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JACOB MAX: (1876-1944) French Poet and Painter. A good A.L.S., Max Jacob, one page, small 4to, Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire, 16th March 1927, to his editor, in French. Jacob asks his correspondent to be kind and attend his good friend Dr. Raymond Geiser saying ‘..in order to supply your de luxe edition services and specifically a copy of La Cote. I also take this occasion to ask you if it would be possible to cancel the remaining amount pending for this book…May I add that I admire very much the magnificent edition. It is a masterpiece of your art. The gouaches reproductions are exact and very beautiful..’ Stain to the upper left corner, otherwise G £80 - 100 €90 - 110
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COLETTE: (1873-1954) French Novelist, best known for her novel Gigi. An excellent and unusual size signed and inscribed 7.5 x 9.5 photograph by Colette. The attractive artistic image depicting the French writer in a close-up profile portrait pose. Signed in bold blue ink with a lengthy and curious inscription ‘au plus Marseillais des amis et des directeurs, -ai-je jamais fait un meilleur compliment? il n’est de réveillons qu’à Marseille ! - Colette’, also dated December 1925 in her hand. VG £600 - 900 €680 - 1000
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WELLS H. G.: (1866-1946) English Writer of Science Fiction novels. Autograph signed statement ‘I do not guide my life by Maxims - H.G. Wells’, one page, to an oblong 4to page. To the heading bearing a collector’s annotation, also indicating the date this statement was obtained, 11th October 1926. Small overall age wear with edges slightly trimmed. G £150 - 200 €170 - 230
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STEIN GERTRUDE: (1874-1946) American Novelist, Poet and art Collector. Stein moved to Paris in 1903 where she lived for the remainder of her life. She hosted a Paris salon, where the leading figures of modernism in literature and art, such as Picasso, Hemingway, Scott Fitzgerald and Matisse would meet. A.L.S., ‘Gtrde Stein’, two pages, 4to, Paris, n.d. [1938], on her personal printed stationery, Rue de Fleurus, Paris, to Billie Young. Stein crosses out her Parisian printed address and annotates beneath the new one ‘5 rue Christine’. In her usual difficult to decipher hand, Stein sends a friendly message, stating in part ‘Your letter touched me very much… send me more newspapers with your column in it, I would like to have them, I always like..’ further referring to her change of address ‘.. after over 3 years in one place, here we are in another..’ With a Charles Skipper & East London watermark. Light ink. Overall minor age wear. G £800 - 1200 €900 - 1400
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WOOLF VIRGINIA: (1882-1941) English Novelist. An exceptional A.L.S., ‘Virginia Woolf’, two pages, 8vo, blue paper, London, n.d., [1919], on her printed stationery, 52 Tavistock Square, to André Maurois. Woolf thanks her correspondent stating ‘I have been ill, and I should before this have thanked you for the most generous introduction which you have written for the French translation of Mrs Dalloway.’ further saying ‘..I cannot forget that you have certainly many other things to claim your time, so that your kindness in troubling to write an introduction is all the greater.’ Woolf takes the opportunity to send a lengthy praise of Maurois’work, defining it as ‘exquisite’ and stating ‘It fascinated me by its beautiful ease & brilliance..’ And before concluding ‘..I am encouraged by what you have written so generously and with such fine understanding of my work.’ A letter of very interesting content. VG £2500 - 3500 €2800 - 4000
Andre Maurois (1885-1967) French Author.
Mrs Dalloway (1925) is a novel by Virginia Woolf, one of her best-known works.
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RAMANANDA CHATTERJEE: (1865-1943) Indian Editor. Considered as the father of Indian journalism. A good autograph statement signed by Chatterjee, one page, oblong 4to, in Indian and also translated into English alongside by himself, stating ‘The True, The Good, The Beautiful’, and beneath ‘The Supreme Self cannot be realised by the weak’. To the heading bearing a collector’s annotation, also indicating the date this statement was obtained, 2nd November 1924. Small overall age wear, otherwise G £200 - 300 €230 - 340
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MILNE A.A: (1882-1956) British Author. Alan Alexander Milne. Best known for his books about “Teddy Bear Winnie-the-Pooh”. An excellent set of two good and contrasting A.Ls.S., by Milne. The first being an A.L.S., ‘A.A.Milne’, one page, small 8vo, London, 2nd July 1920, on his personal printed stationery “11, Mallord Street, Chelsea S.W.3, Tel. Kensington 2074”, to Vincent Seligman. Milne refers in part to his wife’s pregnancy, stating ‘I’m afraid that my wife won’t be able to go out now until after September..’. Christopher Robin was born a month later on 21st August 1920. The second letter being an A.L.S., ‘Blue’, signed in Milne’s nickname, two pages, 8vo, Hartfield, 27th November 1942, to Vincent Seligman. Bearing to the heading his handwritten initials ‘C.F - H.S’, which correspond to the acronym for Cotchford Farm, Hartfield, Sussex. This letter is written to same correspondent but twenty two years later. Milne notes that ‘Moon’, his nickname for Christopher Robin is now stationed at a training battalion for the Royal Engineers, and then quotes his son in his last received letter from Christopher Robin ‘Scorpions or no scorpions this is a very pleasant place. We might be much worse off.’ Milne, who was Captain of the British Home Guard in WWII, makes several references to the war, including the comment ‘Do you realize we are winning..’ Cotchford Farm was the creative birthplace of Milne’s wonderful stories about his young son Christopher Robin and Winnie The Pooh. Small overall creasing with upper edge slightly trimmed, otherwise G £1500 - 2000 €1700 - 2300
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ELUARD PAUL: (1895-1952) French Poet, widely considered one of the founders of the surrealist movement. A good autograph signed poem ‘Paul Eluard’, one page, folio, n.p., n.d., to the verso of Parisian furniture and refurbishment printed stationery company, in French. A 28 verses boldly written poem in his hand, in bold black ink, being a large part of his poem ‘Poésie Ininterrompue’, 1946, (“Uninterrupted Poetry”), saying ‘Pour qu’un seul baiser la retienne… Vers une caresse infinie - Pour qu’elle soit comme une plaine - Nue et visible de partout - Pour qu’elle soit comme une pluie - Miraculeuse sans nuage - Comme une pluie entre deux feux - Comme une larme entre deux rires..’ Accompanied by a printed four pages text by René Char, entitled “Paul Eluard”, Summer 1933. With two crossing-out and corrections in his hand. Folded, with creasing to the borders, otherwise G £600 - 900 €680 - 1000
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COCTEAU JEAN: (1889-1963) French Writer, Playwright and Filmmaker. A very good autograph poem signed ‘Jean Cocteau’, one page, 4to, n.p., dated 1917 in his hand, in French. Cocteau, in his less than usual untidy writing, entitles his poem ‘Metamorphoses’, underlined, comprising fourteen verses, and stating in part ‘Beauté, capable, si votre jeunesse plonge - De s’élargir comme un objet de caoutchouc - Pour, assouplie après ce système de songe - Apparaitre au soleil, intacte, tout a coup’, further saying ‘Souvent a ces miroirs dangereux se mélange - Votre monstre aux bras courts, aux grands pieds, au long cou - Se mélange t-il bien, il fait un nouvel ange - Qui cette fois s’étire on ne sait plus jusqu’ou’. Folded thin paper, with several areas of paper loss and a tear to the edges and two traces of former affixing to upper and lower right corners, none affecting the written test or signature. F £600 - 900 €680 - 1000
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CAMUS ALBERT: (1913-1960) French Author and Philosopher. Nobel Prize winner in Literature, 1957. A.N., by Camus, to a T.L. corresponding to an Albert Maquet work, one page, folio, n.p., n.d., in French. Maquet’s typed text refers to La Peste, (“The Plague”), 1947, by Camus, to revolt and Christian faith. Small pencil annotation in Camus’ hand to the left border stating ‘May be it’s saying too much. There is a revolt in Jesus.’ An interesting comment by Camus related to Maquet’s draft. EX £400 - 500 €450 - 560
Albert Maquet (1922-2009) Belgian-Walloon Writer. Maquet published several works based on Camus’ works.
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CAMUS ALBERT: (1913-1960) French Author and Philosopher. Nobel Prize winner in Literature, 1957. An excellent and rare set containing one A.L.S. and eight T.Ls. containing annotations in Camus’ hand. A.L.S., ‘Albert Camus’, one page, 4to, n.p., 7th April 1952, in French. Camus responds to his correspondent’s questions, and numbers five very interesting and literary answers plus a conclusion, stating in part ‘1) You can use the Mayo’s illustration without inconvenience - 2) The photograph with Barrault is indeed a rehearsal one of L’Etat de Siege. Honegger composed the music for it… 5) “L’Inédit est récent (1951). It is a commentary about a Vaucluse photographic report which I will present , not yet published with René Char. The provisional title is “The Sun Posterity”.’ Camus further concludes ‘However you are fully right: it is “the deepest” we can say and there I was negligent with the style..’ An excellent content letter with good association. Together with eight T.Ls., 4to, n.p., n.d., being a questionnaire related to his novel La Peste (“The Plague”), 1947, containing Camus’ answers and comments, twenty nine lines in total, carefully annotated by Camus in bold black ink, and stating in part ‘If you re-read La Peste, taking into account the narrator’s personality, you realize for example that the chapter related to the separated lovers..’ further saying ‘No, the main effort of composition was on the pyramid order of the five parts..’ and he itemizes each part. An extremely interesting literary comments by Camus related to his novel La Peste (“The Plague”). Upper edge of the letter very slightly trimmed and typed pages with filing border, otherwise about EX £2500 - 3500 €2800 - 4000
L’Etat de Siege (1948) The State of Siege” is a play by Camus.
Arthur Honegger (1892-1955) Swiss Composer.
René Char (1907-1988) French Poet and member of the French Resistance.
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BRETON ANDRE: (1896-1966) French Writer and Poet. One of the main figures and co-founder of Surrealism. Unusual and very interesting document related to René Magritte bearing multiple annotations in the hand of Breton, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d., in French. The document relates to Magritte, to artistic concepts, to Paul Nougé and to his first work Histoire de ne pas rire (1956). Breton adds to the borders, base, and in between lines multiple and lengthy interesting annotations, stating in part ‘Proverbs in the Flemish painting in the XVI century…the genuine common sens, I mean the one of the great poets.. the Chirico enigma was solemnly placed in the metaphysical questioning’, also describing and explaining the difference between ‘Intimate and internal sense..common sense..literally..figuratively..’ and referring to objects, to their utility and to their own life ‘like puppets’. A very interesting content document with multiple conceptual art annotations in the hand of Breton related to Magritte. VG £300 - 400 €340 - 450
René Magritte (1898-1967) Belgian Surrealist Artist. An influential surrealism figure.
Paul Nougé (1895-1967) Belgian Poet. A Theoretician of surrealism. Also known as the “Belgian Breton”.
Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1978) Greek-Italian surrealist Painter.
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GOMEZ DE LA SERNA RAMON: (1888-1963) Spanish Writer. An avant-garde artist who strongly influenced surrealist film maker Luis Buñuel. Both artists went into exile and died far from Spain. A good autograph statement signed ‘Ramon Gomez de la Serna’, in red ink, one page, oblong 6 x 5, on a page removed from an autograph album, Rosario, Argentina, 13th November 1931, in Spanish. The statement is entitled ‘Greguería’ and Gomez de la Serna states in full ‘I like the barometer because it is a silent clock. It even indicates the storms mutely!’ VG £200 - 300 €230 - 340
A Gregueria is a short statement, a philosophical, pragmatic or humorous original idea. Gomez de la Serna was known for his Greguerias form of poetry.
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BORGES JORGE LUIS: (1899-1986) Argentine Writer & Poet. Signed book ‘J. L. Borges’, a 5 x 8 paperback edition of Labyrinths, 1964, published in English by New Directions, New York, with preface by André Maurois. Signed by Borges to the inside title page in bold black ink. The 260 pages book contains selected stories and other writings by Borges taken from several volumes originally published in Spanish between 1956 and 1960. G £600 - 900 €680 - 1000
Philosophers
‘The democracy has to abandon these institutions of the XX century
if it wants to save its own soul.’
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ORTEGA Y GASSET JOSE: (1883-1955) Spanish Philosopher and Writer. An influential figure known for his “Philosophy of Life” and for his best-known work The Revolt of the Masses (1929). A very rare and excellent set of seven A.Ls.S., and one T.L.S., all of them signed ‘Jose Ortega y Gasset’, one to three pages, sixteen pages in total, 4to, and only two 12mo, written from Madrid (2), Zumaya, Malaga, Buenos Aires, and few with no place, all dated between August 1916 and July 1918, all on his personal printed stationery, to Estanislao Zeballos, in Spanish. Ortega y Gasset states in part ‘My life, as you have noticed, has been a run over the last few months, and it would be deeply grievous if I find out that I have been discourteous without realizing I was so, in a Country to which I owe my loyal and enthusiastic gratitude.’, also saying ‘.. I was at that precise moment with Ignacio Zuloaga, the best living painter on the planet.. By the way, these colours used by the Indian women confirm a theory about chromatism which I support since long ago, parallel to the one which starts being accepted in the psychology of sounds, according to which oriental and american (primitive) people have a different basic sound spectrum.’ further also saying ‘Here we can expect the advent of a Republic which if not federal will look like in some way..’ In January 1918 he states ‘..The war seems to be starting its own liquidation. Don’t you think so?.. The revolutionary process started in Spain, more than political is historical. The official Spain as I call it is collapsing.. we are all moving towards a radical change of the public institutions. I think that this will also be happening in all European countries after the war. Same in England.. The democracy has to abandon these institutions of the XX century if it wants to save its own soul.’ Sixteen cleanly written letters, to a friend and important Argentinian politician, referring to multiple topics such as war, political situation, his conferences, Argentina, etc… Very small overall minor age wear, otherwise VG £5000 - 8000 €5600 - 9000
Estanislao Zeballos (1854-1923) Argentine Politician, Lawyer and Writer. Minister of Foreign affairs. One of the most prominent intellectuals of his time.
Ignacio Zuloaga (1870-1945) Spanish Painter.
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MILLER HENRY: (1891-1980) American Writer. A.L.S., Henry Miller, Pacific Palisades, California, 11th May 1963, to Guy Harlow. A good and interesting content letter by Miller, stating in part ‘…will be delighted to receive your generous gifts - the reprint and (?) a painting. I saw some of your work in a friend’s art gallery recently in Beverly Hills. I am painting all the time now - but only aquarelles. (155 so far this year)’, further saying ‘As for putting money into publishing - no impossible! I can’t even manage to pay my income tax when it comes due.’ and before concluding referring to Morocco and Spain ‘I note you live mostly in Tangiers. Is that a good place? Prefer Fez or one of the others. What do you know about Cadiz? Have the tourists ruined it by now?’ Postmarked and addressed in his hand to the verso. Folded. VG £200 - 300 €230 - 340
‘Never forget that life is a cross talk I am having
with an unknown partner’
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BUBER MARTIN: (1878-1965) Austrian-born Israeli Jewish Philosopher. Known for his Philosophy of Dialogue. Ten times nominated for the Nobel Literature prize and seven times for the Peace prize. A carefully boldly written autograph signed statement ‘Never forget that life is a cross talk I am having with an unknown partner’, one page, oblong 4to, in German. To the heading bearing a collector’s annotation, “your life maxim” being the question Buber responds to, also indicating the date this statement was obtained, 24th November 1929. Very small overall age wear, otherwise VG £200 - 300 €230 - 340
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GENET JEAN: (1910-1986) French Novelist, Playwright, and political Activist. A good A.L.S., ‘Jean’, one page, folio, Tokio, n.d., on the Tokyo Hilton printed stationery, in French. An amusing letter, making a joke referring to his birthday, and with text included in a geometrical figure looking like stairs, stating in part ‘I am happy to have celebrated my 19 years old on 57th December. Tokyo is really a city for me. There are lovely young men, gracious like Japanese porcelain cups.’ further saying ‘What about Sicily? Live long.’ Matted in black, alongside an 8 x 10 photograph of Genet, the image depicting the French poet outdoors in a half length pose, with the printed text “To achieve harmony in bad taste is the height of elegance”, and to an overall of 16.5 x 12. VG £100 - 150 €110 - 170
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SAGAN FRANCOISE: (1935-2004) Her real name being Francoise Quoirez. French Novelist and Playwright with a very controversial life. Bold black ink signed 6 X 4 card, ‘Françoise Sagan’ to the verso of a disembarkation card. Matted in black beneath a 7 x 11 photograph of Sagan, the image showing the French author in a half length pose holding her work A Certain Smile (1956), to an overall size of 12 x 16. VG £60 - 90 €70 - 100
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RAO RAJA: (1908-2006) Indian Writer. One of the most internationally awarded Indian writers. An excellent autograph signed thoughts by Rao, one page, folio, in French. Rao states in part ‘According to a Hindu principle, writing is a holy thing.. We must, as some Hindu writings say, work, work with devotion, and the result obtained do not have to bother us.’ further saying ‘My main work is Kanthapura.’ Dated in his hand 4th April 1948. To the heading bearing the collector’s annotations with questions Raja Rao responds to. VG £300 - 400 €340 - 450
Kanthapura (1938) First and best-known novel of Rao.
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BA JIN: (1904-2005) His real name being Li Yaotang. Known by his pen name Ba Jin. Chinese Writer and political Activist. Widely regarded as one of the most important 20th century Chinese authors, best known for his novel The Family (1933). An excellent A.L.S., ‘Ba Jin’, in Chinese characters, one page, 4to, 25th March [1964], to Sha Tin, in Chinese. Ba Jin states in part ‘Comrade Sha Tin, Ji Shen told me that he received a letter from Mrs. Ai mentioning that comrade Yu Xin passed away… In the past days I was busy trying to finish an article for Song Gang, and also receiving the visit of a Japanese writers delegation, they only left yesterday, so now I am thinking about you..’ further saying ‘If these news are not true, I ask you for your apologize. If this is true, I really feel sorry. Please take care of yourself, be strong…We talk about other issues next time. Please take care!’ A very attractive letter. With small remnants of former affixing to the upper edge, and very small creasing and foxing stains to the right border, not affecting the text or signature. G to VG £1000 - 1500 €1100 - 1700
Sha Tin (1904-1992) Chinese Writer and friend of Ba Jin.
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ELLIOT THOMAS. S.: (1888-1965) American-born English Poet & Dramatist. Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1948. Rare T.L.S., T.S. Eliot, one page, 4to, London, 25th February 1952, to Miss M. St. Clare Byrne. The letter bears two holograph corrections by Eliot. On the printed stationery of Publishers Faber and Faber Limited, Eliot states ‘..since although I had long given up questioning you on the subject, I had not forgotten the proposed edition of the Lyall (corrected by Eliot) Lisle letters. I knew that you had great difficulty in getting on with this work during the War, and I hoped that you had not abandoned it altogether.´ further concluding ‘… I shall certainly not decline to allow my name to be used as a patron of this programme.´ An interesting letter referring to Viscount Lisle correspondence. With a file hole to the upper left corner not affecting the text. £300 - 400 €340 - 450
Muriel St. Clare Byrne (1895-1983) Prominent historical Researcher, specializing in the Tudor period and the reign of Henry VIII of England.
John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland (1504-1553) English General and Politician who led, as a De Facto England ruler, the government of King Edward VI 1550-53, and unsuccessfully tried to install Lady Jane Grey on the English throne after the King's death.
The voluminous edition of Duke of Northumberland correspondence would be published in 1981 long after Eliot’s death.
Nobel Prize Winners
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LAGERLOF SELMA: (1858-1940) Swedish Author, the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, 1909. A.Q.S., Selma Lagerlof, on an oblong 8vo card, n.p., n.d. Lagerlof has neatly penned the Latin phrase ‘Labor improbus omnia vicit’ (translated as ‘hard work conquers everything’, adapted from Virgil’s Georgics, Book I, line 145-6). With light age wear, otherwise VG £80 - 100 €90 - 110
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TAGORE RABINDRANATH: (1861-1941) Bengali Poet, Musician and Polymath. Awarded with the Nobel prize in literature in 1913, and first non-European to win the Nobel in literature. Rare signed 3.5 x 5.5 postcard by Tagore, the image being a drawn portrait of the Indian artist. Signed in bold black ink at the base of the image, in Bengali. Post-stamped to the verso. Overall rust spots, otherwise G £800 - 1200 €900 - 1400
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ROLLAND ROMAIN: (1866-1944) French Dramatist & Novelist, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1915. An interesting A.L.S., Romain Rolland, two pages, to both sides of an oblong 5.5 x 3.5 thick beige card, Villeneuve, 3rd November 1927, to Julian Tiersot, 33 rue Jacob, Paris, in French. Rolland states in part ‘My dear friend, I come to thank you for sending me your charming book about the Don Juan by Mozart. I have experienced a great pleasure reading it. It is at the same time wise and alive, like everything you write…’ Accompanied by the original post-stamped envelope addressed in Rolland’s hand. VG £150 - 200 €170 - 230
‘It is fine to subdue your heart and even your will,
but never the intelligence’
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BENAVENTE JACINTO: (1866-1954) Spanish Dramatist, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1922. An excellent vintage signed and inscribed 7 x 9 photograph, ‘Jacinto Benavente’, with two statements in his hand to the verso, three lines each, in Spanish. The Perez de Leon image, Madrid, showing the Spanish writer seated in a half length pose. In bold black ink, Benavente annotates to the upper left corner ‘To Tomas Seseña, a souvenir from his good friend - Jacinto Benavente’, also dated May 1945 in his hand. With two autograph statements to the verso ‘It is fine to subdue your heart and even your will, but never the intelligence’, and ‘God free us from the friend who forgives us and celebrates our defects publishing them.’ VG £200 - 300 €230 - 340
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BUCK PEARL S.: (1892-1973) American Writer and Novelist, Pulitzer Prize winner 1932, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1938. T.L.S., Pearl S. Buck, one page, 4to, Perkasie, Pennsylvania, 8th April 1969, to Miss Drobac. Buck thanks her correspondent for their letter, and continues, ‘The autograph for which you ask is here at the end of this brief note, and I send you my best wishes.’ Accompanied by the original envelope. VG £80 - 100 €90 - 110
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HEMINGWAY ERNEST: (1899-1961) American Novelist, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1954. An excellent signed 5 x 7 photograph by Hemingway, the image depicting the writer standing outdoors, on a fishing journey, in a three quarter length pose. Signed in dark ink across the image. Matted in salmon pink, framed in wood and glazed, to an overall size of 11 x 13. VG £2500 - 3500 €2800 - 4000
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CAMUS ALBERT: (1913-1960) French Author and Philosopher. Nobel Prize winner in Literature, 1957. A.N. by Camus, three lines, to a T.L. corresponding to an Albert Maquet work, one page, folio, n.p., n.d., in French. Maquet’s typed text refers to La Peste, (“The Plague”), 1947, and to Camus’ plays. Small pencil annotation in Camus’ hand to the upper border, indicating it corresponds to Maquet’s paragraph ‘We have spoken about a failed work. We convey that the characters are pure abstractions endowed with mimicry and speech; the dialogues a succession of confronted ideas..’, Camus stating ‘It is true. But it is a kind of …like in the middle age, or an auto-sacramental like in Spain. And this literary style is based on allegories.’ A very interesting literary annotation by Camus related to Maquet’s draft. EX £400 - 500 €450 - 560
Albert Maquet (1922-2009) Belgian-Walloon Writer. Maquet published several works based on Camus’ works.
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SARTRE JEAN-PAUL: (1905-1980) French Philosopher, Playwright & Novelist, awarded (but refused) the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1964. A.N.S., J Sartre, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d. (1976/77), in French. Sartre writes, in full, ‘Lotta Continua is going to be banned: it is the freedom of the revolutionary press which is once more at stake. I extend a call to Italian writers to gain control of the newspaper individually or jointly’. VG £800 - 1200 €900 - 1400
Lotta Continua (‘Continuous Struggle’) was a far left extra-parliamentary organisation founded in Italy in 1969. The first issue of Lotta Continua’s eponymous newspaper was published in the November of that year. In 1977 Sartre gave an interview to the paper on the occasion of a far left rally in Bologna in which he declared ‘Je ne suis plus Marxiste’. It was around this time that the newspaper disbanded.
Jean-Paul Sartre was one of the key figures in the philosophy of existentialism and phenomenology and a leading figure in 20th century French philosophy and Marxism.
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AVIATION: Eddie Rickenbacker (1890-1973; American Fighter Ace of World War I, officially credited with 26 victories, thus making him America’s most successful Ace in the war. Medal of Honor recipient) Bold blue fountain pen ink signature (‘Capt Eddie Rickenbacker’) on a plain postcard, addressed to a collector to the verso and postmarked at New York, 11th March 1952; Freddie West (1896-1988, British Aviator of World War I, awarded the Victoria Cross for his aerial actions with No. 8 Squadron, Royal Air Force, on 12th August 1918) Signed First Day Cover commemorating Manfred von Richthofen and featuring a colour illustration of The Red Baron in aerial combat and with a small inset head and shoulders portrait. Signed by West in blue ink with his name alone to a clear area of the cover; Willy Coppens (1892-1986, Belgian Pilot of World War I, officially credited with 37 victories, thus making him Belgium’s most successful Ace and the champion ‘balloon buster’ of the war) Blue fountain pen ink signature (‘Baron Coppens de Houthulst’) and address in his hand in the return address panel removed from the verso of an envelope. Generally VG, 3 £100 - 120 €110 - 140
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GARROS ROLAND: (1888-1918) French Aviator and Fighter Pilot during WWI. First to cross the Mediterranean sea by air. Signed 4 x 2.5 card, ‘R,Garros’, in pencil, to the verso of a printed visiting card of Antony Mars. Matted in black beneath a 5.5 x 3.5 photograph of the French aviator, the image showing a very young Garros with one of his monoplanes, to an overall size of 7 x 8. Garros died at the very early age of 29 when he was shot down by a German fighter pilot only a month before the end of the war. VG £100 - 150 €110 - 170
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MCCUDDEN JAMES: (1895-1918) English Fighter Ace of World War I, Victoria Cross winner for his flying services over France, August 1917 - March 1918. Extremely rare D.S., ‘J. B. McCudden’, one page, folio, France, 25th January 1918. The partially printed typed document is a typed letter report relating to Combats in the Air prepared by McCudden following his action in a S.E.5. Aircraft in the Cambrai area, over Urvillers, stating, in part, ‘..All of my patrol got in some shooting, and after Lt Durrent had fired a final burst E.A. went down out of control just S of Cambrai..’ further saying ‘At 2.45 attacked a Rumpler at 17,000 W of St. Quentin and fired about 200 Rounds at him at varying ranges from 30 to 100 yards. Left E.A. diving almost vertically over Urvillers at about 6000 feet at 2.50 absolutely out of control. Went N climbing and at 3.25 attacked an Albatross fighter who was escorting an L.V.G…’ An excellent signed document relating directly to McCudden’s 44th Aerial Victory (from a total of 57 confirmed Victories). Countersigned by Major commanding Squadron 56 of the Royal Flying Corps. One file hole to the upper left corner not affecting the text or signature. VG £600 - 900 €680 - 1000
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[BEAUCHAMP-PROCTOR ANDREW]: (1894-1921) South-African leading flying ace of First World War. Recipient of the Victoria Cross. Rare D.S. by Sholto Douglas ‘W.S.Douglas’, in his capacity as Major Commanding Squadron 84 of the Royal Flying Corps, one page, folio, France, 1st of June 1918, signed in pencil at the base. The partially printed document is a typed letter report relating to Combats in the Air prepared by Captain Andrew Weatherby Beauchamp-Proctor following his action in a S.E.5. Aircraft in the Fricourt area, stating, in part, ‘..Diving down on a balloon S.E. of Fricourt, I opened fire from 300 yds with my Vickers, and when about 50 yds distant, I fired 30 rounds from my Lewis drum of Buckingham. As I passed over balloon, I observed wreaths of blue smoke appearing on the sides of balloon. Enemy observers in two neighbouring balloons now jumped out. Owing to loss of air pressure in petrol tank, I had to return to the lines..’ An excellent signed document relating directly to Beauchamp-Proctor 22nd Aerial Victory (from a total of 54 confirmed Victories). Few file holes not affecting the text or signature, otherwise G £300 - 400 €340 - 450
William Sholto Douglas (1893-1969) 1st Baron Douglas of Kirtleside. Marshal of the Royal Air Force, former Pilot, flight Commander and Squadron Commander during the First World War. Douglas played an important role in the Battle of Britain air fighting strategy. He would further be appointed Commander of the British Zone of Occupation after the war.
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BREGUET LOUIS: (1880-1955) French Aviator and Pioneer Aircraft Designer. Vintage signed postcard photograph of Breguet, the image showing him seated in the cockpit of his aircraft, alongside three members of his team. To the upper right corner also showing a small portrait of Breguet. The postcard was addressed to Antony and Andre Mars. Bearing a French postage stamp, postmarked Douai, 5th December. Signed by Breguet with his name alone to a clear area of the image, VG £120 - 200 €140 - 230
Known for his development of reconnaissance aircraft used by the French during World War I, Breguet also remained an important manufacturer of aircraft during World War II.
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FONCK RENE: (1894-1953) French Aviator, the top Allied Fighter Ace of World War I. Rare vintage signed and inscribed 5 x 7 photograph of Fonck, the image showing the French fighter ace standing in a half length pose, wearing his uniform and medals. Signed and inscribed by Fonck ‘A Monsieur Massuger, mon souvenir de mes 6 battus dans la même journée. En bonne amitié, R. Fonck’ in bold dark fountain pen ink to a partially clear area of the image. VG £600 - 900 €680 - 1000
Louis Massuger was a French engineer of Hispano-Suiza.
Fonck refers in his inscription to the six victories he achieved on the 9th May 1918.
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BALBO ITALO: (1896-1940) Italian Marshal of the Air Force and heir apparent to Benito Mussolini. A good vintage signed postcard photograph ‘Italo Balbo’, the image showing Balbo standing, alongside Ulisse Longo, wearing his aviator uniform. Also signed by Longo to the upper right corner above his own image and by the photographer to the partially dark right lower corner. The present photograph was taken in Reykjavik between 5th and 12th July 1933, on his way to the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. Bearing to the verso the Reykjavik photographer’s ink stamp “Vignir” together with an annotation related to Balbo in an unknown hand. A very slightly light black ink signature by Balbo. Overall minor age wear, mainly to the edges. G £150 - 200 €170 - 230
Ulisse Longo (1894-1970) Italian Lieutenant-Colonel.
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NOBILE UMBERTO: (1885-1978) Italian Aeronautical Engineer and Arctic Explorer, remembered for designing and piloting the airship Norge, the first to fly across the polar ice cap from Europe to America. T.L.S., Umberto Nobile, one page, 4to, Rome, 14th June 1974, to Gerard Leman, on his printed stationery, in French. Nobile informs his correspondent ‘My book of memories has just been published in Paris. Entitled “The Pole - Adventure of my life” under the Fayard edition. I kindly ask you to read it and to let me know your impressions’. Accompanied by the original envelope. VG £80 - 100 €90 - 110
Le Pole, Aventure de ma vie, Fayard French edition, was published in Paris in 1974.
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CHAMBERLIN CLARENCE: (1893-1976) American Aviator. In 1927 Chamberlin took up the challenge of completing a solo non-stop flight from New York to Paris, a competition with a reward of 25 thousand dollars which Charles Lindbergh won. Chamberlin decided to attempt a distance record making the second non-stop transatlantic flight and the first to carry a passenger, beside setting many other aviation records. A good signed 8 x 6.5 photograph ‘Clarence D. Chamberlin’, in bold black ink at the base of the image showing his biplane NC726K, a Curtis T-32 Condor, alongside an oval head and shoulders portrait of Chamberlin wearing his aviator cap and goggles. Very small creasing to corners, otherwise VG £150 - 200 €170 - 230
Space
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GAGARIN & RUSSIAN COSMONAUTS: An excellent vintage multiple signed 11.5 x 9.5 photograph by the first six cosmonauts in space, comprising Yuri Gagarin (1934-1968), first man ever in space, 12th April 1961, commander of the Vostok I space capsule, Gherman Titov (1935-2000), Andriyan Nikolayev (1929-2004), Pavel Popovich (1930-2009), Valery Bykovsky (1934- ) and Valentina Tereshkova (1937- ). The 1960’s image showing them standing, wearing their Soviet Air Force uniforms, side by side and linking arms in a half length poses. Individually signed in bold black or blue inks by each of the Soviet commanders of the six Vostok missions, in Cyrillic, beneath their own images to the lower white border and canted at 45 degree angle. The photograph has been neatly laid down on a heavy-weight cream 13 x 9,5 sheet. Small creasing to the edges, minor stains, and extremely small paper loss area to the upper right corner. G £1500 - 2000 €1700 - 2300
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GAGARIN YURI: (1934-1968) Russian Cosmonaut, the first man to travel in space, 1961. Vintage signed 4 x 6 postcard photograph of Gagarin in a head and shoulders pose wearing his uniform. Signed in black fountain pen ink with his name alone to a light area of the image. The Pravda postcard shows to the lower white border a printed text in Cyrillic, presenting Gagarin, rank and achievements. G £250 - 350 €280 - 400
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APOLLO XII: Signed colour 8 x 10 photograph by all three crew members of Apollo XII individually, comprising Charles Conrad (Commander; the third man to walk on the moon), Alan Bean (Lunar Module Pilot; the fourth man to walk on the moon) and Dick Gordon (Command Module Pilot), the official NASA image depicting the three astronauts standing together in full length poses, each wearing their white spacesuits. Signed by each in black ink to the image, Bean adding an inscription in his hand. A couple of very light, extremely minor surface creases, otherwise EX £100 - 150 €110 - 170
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ASTRONAUTS: A good selection of colour signed 8 x 10 photographs by various American Astronauts, showing them in half length poses and wearing their NASA overalls, comprising Robert L. Crippen, member of the first orbital flight of the new Shuttle Orbiter system, Charles G. Fullerton, Henry W. Hartsfield, Joe Henry Engle and Vance Devoe Brand. Bearing to the verso the NASA printed stamp. Together with John Glenn (1921-2016) American Astronaut and Politician. Signed 8 x 10 photograph showing Glenn wearing his NASA overalls, before the Mercury spacecraft Friendship7, a mission that made him the first American to orbit the Earth. Also including James C. Fletcher (1919-1991) American NASA Administrator, 1971-77 & 1986-89 under Presidents Nixon and Reagan. Signed 8 x 10 photograph. VG, 7 £100 - 150 €110 - 170
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LECLERC DE HAUTECLOCQUE PHILIPPE: (1902-1947) Best known as Marshal Leclerc. French General during WWII. Leclerc died in an air crash in Algeria in 1947. Rare signed 7 x 9 photograph, dated to the verso 18th June 1945, the image showing Marshal Leclerc on a Sherman tank, first regiment of Moroccan Spahis, celebrating the liberation of Paris in the Champs Elysées, August 1945, with the Arc de Triomphe to the background. Signed in bold blue fountain pen ink ‘Leclerc’ to a clear area of the image to the lower right corner. Bearing two ink stamps to the verso of the information ministry and foreign affairs. G £100 - 150 €110 - 170
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KOGA MINEICHI: (1885-1944) Japanese Marshal Admiral and Commander-in-chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Combined Fleet. Killed when his plane crashed while overseeing the withdrawal of the Combined Fleet. A.N.S., Vice Amiral Koga “Jwate”, Djibouti, 31st July 1937, to Admiral Fernet, Commandant of the Levant Forces, in French. To the verso of a postcard Koga has written ‘Best souvenirs and respect. I am sorry that I will not meet you this time’. VG £120 - 150 €140 - 170
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SAKAI SABURO: (1916-2000) Japanese naval Aviator and flying ace of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. A good small set of three signed photographs by Sakai, two 11.5 x 7.5 and one 7 x 9.5, the images depicting WWII aircraft fighters. Two of them are signed twice, in bold black ink, in occidental and Japanese characters to clear areas of the images. G, 3 £60 - 90 €70 - 100
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ROMMEL ERWIN: (1891-1944) German Field Marshal of World War II. An excellent signed 3.5 x 5 photograph ‘Rommel’, the image depicting the Desert Fox outdoors in in a head and shoulders pose, in uniform. Boldly signed in bold dark pencil at the base of the image. VG £400 - 600 €450 - 680
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ROMMEL ERWIN: (1891-1944) German Field Marshal of World War II. A good signed postcard photograph ‘Rommel’, the image depicting the Desert Fox in in a head and shoulders formal pose, in uniform. Signed at the base of the image. VG £400 - 600 €450 - 680
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MENGELE JOSEF: (1911-1979) German Schutzstaffel (SS) Officer and Physician in the Nazi Concentration Camp Auschwitz during World War II. Rare fountain pen ink full signature ‘Josef Mengele’ on a small oblong 12mo piece neatly clipped from an official document, with the printed text beneath “Unterschrift”. Matted in black beneath a 5 x 7 photograph of Mengele, the image showing him in a profile head and shoulders pose, and above a brief printed biography. Framed and glazed in a silver coloured wooden frame to an overall size of 9 x 13.5. VG £1000 - 1500 €1100 - 1700
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[HITLER ADOLF]: (1889-1945) Fuhrer of the Third Reich 1934-45. Three unused oblong 4to sheets of Hitler’s printed stationery, featuring his name “Adolf Hitler” and address (‘Berlin W 8, Kanzlei Des Fuhrers der NSDAP’) printed in black at the head. About EX £150 - 200 €170 - 230
Provenance, accompanied by a copy of a statement of origin signed by Richard O. Rex stating that he personally removed the stationery from the Reich Chancellery in Berlin in July 1945 after having been flown in to help establish a medical dispensary for use during The Potsdam Conference. Also signed by a Notary Public as a witness.
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