Manuscript / Autograph – Rare (55 items)

[Gore-Booth, Two Manuscript Sketch-Books [12” x 10”] bearing the Bookplate "Lady Gore Booth - Lissadell, Sligo

21. [Gore-Booth, Colum Robert] / [Lady Eva Selina Laura Gore-Booth] / [Constance Georgine Markievicz née Gore-Booth] / [Lissadell House County Sligo].

Two Manuscript Sketch-Books [12” x 10”] bearing the Bookplate “Lady Gore Booth – Lissadell, Sligo [No.43]”. Both Folio-Size Sketch Books titled ‘The “Wood” Sketch Book’, both issued by ‘St. John’s Wood Art School’: 29, Elm Tree Road, London, NW 8. [Founded 1878]. Each Sketch-Book has 50 pages and most pages have manuscript sketches with a few loose sketches tipped in. The very accomplished drawings all appear to be in pencil and show landscapes, trees, horses, portraits, male and female figures, skulls. They all appear to be in the same hand. Also, tipped in is a b/w photo, 6” x 4” mounted on a card. It is signed in pencil by Roberts of Paris. Stamped on the back is “Roberts” 11, Rue du Havre. In pencil, it states “Elizabeth aged 11, May 1922”. From our research it is certain, that Colum Robert Gore-Booth (1913-1959) attended St.John’s Wood Art School and these appear to be his Sketch-Pads, the only other member of the Gore-Booth family who went to London in order to become an artist was Colum’s aunt, Constanze Markiewicz, who attended Slade School of Art at the turn of the century but the drawings do not fit her style.

Two Volumes. London, St.John’s Wood Art Schools / Lissadell House County Sligo, c.1920 – 1930. Folio. Volume I: 118 pages (59 perforated sheets), with 87 studies, often with sketching on both sides of the sheets / Volume II: 100 pages (50 perforated sheets), with 46 studies inside the sketch-book plus two portrait-sketches loosely inserted, plus the photograph of one “Elizabeth”, dated May 1922 and signed by photographer “Roberts” 11, Rue du Havre, Paris. Publisher’s illustrated Hardcover. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear.

EUR 2.800,-- 

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Small Archive of personal correspondence between irish-american writer John Montague and irish artist Louis Le Brocquy plus many and related items

28. [John Montague Collection] – Montague, John / Louis le Brocquy / [Dupin, Jacques] / [Samuel Beckett].

Small Archive of personal correspondence between irish-american writer John Montague and irish artist Louis Le Brocquy plus many related items. The correspondence also includes John Montague touching on Samuel Beckett. The core of the collection includes 1. Extremely insightful and important, very personal manuscript-letter from John Montague to Louis Le Brocquy – Inside an envelope addressed by John Montague to Louis Le Brocquy at his french residence ‘Domaine des Combes’ with Louis Le Brocquy’s answer carefully tucked into the same envelope, treasured by John Montague. The densely filled, very personal 4-page-manuscript letter from John Montague, is dated Christmas 1981, written after “a sabbatical [..] on a long tour which led me as far as Los Angeles” and is a strong reflection of John Montague’s personal struggles, thoughts and influences as a writer; he talks about his ten years of teaching in the US “after O’Riada’s death led to a vacuum” and “enduring the semi-bourgeois limbo of Cork”. Montague speaks about the time “after the harness came off” and he “felt quite strange, and after thirty years my stammer returned in painful, nearly uncontrollable force”. Montague even touches on his fears about his health and continues “I clocked into a clinic for a rest cure….so far liver excellent, so it is not Sean or Brendan all over again (in any case, loving the stuff, as you do, I can’t overdrink; the tastebuds are against it)”. Montague dives into comparisons with Samuel Beckett: “″Did you realize that Sam Beckett was under analysis at the Tavistock Clinic for two years ? – The early Beckett is a smart alec; the break comes when he has to survive in post-war France and accept “his own darkness”. Montague also touches on his struggle with his mother “Isn’t it terrible that we spend up to nearly middle-[a]ge coping with the traumas of youth, with no way round it ? – I have cleared/cleaned/buried & forgiven my mother in my next book “The Dead Kingdom”….” – The letter continues to talk about books, “the Landslide Manuscript”, poetry and his work etc. etc. He mentions a Dupin “play” which “will travel in my Paris luggage”. Montague also touches on the subject of the Irish Troubles and writes “I have always, by the way, believed that 1916 may have been a mistake as Yeats said: “For England may keep faith – For all is said and done” / Montague speaks about “My own area of Tyrone is blessedly free from all but minor incidents” – Amazing document of confidence and trust between two irish landmark personalities. 2. Louis Le Brocquy’s answer to John Montague is dated “New Year’s Day 1981”[which should have been 1982]: A. Very personal manuscript Letter – a direct answer to Montague’s letter from “Christmas 1981” (1 sheet with both pages filled in ink and signed “Louis”) in which Le Brocquy reflects on the tense political situation with Northern Ireland and the overall worldwide tension of a looming war / Le Brocquy writes that he did have a “wild hope that when Charlie took office…that he and Thatcher might between them opted a ‘Rhodesian’ solution in the North” / Le Brocquy also writes about the eagerly awaited publication of “Selected Poems” of John Montague and he also asks John if “you thought of collecting Esteban’s and Dupin’s poems in French with your translations ?” – Le Brocquy offers to help with illustrations etc. – Both letters together in an envelope which suggests that John Montague received his letter to Louis le Brocquy back from the Le Brocquy-estate after Le Brocquy’s death. / Also included: B. A manuscript postcard with Le Brocquy’s “Girl in White” as a postcard-reproduction in which Le Brocquy suggests a project with John Montague and sends greetings to Montague’s wife Evelyn and the kids (in envelope from Carros,France) / 3. In his function as chairman of Amnesty International, Le Brocquy sends a callout by Amnesty International to John Montague and kindly asks him to support the cause. He sends the callout to John by adding a few manuscript, personal lines of affection (in envelope from Carros,France). 4. Manuscript Letter by Jacques Dupin of John Montague in which he also speaks of Louis le Brocquy / 5. Collection of eight Letters, one Postcard and some ephemeral items among which is the original catalogue “Ireland’s Literary Renaissance – 20th Century Portraits [including the Portraits of John Montague (and Thomas Kinsella) by Louis le Brocquy on page 62/63] created by James White for the Irish Promotion Exhibition called “Irish Ways” at Marshall Field’s in Chicago between 15th September – 4th October 1980. Includes a manuscript letter by James White to John Montague, dated 26/11/1980 / Also included in this lot is the very interesting letter by John Montague’s friend at Brown University, Elinor Shaffer, reporting to Montague about the large Writing programme at Brown with “shoals of Poets and Novelists representing different schools and regions”. Elinor Shaffer is very much enthusiastic that even Publisher’s in Residence are now present at Brown and she gives an example in Jay Loughlin [James Laughlin (1914-1997) American poet and the influential founder of New Directions Publishing] who “is the present incumbent and who is giving a seminar on his own list and is praised fro his public-spirited charity in handing out Pound and Williams.” Elinor Shaffer continues: “Gone are the days when students would riot at the hint of capitalist monopolygoverning the choice of texts. It seem Pound told him [James Laughlin] inthe twenties that he would one day make a good publisher (on being shown his poems). These ensconced and laundered literary figures seem a far cry from the old SF’ Berkeley poetic scene of the ‘60’s – Love, Elinor” / 6. Original State of New York Legislative Resolution No.1230 by Senator Daly, “Recognizing the distinguished author and poet John Montague” (John Montagu’s personal copy / 7. Three XXL – original Photographs showing John Montague and colleagues in honorary degree- Cloaks at UCC Cork, including a newspaper-article //

France / Ireland, Carros / Cork, 1980-1983. A4. 4 pages on two sheets (main Montague-letter), 2 pages on 1 sheet (Le Brocquy – answer), 1 postcard, 1 manuscript-letter from Jacques Dupin to John Montague (25.10.1978) about a translation of “L’Éboulement” (Dupin also speaks about Louis le Brocquy in the letter), several pages of letters (mostly typed and signed) from other figures in irish and international literature and art, collection of vintage photos of honorary doctorate degree-Montague at UCC Cork. Original Envelopes. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Besides some ephemeral materials from personalities in Literature and Art, addressed to John Montague, the small collection includes several vintage photographs of John Montague, taken during his acceptance of a honorary Doctorate of Literature at UCC, Cork, as well as a Legislative Resolution by the State of New York (Senator Daly), recognizing and thanking the distinguished author and poet John Montague with this decree on May 26, 1987. Among the lesser interesting materials is a pamphlet titled “Ireland’s Literary Renaissance – 20th century Portraits” in which portraits by Louis Le Brocquy of John Montague and Thomas Kinsella are included. The pamphlet is accompanied by a letter from James White to John Montague in which he explains this being a publication that was released for an exhibition in Chicago and he apologises for the entries being “necessarily short but hopefully reasonably correct”. Provenance: From the private collection of John Montague’s papers in his recently sold West Cork Home.

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Provenance: From the personal library of Adrian Liddell Hart / Collection of 28 Volumes of John Lehmann's "New Writing", some bearing the name of Adrian Liddell Hart

33. [Lehmann, John] / [Liddell Hart, Adrian] / [Harold Acton] / [Manuscript Postcards from Lehmann to Liddell Hart].

Provenance: From the personal library of Adrian Liddell Hart / Collection of three personal autograph/manuscript-postcards from John Lehmann to Adrian Liddell Hart, together with 28 Volumes of John Lehmann’s “New Writing”, some bearing the name of Adrian Liddell Hart, including Volume I (includes George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” in second edition). Besides the 28 Volumes of Lehmann’s “New Writing”, the collection also includes: 1. John Lehmann’s personal copy of Sean O’Faolain’s “Vive Moi!” – An Autobiography (First Edition, London, Rupert Hart-Davies, 1965), with John Lehmann’s name on the front free endpaper and some markings in the text. / 2. John Lehmann – Pleasures of New Writing – An Anthology of Poems, Stories and other Prose Pieces from the pages of NEW WRITING. Edited by John Lehmann. (First Edition, London, John Lehmann, 1952). [Even though this Volume is also from Liddell Hart’s library, it bears a different name of a pre-owner on the half-title].

Mixed Editions. 30 Volumes. London, John Lehmann / Allen Lane – Penguin Books / Rupert Hart-Davis, 1940-1965. Octavo. [The Postcards written from Venice, Florence and Santa Barbarabetween the years 1952 and 1977 / Postcard I: From John Lehmann in Venice to Adrian Liddell Hart: “This city does not boast a supply of the “Sunday Dispatch”, and as the writer was gripped and enthralled by the last installment on June 1st, he hopes you will keep copies of the …for him to read on his return in ten Days time – J.” / Postcard II: From John Lehmann in Florence to Adrian Liddell Hart: “Am staying with [Sir] Harold Acton here in his marvellous Villa – calme luxe [″Villa La Pietra”], all night……pity, you aren’t with me. Off to the sea this afternoon – may post this in Porto Ercole. Your old friend is relaxing. Gracefully – Love J.” [Date hard to decipher, possibly in 1962] / 3. Postcard III: From John Lehmann in Santa Barbara in California to Adrian Liddell Hart: “Terribly sorry to hear about the broken leg, may it mend quickly, as surely it must undo the ministrations of Florence …..Nightingale. I expect to be in England all March, but then off again – to Jimmy Carter Country – Love J.” [20.2.77]. Hardcover and Softcover. Of the series of 28 Volumes of the “New Writing ″ Series, only three with stronger signs of wear and in poorer condition. All others in very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Lehmann’s personal copy of Sean O’Faolain’s Autobiography with the original dustjacket in poor condition but the Volume itself very good.

EUR 1.480,-- 

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Levy, Archive / Collection of more than 300 letters, documents, ephemera

35. Levy, Arthur Joseph / Zangwill, Israel.

Archive / Collection of more than 350 items, letters, documents, ephemera, pamphlets, manuscript notes, receipts , manuscript letters from the private library of Providence (Rhode Island) lawyer, Arthur (Art) Joseph Levy. The collection includes an important, controversial typescript-essay (8 pages) on Israel Zangwill’s address before the American Jewish Congress at Carnegie Hall on October 14th, 1923 (″Watchmen, what of the Night ?”); with manuscript annotations and remarks on Israel Zangwill’s position “the hopes of Jewry for the establishment of a Jewish State in Palestine are doomed to disappointment”. The collection includes a plethora of interesting letterheads of jewish organizations and also important documentation of Levy’s contribution to and support for the “Palestine Foundation Fund”, (receipt from Boston, Mass. June 1923). Levy, who was a graduate of Brown and Boston University Law School, practiced law in Providence, Rhode Island and led an active life as a member and leader of several Jewish civic organizations, such as the Jewish Family and Children’s Service, which he established and led for twenty years, Rhode Island Jewish Historical Society, the Temple Beth-El Brotherhood, the Miriam Hospital, the Touro Fraternal Association and the Jewish Home for the Aged of Rhode Island. He was also a prominent member of the American Bar Association, the Brown University Alumni Association and the Brown Club of Rhode Island. Highly regarded as a jurist, he was a member of the Commission to Consolidate State Laws, a member of the Advisory Committee of the Federal Tax Institute of New England and an editor of the Rhode Island Bar Journal. Included in this archive are a group of letters written during World War I discussing his role in the Jewish Welfare Board of the United States Army and Navy, an invitation to a fund-raising dinner for the Jewish Orphanage of Rhode Island, a group of documents and letters discussing the establishment of a Jewish country club in Providence, several documents from the early 1920s concerning the mostly Jewish fraternity Phi Epsilon Pi and several items relating to Levy’s personal life, such as personal letters, bills from clothiers and invitations to social events. (Main source of the description of this archive is the research of our colleague Greg Talbot from The Lawbook Exchange).

Providence (Rhode Island), Cambridge (Massachusetts), New York, 1917 – 1931. Octavo and A4. Two heavy folders with original documents. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear.

EUR 2.800,-- 

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