Neruda, Pablo

comprising Neruda's working manuscript of the text for the book, without the photographs, but including the autograph drawing of a chair in the sea, with autograph cues and instructions to the publisher ("47 bis intercalar abajo de la foto"..."Al 57", etc), with revisions, alterations and corrections, including one page pasted into the text, written in green and red ink, marked and paginated throughout by the editor in black pencil, marking and dividing the pages, and with other notes to the printer ("...a 2 colors..." etc),

40 pages, 4to (29.3 x 25.5cm), paginated in pencil (16-17, 20, 22, 26-29, 32, 35, 41, 44-45, 48-49, 53, 60-61, 64-65, 77, 79, 86, 88-89, 97, 112-115, 132-135, 145-147, 157-159) brown morocco, gilt titles to spine,

Pablo Neruda, Geografía de Pablo Neruda...con glosas autografas del poeta. edited by Sara Facio and Alicia D'Amico (Barcelona: Aymá, 1973)

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Autograph manuscripts by Neruda are rare at auction, particularly an example as complete and substantial as this.

This is Neruda's complete autograph working manuscript for a book containing photographs and illustrations of Neruda and his third wife Matilde Urrita and the milieu surrounding his house at Isla Negra in Santiago.  The text, although prose, is poetic in nature, infused with Neruda's poetic lyricism.  It comprises a paean to the waters and fish in the seas around Chile, and Valparaiso in particular, and a celebration of his love and life with Matilde.  The book was published in 1973, one of Neruda's last works before his untimely death on 27 September. 

 ...No hay nada que suene tanto como la palabra campana, si la colgamos de un campanario, junto al mar.  Hay por las tardes un denso olor a ola: aroma repetido a través del espacio, desde Australia talvez, desde los ar[r]ecifes. Y a esas horas nos sentamos a cantar con las campanas, nos extendemos con la ola.  Aquí en el Sur de Pacífico hay que poner atención: la tierra se termina...Unas leguas mas o menos..y sobreviena el Polo, sobresalta el Abismo. Hay que juntar las cosas--ante posibles invasiones del mar--hay que colmar el Arca con amor y con ruedas, con palabras y cosas que nos salven, que nos identifiquen mañana en la corriente de Humboldt..."

This manuscript contains the complete text written for the book (the pages apparently missing in the pagination sequence represent the photographs), which was published in Barcelona in 1973 in colour facsimile.  Neruda's cues and annotations, contained in this manuscript were not included in the book, so he evidently planned how his text would relate to the photographs, although this is not evident in the published version.  One page written by Neruda in red ink was printed in green.   Neruda writes "Fin" at the end of the manuscript: the facsimile transposes this conclusion ten pages later, until after the final photographs.  This manuscript text is a great deal more attractive than the printed version, as the representation of the colours in the book is not very accurate or well-printed, particularly where the text is in both red and green.  The manuscript pagination is not entirely consistent and it seems that a few photographs were later dropped.