Dickens is to read A Christmas Carol

425. CHARLES DICKENS (1812 - 1870) English novelist and the author of such classics as Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, and David Copperfield. Very rare, superb A.L.S. "Charles Dickens" 2pp. 8vo., "Tavistock House, London", Nov. 7, 1857, to fellow author HENRY GARDINER ADAMS (1812-1881), making arrangements for a reading of his most durable and beloved tale "A Christmas Carol". In part: "...Although the Deputation you did me the honor to present to me at Gad's Hill, did not appear to have a very lively faith in their President, their President thought it right to hold out no hopes that might be fallacious, and to reserve to himself his secret justification of a better faith. Accordingly, I have since tried...so to disentangle myself from other promises...as to be able to read my Carol for my Rochester and Chatham Institution. I am now able to tell you that I will do so for you, please God, on any evening in the week before this next Christmas Day...that may suit you best. As soon as you can determine, please do so...". Dickens evokes his typically self-effacing manner in this fine letter, referring to himself as the "President" of the Rochester and Chatham Mechanics Institute, for whom Adams was Honorable Secretary. Dickens indeed read his famous tale at the Institute on Dec. 22, 1857. Published in The Letters of Charles Dickens, ed. Storey, et al, Vol. VIII, pp. 176-77. Boldly penned, with negligible toning to margins, in near fine condition. One of the best Dickens letters we've had the privilege of handling!$5,000-7,000

"...my `Gone With the Wind' problems are over..."

426. MARGARET MITCHELL (1900 - 1949) American author, a Pulitzer Prize winner for her epic novel Gone With the Wind. Great content T.L.S. "Margaret" on her personal letterhead, 2pp. 4to., Atlanta, May 31, 1938 to her close friend Hershel Brickell. In part: "...I am writing you immediately about your request to quote from my last letter about `The Yearling' to Marjorie Rawlings...During the last two years I have had to restrain myself both in speech and in print from saying anything, good or bad, about any book...the good inevitably led to a demand...for an endorsement on the dust jacket...requests for endorsements have come in in such stupefying numbers that if I had given in to them I would have spent the last two years doing nothing but reading books and writing blurbs...[Rawlings] needs no words of commendation from me, as she is a fine writer...I am considering coming to New York...I mainly want to prove that my `Gone With the Wind' problems are over...and I can walk like a natcherul [sic] woman again...it would break the trail for later trips...and not have to bother with the people I did not want to bother with...". Near fine. $1,500-2,000

Asking to have his copy of Dharma Bums returned!

426A. JACK KEROUAC (1922 - 1969) American novelist whose publication of On the Road made him the foremost figure of the Beat generation of the Fifties and Sixties. Rare, fine content A.L.S. "Jack" 1p. in pencil on the verso of a 5 1/2" x 3 1/4" postcard, [n.p., n.d., but postmarked Northport, N.Y., June 6, 1959], to Colin MacLachlan of The Long Islander. In full: "Dear Colin Please return manuscript of [Gregory] Corso's Bomb & my copy of Dharma Bums (my only commercial copy of same) either by mail or in person -- I waited for you that night & wasted work-time -- However if you want to talk please do not bring ladies; I have too many of my own to contend with -- Am reading Casanova Jack". Kerouac has also signed his name in full on the return address on the recto. Light creases, slight yellowing, otherwise very good.$4,000-6,000

Trying to call Rocky Marciano!

427. ERNEST HEMINGWAY (1899 - 1961) American author, a Nobel prize winner and author of For Whom the Bell Tolls, A Farewell to Arms, The Old Man and the Sea, and other classic novels. Good content T.L.S. "Papa" 1P. 4to., [San Francisco De Paula, Cuba], May 21, 1957 to Leonard Lyons of the New York Post concerning Rocky Marciano. In full: "Dear Lenny: All mail is slow as hell now from N/Y/ or anywhere else here. Anyway I called up Rocky Marciano at the Rosita de Horendo and they said he had been there two weeks ago but had returned to the US. Told them he was expected back and left word for him to please call me when he came in. I got the letter too late to catch him with a letter in Miami. Should have wired but figured him from you letter as due here the 20th. Hope you and all of yours fine. Best always, Papa." Usual folds, otherwise near fine condition.$1,500-2,000

428. KATHERINE LEE BATES (1859 - 1929) American author who penned our national hymn "America the Beautiful". Rare, fine content T.L.S. "Katharine Lee Bates" on her Wellesley College letterhead, 3pp. 8vo., Wellesley, Sep. 13, 1916 to "Dear Poet". In small part: "...I have sometimes disputed as to whether the fundamental note of life was joy or grief. I believe that the spirit gravitates toward joy. One of the wonderful things to see at the close of this terrible war, which has so gashed the meadows and blasted the forests, will be the quiet certainty with which Nature goes about her work of healing and of restoration. The cold weather will be putting us all to work again very soon, and bringing back our friends from their wanderings...I hope we may have a long talk before my study fire...". She then tells a rather charming story of a young girl being terrified when about to take her examinations, inevitably graduating magna cum laude. Fine condition. Bates' predictions were a bit premature - on April 6, 1917 the U.S. entered the war, which would grind on until June, 1919. $400-600

429. SAMUEL L. CLEMENS (1835 - 1910) "Mark Twain", American author of such classics as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. A.L.S. "Saml L. Clemens" 1p. 8vo., Chicago, Dec. 19 [n.y.], in full: "Dear Sir - I am sorry to say that my nights are all full from this time to the end of my season, otherwise it would give me great pleasure to talk in your course. Yrs truly, Saml. L. Clemens". Light show-through of old glue on verso, otherwise very good. $800-1,200

430. SAMUEL L. CLEMENS A.L.S. "S. L. Clemens" on mourning stationery, 1p. 8vo., Hartford, Dec. 2, 1890 to a Mr. G. W. Turner and marked "Private" at top. In part: "...I am debarred [?] by domestic affliction, otherwise I should be most glad to participate. Thanking you for your kind invitation...". Thin toned horizontal line near top, else very good to fine.$800-1,200

431. SAMUEL L. CLEMENS Manuscript L.S. "S. L. Clemens" on mourning stationery, 1p. 8vo., New York, Jan. 5, 1906, in part: "...I thank you very much for the compliment of your invitation, but I am obliged to decline it as I have made all the engagements for this year that I can keep...". Very good.$600-800

432. ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE (1859 - 1930) English author and spiritualist remembered for his creation of the immortal Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. Watson. A.L.S. "A. Conan Doyle" 1p. 8vo., New York, Oct. 30 [1904?], in part: "...Would you let me have a line to the Parker House, Boston, today...I want 2 berths at 15 pounds to 30 pounds a berth..." Spindle hole in blind-embossed seal, light blue pencil docketing at bottom (clear of signature), overall very good. $400-600

Hugo laments the death of his son

433. VICTOR HUGO (1802 - 1885) French writer and author of the classics Notre Dame de Paris, Les Miserables, and much poetry. Good content A.L.S. "Victor Hugo", 1p. 12mo., [Paris], Mar. 13 [n.y.], to the director of the Courier of Europe, in French. On March 13th Hugo's son had unexpectedly died, and here the grieving author thanks his supporters, in part: "...Thank you, I only have the strength to send you my most cordial and most painful handshake. Thanks again for me to our friends Rimmel and Lamavert". Near fine. $600-800

"...John and I have been laboring like coolies..."

434. MARGARET MITCHELL (1900 - 1949) American author, a Pulitzer Prize winner for her epic novel Gone With the Wind. Fine content T.L.S. "Margaret" on her personal letterhead, 2pp. 4to., Atlanta, Aug. 1, 1939 to her friend Herschel Brickell. In part: "...I am feeling that an earache is preferable to sulfanilamide and the doctor crawling in and out of my ear with a lamp and pickaxe like a coal miner...I tried but could no equal your disposition...work piled up while I was under the weather and John and I have been laboring like coolies ever since...The approaching premier of `Gone With the Wind,' which has been promised to Atlanta, seems to have stirred up the public all over again and that makes for added difficulties. I feel certain that once the picture is over and done with things will be much better around our house..." Folds, else fine condition. Despite Mitchell's predictions, the December 15, 1939 premier of "Gone With the Wind" was one of the biggest, most heavily promoted film premiers ever, and of course Mitchell found little calm in her life once the film "took off"!$2,000-3,000

435. MARGARET MITCHELL Good content T.L.S. "Margaret" on her personal letterhead, 1p. 4to., Atlanta, Dec. 1, 1938 to her friend Herschel Brickell. In part: "...You may see in the New York papers that I am to be present at the Southern Society's dinner in New York...I can't even remember saying in your presence that my birthday was November 8th, and yet, you remembered!...John and I appreciated the Burgundy so much...I wish you had been along to enjoy [it] and the rides through the marshes of Glynn...". Near fine.$800-1,200

On his Nobel Prize award

436. ALEXANDER I. SOLZHENITSYN (b. 1918) Nobel Prize wining Russian author of The Gulag Archipelago, The Cancer Ward and other books detailing the Russian penal system which led to his exile from Russia. Rare, fine content A.L.S. 1p. 4to., Moscow, June 7, 1971 to the Soviet Foreign Trade Minister who has stamped the letter "SECRET". In 1970, Solzhenitsyn was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, along with the sum of approx. $250,000. This sum was paid out in U.S. dollars in installments, and as a means on intimidation, the Soviets would require the author to obtain a permit to collect each such installment. In this letter, Solzhenitsyn asks the trade minister for a 696 ruble payment due to him, and further requests that the minister issue a single, blanket order allowing the author to collect his prize winnings more easily and on a regular basis. A few notations and stamped dockets, one only slightly affecting signature, file holes at left, else very good. $800-1,200

437. JOHN STEINBECK (1902 - 1968) American author and one of the greatest fiction writers of the twentieth century. His works include The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and East of Eden. For his efforts he was awarded the Pulitzer and Nobel prizes. Brief A.L.S. on one side of a 12mo. album page, [n.p., n.d.], in Spanish: "For Lulu: When the devil sees me I have to do something [?] - the [?] is killing flies. John Steinbeck...". Light toning, else very good.
$700-900