- 75
# - Pym, Horace.
bidding is closed
Description
- Letters to Pym and his wife, comprising:
a series of 7 autograph letters signed by mamie dickens and 24 by georgina hogarth, including numerous references to charles dickens, his life, and books; Mamie writing about his unpublished Children's New Testament ("...my precious M.S ... He wrote it for us, his children, & I feel certain that he would not wish that it should be made public..."), and Pym's love of Dickens ("...surely my Father's spirit must have found the beautiful Home in which he is so loved and reverenced..."); Hogarth writing at length after receiving a catalogue for a forthcoming sale at Sotheby's which was to include an important series of letters by Dickens including some "addressed to his solicitor - and most unworthy schoolfellow of early days Thomas Mitton" which she hopes, somewhat optimistically, to exchange prior to the sale for signed cheques or "an unimportant letter or two of my own"; on another occasion forwarding a letter from the present owner of Gads Hill Place informing her that the sundial Mr Pym wished to add to his collection was no longer there, the only remaining relic of Dickens being the "grave of little Dick", with Hogarth commenting that even the headstone is not the original, which has been kept by Mamie "among her relics of her Father"; Hogarth also discussing over several letters the death of wilkie collins, his final novel Blind Love ("...all Wilkie's notes were so carefully and methodically arranged up to the end of his book that, although a great deal of his work was incomplete ... it was quite possible for any one to finish that book..."), the forthcoming sale of his library, and his talent as a writer ("...He has written some excellent books ... But he was not a genius..."); also with many references to mary boyle, and Hogarth, Dickens, and Pym family news, 113 pages, 8vo, with autograph envelopes, various places, 1 December 1883 to 10 August 1902
[with:] a series of 20 informal and frequently facetious letters by f.c. burnand, discussing family and friends, arranging meetings, Pym's writing, and other matters ("...Drop a fourpenny bit into Vesuvius (to pay for a drop o' the crater) and you've as much chance of finding it again as I have of finding a MS once gone astray in this office..."), 60 pages, 8vo, all but one with autograph envelopes, mostly Whitefriars, London, May 1890 to July 1895
[also with:] another 58 letters by various correspondents, including many on literary and artistic subjects, with letters by: Leslie Stephen (on Caroline Fox), Sidney Lee (2), Harry Furniss, Andrew Lang (2), T. Anstey Guthrie, John Murray and other letters by publishers, George Richmond, E.L. Sambourne (2), W.P. Frith (2), Princess Louise, and R. Corney Grain, also with a proof with minor corrections of "The Guinea Box" a short story, and two photographs, chiefly 8vo, mostly 1880s-90s
[with:] a series of 20 informal and frequently facetious letters by f.c. burnand, discussing family and friends, arranging meetings, Pym's writing, and other matters ("...Drop a fourpenny bit into Vesuvius (to pay for a drop o' the crater) and you've as much chance of finding it again as I have of finding a MS once gone astray in this office..."), 60 pages, 8vo, all but one with autograph envelopes, mostly Whitefriars, London, May 1890 to July 1895
[also with:] another 58 letters by various correspondents, including many on literary and artistic subjects, with letters by: Leslie Stephen (on Caroline Fox), Sidney Lee (2), Harry Furniss, Andrew Lang (2), T. Anstey Guthrie, John Murray and other letters by publishers, George Richmond, E.L. Sambourne (2), W.P. Frith (2), Princess Louise, and R. Corney Grain, also with a proof with minor corrections of "The Guinea Box" a short story, and two photographs, chiefly 8vo, mostly 1880s-90s
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
Horace N. Pym (1844-96) was a man of letters and bibliophile; he had many literary and artistic friends, was himself the author of a number of works, and built up a magnificent library - including an extremely fine Dickens collection (see lot 66) - at his house, Foxwold, in Brasted, Kent. Pym provided Wilkie Collins with the plot for his final novel, Blind Love, which was inspired by a case from Pym's working life as a solicitor. A selection of books from Pym's library was sold in these rooms on 23 April 1996.