitzgerald typed letter signed, devoted entirely to Fitzgerald’s revealing the people who impacted his writing. Dated 7 January 1934, in the final years of his life, letter to a Mr. Egbert S. Oliver at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon reads in part, ”Dear Mr. Oliver, The first help I ever had in writing in my life was from my father who read an utterly imitative Sherlock Holmes story of mine and pretended to like it. But after that I received the most invaluable aid from Mr. C.N.B. Wheeler then headmaster of the St. Paul Academy now the St. Paul Country Day School in St. Paul, Minnesota. 2. From Mr. Hume, then co-headmaster of the Newman School and now headmaster of the Canterbury School. 3. From Courtland Van Winkle in freshman year at Princeton – now professor of literature at Yale (he gave us the book of Job to read and I don’t think any of our preceptorial group ever quite recovered from it.) After that comes a lapse. Most of the professors seemed to me old and uninspired, or perhaps it was just that I was getting under way in my own field. I think this answers your question. This is also my permission to make full use of it with or without my name. Sorry I am unable from circumstances of time and pressure to go into it further. Sincerely, [signed] F. Scott Fitzgerald”. Fitzgerald added a few hand corrections in ink throughout the letter. 2pp. letter on 2 sheets of plain stationery, measuring 8.5” x 11” are quite attractively matted and framed alongside a photo of Fitzgerald to an overall size of 32” x 17.5”. Light toning, creasing and paperclip imprint to letter, else near fine. Sold for $13,045.
James Joyce “Ulysses” First Edition From 1922 — #877 of the 1,000 Copies in the Rare First Edition
James Joyce’s magnum opus “Ulysses”, the first edition limited to 1,000 copies, of which this is #877 — one of the 750 copies printed on handmade paper in its distinct teal paper wrappers, here bound into contemporary half-linen boards. Paris: Shakespeare and Company, 1922. Interestingly, the date of publication for “Ulysses” was intended for Joyce’s birthday, 2 February 1922, but only two copies were printed that day, both from the batch of 750 copies printed on handmade paper, of which this is one. Following later in February were more of the 750 copies before the copies 1-250 were printed; therefore, although the 750 run is numerically higher, it actually precedes the others in printing priority. Book measures 7.5″ x 9.5″ and spans 732pp., with prospectus advertising the novel’s publication “in the Autumn of 1921”, affixed to front free endpaper. Newspaper photograph of Dublin also taped to front pastedown. Separation starting to front joint, but book itself, contained between teal wrappers is very good to near fine. One of the most influential books of 20th century modernist literature. Sold for $11,025.
First Edition, Third Printing of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Second Novel, “The Beautiful and Damned” — With a Charming Inscription to Actor Edward Everett Horton
Signed and inscribed first edition, third printing of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Beautiful and Damned.” New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons: 1922. Fitzgerald’s second novel paints a vivid portrait of the Eastern elite during the Jazz Age in America. Copy is inscribed by Fitzgerald on the front free endpaper: “This book oddly enough is responsible from its title for the phrase ‘beautiful and dumb.’ I doubt if it has any other distinction. For Edward Everett Horton from F. Scott Fitzgerald / Encino 1939.” In publisher’s original green cloth boards with some soiling. Includes a later printing dustjacket from the A.L. Burt edition with minor wear. Very good condition. Sold for $10,781.
Ernest Hemingway Signed First Limited Edition of ”A Farewell to Arms” — Scarce in Original Slipcase
Ernest Hemingway signed limited first edition of his post-WWI classic, ”A Farewell to Arms”, housed in its original limited edition slipcase, with numbers matching. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1929. Published on 27 September 1929 in a limited edition of 510 numbered copies, this being #214, signed boldly ”Ernest Hemingway” in black fountain pen. In matching slipcase with Charles Scribner’s Sons plate, again listing the limited edition as #214. Measures 6.5” x 9.5”. Some chipping to seams of slipcase, overall in very good condition. Chipping to spine label, otherwise book is near fine. Sold for $10,313.
Hammett’s “The Thin Man” Inscribed 1st Edition
Scarce signed and inscribed copy of “The Thin Man” by Dashiell Hammett. New York: Alfred A. Knopf: 1934. First edition, first printing with red variant dust jacket with front flap reviews. Boldly inscribed, “For Dan and Peggy / with my best regards / Dashiell Hammett / New York / Sept. 23, 1934.” A rare copy of Hammett’s hardboiled detective novel which became the basis for the successful film series starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. Minor fading and soiling to decorative green cloth boards (oxidation of green dye that was used in first edition printings has resulted in light green cloth boards). Moderate wear to unclipped dust jacket. Overall, very good condition. Sold for $9,600.
Ian Fleming Signed First Edition, First Impression of “Goldfinger” in Original Dust Jacket — Near Fine Condition — With University Archives COA
Pristine first edition, first impression of “Goldfinger”, signed by author Ian Fleming without inscription, housed in its original dust jacket with 15s. net price intact. London: Jonathan Cape, 1959. Considered the finest novel in the James Bond canon, Fleming’s large, bold signature appears on the front free endpaper in blue ballpoint, inside the famous boards of a skull with $50 gold coins for eyes. Book is near fine with no significant flaws, housed in a near fine jacket, and then further housed in a custom clamshell case. With University Archives COA. A must have addition for the Bond aficionado. Sold for $9,450.
Dashiell Hammett First Edition The Thin Man
Dashiell Hammett The Thin Man first edition signed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf: 1934. First edition, first printing rare book. Hardcover sans dustjacket. Blue ink inscription on ffep reads: “For Paul Hollister / with best regards / Dashiell Hammett / New York / January 6, 1934.” First printing copy of the very first in Hammett’s iconic series of Nick and Nora detective books, which in turn inspired various movie adaptations, including those starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. Book, measuring 5″ x 7.5″, runs 260pp. Inscription bold and legible, but suffers slightly from ink bleed. Cloth boards feature a stylish theater mask printed in blue ink on the front cover and excellent red and blue spine design. A large but light stain on the front cover and some shelf wear to bottom edges, very mild interior toning, but overall bright. An excellent copy in very good condition. Sold for $9,433.
Scarce Signed Copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ”The Great Gatsby”
Coveted signed copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece novel, ”The Great Gatsby.” Modern Library: New York, 1934, which included the first appearance of the author’s new introduction. Signed and inscribed by Fitzgerald to actor Ned Griffith: ”For Ned Griffith / from his friend / F. Scott Fitzgerald / Hollywood 1939”. Fitzgerald’s new introduction to ”Gatsby” reads in part: ”…I think it is an honest book, that is to say, that one used none of one’s virtuosity to get an effect, and, to boast again, one soft-pedalled the emotional side to avoid the tears leaking from the socket of the left eye…” In original publisher’s blue cloth boards with gilt lettering to spine, though sun-faded in spots. The Modern Library torchbearer emblem is stamped in gilt on front board and the endpapers are printed in orange. With a ”Stanley Rose Bookshop” ticket affixed to rear pastedown. Lower corner of front board is bumped and a tiny .25” hole appears to lower corner of front free endpaper; overall, book is in very good condition. Includes original dustjacket in fair condition, with price clipped, significant chips and some paper loss. An incredibly rare signed copy of Fitzgerald’s great novel, with a still bold inscription and signature. Provenance from Heritage Auctions in 2011. Sold for $9,375.
Charles Dickens autograph letter signed from 1854, shortly after writing ”Hard Times”. Dickens writes from Tavistock House in London on 23 December 1854, writing ”Dear sir, Let me amuse you that your explanation was not at all necessary. I fully understood that you had a great deal to do, and never for a moment accused you in my thoughts of the slightest omission. The result of the night is very gratifying indeed, and fills me with pleasure. There is no hope of Sir towards Dalmer Lytton. He told me only the other day, that he was quite bewildered by such applications, and that where a speech hanging on him was to cast a shadow on his daily life. We resolve of never to ask any such service of each other and your letter binds me for the first time what I promise.” Dickens signs ”Faithfully yours / Charles Dickens” with his ornate paraph to second page of 2pp. letter on two sheets. Matted to blue background underneath brown wooden frame with engraving of Dickens. Letter measures 4.25” x 6.5”, framed to 20.25” x 26”. Light soiling to bottom of second page of letter, and very small tears to top of each sheet. Very good condition overall. Bold Charles Dickens autograph. Sold for $3,781.
Over 100 pages of poetry by the Pulitzer Prize winning author Anne Sexton, the first drafts of ”The Awful Rowing Toward God” and ”The Death Notebooks”, one day after she completed these ”raw, unworked poems”. Poems are accompanied by two typed letters signed, the first written to critic Walter Kerr, to whom she gave these poems because she had read that Kerr and his wife read poetry aloud, and that she was also touched by his ”kind, gracious, and insightful review of ‘Mercy Street’ years earlier. Two page letter is written upon Sexton’s personal letterhead, dated 31 January 1973 as is the other single page letter, also signed ”Anne Sexton”, where she writes one day after their completion, ”These poems were started January 10, 1973, finished January 30, 1973…they are raw, unworked poems, all first drafts, written in a frenzy of despair and hope…I fly like an eagle but with the wings of a wren…” The draft of the ”The Death Notebooks” features Sexton’s handwritten inscription, ”For Walter Kerr”, and includes an original poem entitled ”Jesus Walking”. These first drafts, all pages being photostatic copies, differ from the published works, with many additional verses present in these volumes. Over 120 pages in total, bound in custom quarter-leather boards with marbled endpapers, reading ”Anne Sexton / 1973” on spine. Measures 8.75” 11.25”. Some wear to boards, very good condition. Sold for $2,813.
F. Scott Fitzgerald “Young Men” 1st
First edition of “All the Sad Young Men” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons: 1926. First edition points for the book itself include matching dates of 1926 on the title and copyright pages, as well as the Scribner’s Seal on the copyright page. Text remains clear and unbattered on pages 38, 90 and 248. Original dark bluish green cloth binding containing linen-like grain. Thirty-one lines per page. Front blind-stamped and gilt to backstrip. Lips of woman on dustjacket battered, though globe retains three distinct lines. Back blurb of dustjacket features Fitzgerald. Front flap contains $2.00 price and blurbs by Broun, Jones, Woolcott, and Hergesheimer. Back flap contains an advertisement for Ring Lardner’s “The Love Nest.” Book remains in excellent condition with only the slightest bumped corners and toning to front free endpapers. Back ffep contains remnants from tape, since removed. Dustjacket housed in protective covering contains chipping and wrinkling to top and bottom edges. Vertical folds contain tears. Book: excellent condition; dustjacket: good condition. A rare copy of Fitzgerald’s classic collection of short stories. Sold for $2,429.
Poet Stephane Mallarme Autograph Letter Signed — Mallarme Writes to Fellow Poet Leon Dierx
Influential poet Stephane Mallarme autograph letter signed, elegantly written in French to fellow poet Leon Dierx. Dated ”Monday” in 1890, Mallarme laments an illness of conjunctivitis suffered by his friend, and speaks of a ”Poland”, who is also ill and can’t travel to Paris. Letter on front and verso of a card measures 4.5” x 3.5”. Uniform toning, else near fine. Sold for $1,563.
Original Book From William Wordsworth’s Personal Library — Signed by the Revered Poet on Title Page
British Romantic poet William Wordsworth book from his personal library, signed clearly ”W Wordsworth” on title page. Wordsworth spearheaded the Romantic poetry movement in England along with Samuel Taylor Coleridge and others in the 19th century, becoming known for his 1798 collaboration with Coleridge entitled ”Lyrical Ballads.” Book is written in French and titled, ”Causes celebres et Interessantes avec Les Jugements Qui Les Ont Decidees / Redigles de nouveau par M. Richer, ancien avocat au Parlement, Tome Premiere.” Published ”Chez Michel Rhey” in Amsterdam in 1772 as a volume of legal judgments by various authors. Wordsworth lived in France, becoming engrossed in the Revolutionary Republican movement. He fell in love with a French woman, Annette Vallon, who in 1792 gave birth to their child, Caroline. Front fly leaf has notes written in French, though not identifiably in Wordsworth’s hand. Book is split into two parts and the front board is detached. Very good condition otherwise. Sold for $1,420.
Alexandre Dumas Autograph Letter Signed
Alexandre Dumas autograph letter signed, with no date. Letter is written in French and is signed boldly, ”Dumas” in black ink. With a second note to verso in another hand. Document measures 8.25” x 5” with an uneven left edge and some toning throughout; ”Alex. Dumas” is written in pencil to upper left. Overall very good.
Sold for $1,344.
FREE ESTIMATE. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Voltaire and Rockwell Kent Candide of 95 1928 that is for sale, please email your description and photos of your Voltaire signed letter to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).