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Fine Autograph Letters and Manuscripts from a Distinguished Private Collection: Part II | Music, Americana, English and Continental Literature

13 December 2018 | 10:00 AM EST | New York

SALE TOTAL

527,380USD
Browse Lots
  • Lot 302
    Walt Whitman. Signed Carte-de-visite photograph by Benjamin Gurney, 1875. An evocative image of the poet later in life.
    Lot Sold 3,500 USD

  • Lot 310
    Wilde, Oscar. Autographed Letter Signed, to Fanny Bernard-Beere, Regarding the American West and Mormons
    Lot Sold 75,000 USD

  • Lot 235
    Darwin, Charles. A Highly Important Autograph Letter Signed to Professor Adam Sedgwick, Darwin's Former Professor, and an Opponent of the Theory of Evolution by Means of Natural Selection
    Lot Sold 56,250 USD

  • Lot 271
    Marx, Karl. Remarkable Early Autograph Letter Signed ("Karl Marx"), Enclosing a Copy of His "Poverty of Philosophy" and an Article Published in Engel's Magazine "The Northern Star"
    Lot Sold 43,750 USD

Browse Lots
Sale Number: N09920 Lots : 152

SALE TOTAL

527,380USD DOWNLOAD RESULTS
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Overview

From Shakespeare to Kerouac, Remarkable Letters & Manuscripts by Great Minds

Sotheby’s is honored to once again offer for sale fine and important music manuscripts and letters following on the heels of last October’s sale from the same distinguished private collection. In addition to music, in this second installment we are featuring a remarkable range of letters, representing some of the world’s most renowned figures in the fields of art, literature, science, and government. This exceptional collection of highly important material was amassed in the first half of the twentieth century, and remained unknown and inaccessible until now. It contains a significant number of unpublished letters by Oscar Wilde, including one in which Wilde describes his time in Salt Lake City amongst the Mormons. There is also a letter from Charles Darwin to his one-time mentor, Adam Sedgwick, presenting him with a first edition of On the Origin of Species (Sedgwick famously and vehemently opposed Darwin’s theory of evolutions by means of natural selection).  In a sale highlighting the international genius of the past three centuries, we are also pleased to offer a selection of highly important letters by Leo Tolstoy, regarding matters of censorship, violence, and the universal appeal of art.  Among the many treasures of this collection, there is also a group of fourteen largely unpublished letters from Giuseppe Verdi to Alessandro Lanari, the “Napoleon of Impresarios,” along with material from Beethoven, Brahms, Puccini, and a host of others.

There will be a public view from 9-12 December, alongside Fine Books & Manuscripts Online.

From Shakespeare to Kerouac, Remarkable Letters & Manuscripts by Great Minds

conditions of sale Saleroom Notice

Contact Information

Richard Austin
Senior Vice President
Head of Department
Books & Manuscripts
+1 212 606 7385
richard.austin@sothebys.com
Selby Kiffer
Senior Vice President
International Senior Books Specialist
Books & Manuscripts
Special Projects
+1 212 606 7385
selby.kiffer@sothebys.com
Justin Caldwell
Vice President
Senior Specialist
Books & Manuscripts
+1 212 606 7385
justin.caldwell@sothebys.com
Dr. Kalika Sands
Associate Specialist
Books & Manuscripts
Kalika.Sands@sothebys.com
Annelouise Finn
Sale Coordinator
Books & Manuscripts
+1 212 606 7385
Lucy.Finn@sothebys.com
   
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