- 191
Sayers, Dorothy L
Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 GBP
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Description
- Sayers, Dorothy L
- Autograph manuscripts, correspondence, and other papers, chiefly relating to her translations of Dante and other authors, housed in ten files or envelopes, comprising:
- Paper
Autograph manuscripts: i) autograph drafts, with numerous deletions and revisions, of her translation of Cantos I to XX of Dante’s Paradiso, c.200 pages, 4to, on lined paper, chiefly in ink (some stanzas in pencil), most of the pages annotated by Sayers at top left-hand corner with canto number, some creasing at edges, very occasional minor staining
ii) autograph fair copy, apparently complete, with a few deletions and revisions, of her translation of Cantos I to XX of Dante’s Paradiso, 140 pages, 4to, on lined paper, occasional rust-marks from staples
iii) autograph draft translations of passages from Cantos XXI to XXXIII of Paradiso, 23 pages, 4to, most pages annotated by Sayers with canto number, some creasing at edges, occasional minor staining
iv) autograph lists of rhymes, 23 numbered pages, 4to, 4 pages written on the versos of earlier of disused drafts (letters, translations, lectures)
v) file of autograph fragments and notes, including a lecture on Dante's reception in England (19 pages), an introduction to The Song of Roland (11 pages), fragments of translated verse (from Dante and Virgil), lists of rhymes, notes on theological subjects, Dante, Lucan, and Virgil, and a small notebook (containing names, addresses, and notes), altogether more than 100 pages, plus photocopies, mostly loose in four writing pads and one notebook, 1950s
Correspondence: vi) Dorothy L. Sayers, 18 letters to Dr Lewis Thorpe (9 autograph and 9 typed), together with 14 letters by Thorpe to Sayers (a mixture of sent letters and carbon copies), and 5 further letters written in the aftermath of Sayers's death, principally discussing Sayers's translation of La Chanson de Roland, c.60 pages (c.35 by Sayers), various sizes, 24 Newland Street, Witham, Essex, and the University of Nottingham, 2 December 1954 to 7 October 1957; with autograph notes by Thorpe suggesting revisions to Sayers's translation, annotated by Sayers (17 pages)
vii) Dorothy L. Sayers, 5 letters to Rev. Aubrey Moody (1 autograph, 4 typed), on the role of persuasion in art ("...Any work of art is false to its interior truth if it proceeds, not from the love of the work per se, but from an intention to manipulate the minds of the spectators..."), 8 pages, 4to, Witham, Essex, 18 October 1954 to 13 November 1957, with a later covering letter by Moody to Barbara Reynolds
viii) Dorothy L. Sayers, 4 typed letters signed, to Cesare Foligno, on her scholarly and translation work on Dante, 15 pages, 4to, Witham, Essex, 25 July 1952 to 4 May 1955; with four additional letters and cards by Sayers and others, 1940s-50s
ix-x) Anthony Fleming, c.60 letters (the majority typed), to Barbara Reynolds, and copies of 33 letters by Dr Reynolds, to Fleming, discussing his mother Dorothy L. Sayers, her estate, and Reynolds's work, folio, 4to and 8vo, 19 January 1958 to 30 August 1984; with a file of related papers and correspondence (including a bundle of Fleming family photographs), some creasing, staples removed from majority of letters
ii) autograph fair copy, apparently complete, with a few deletions and revisions, of her translation of Cantos I to XX of Dante’s Paradiso, 140 pages, 4to, on lined paper, occasional rust-marks from staples
iii) autograph draft translations of passages from Cantos XXI to XXXIII of Paradiso, 23 pages, 4to, most pages annotated by Sayers with canto number, some creasing at edges, occasional minor staining
iv) autograph lists of rhymes, 23 numbered pages, 4to, 4 pages written on the versos of earlier of disused drafts (letters, translations, lectures)
v) file of autograph fragments and notes, including a lecture on Dante's reception in England (19 pages), an introduction to The Song of Roland (11 pages), fragments of translated verse (from Dante and Virgil), lists of rhymes, notes on theological subjects, Dante, Lucan, and Virgil, and a small notebook (containing names, addresses, and notes), altogether more than 100 pages, plus photocopies, mostly loose in four writing pads and one notebook, 1950s
Correspondence: vi) Dorothy L. Sayers, 18 letters to Dr Lewis Thorpe (9 autograph and 9 typed), together with 14 letters by Thorpe to Sayers (a mixture of sent letters and carbon copies), and 5 further letters written in the aftermath of Sayers's death, principally discussing Sayers's translation of La Chanson de Roland, c.60 pages (c.35 by Sayers), various sizes, 24 Newland Street, Witham, Essex, and the University of Nottingham, 2 December 1954 to 7 October 1957; with autograph notes by Thorpe suggesting revisions to Sayers's translation, annotated by Sayers (17 pages)
vii) Dorothy L. Sayers, 5 letters to Rev. Aubrey Moody (1 autograph, 4 typed), on the role of persuasion in art ("...Any work of art is false to its interior truth if it proceeds, not from the love of the work per se, but from an intention to manipulate the minds of the spectators..."), 8 pages, 4to, Witham, Essex, 18 October 1954 to 13 November 1957, with a later covering letter by Moody to Barbara Reynolds
viii) Dorothy L. Sayers, 4 typed letters signed, to Cesare Foligno, on her scholarly and translation work on Dante, 15 pages, 4to, Witham, Essex, 25 July 1952 to 4 May 1955; with four additional letters and cards by Sayers and others, 1940s-50s
ix-x) Anthony Fleming, c.60 letters (the majority typed), to Barbara Reynolds, and copies of 33 letters by Dr Reynolds, to Fleming, discussing his mother Dorothy L. Sayers, her estate, and Reynolds's work, folio, 4to and 8vo, 19 January 1958 to 30 August 1984; with a file of related papers and correspondence (including a bundle of Fleming family photographs), some creasing, staples removed from majority of letters
Provenance
Barbara Reynolds (1914-2015), scholar, biographer, and god-daughter of Dorothy L. Sayers
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, 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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
A SIGNIFICANT CACHE OF MANUSCRIPTS RELATING TO DOROTHY L. SAYERS'S FINAL TRANSLATIONS OF DANTE AND THE CHANSON DE ROLAND.