- 136
Wilder, Thornton
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
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Description
- The Bridge of San Luis Rey. New York: Albert and Charles Boni, 1927
- Paper
8vo (205 x 125mm.), ISABELLA THORNTON WILDER'S COPY WITH NOTE IN THE AUTHOR'S HAND LOOSLEY INSERTED ("Mother's | Copy | Her signature") on Harvard University stationery, ONE OF 21 PRELIMINARY COPIES (on heavier paper stock, title page printed in black only, lettered on the spine only), illustrations by Amy Drevenstedt, original pale brown cloth, top edge mauve, map endpapers, pictorial dust-jacket, collector's green chemise and morocco backed slipcase, very light wear to head and foot of spine, dust-jacket slightly worn around spine at extremities with neat adhesive tape repairs on verso
Literature
Edelstein A2a
Condition
Condition is as described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appriopriate.
"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
THE DEDICATEE'S COPY, BEARING HER OWNERSHIP SIGNATURE on the front free endpaper. Writing to his mother in December 1926, Wilder promised: "Do you realize that the Bridge is going to be a riot... It will help you build the most adorable little Engl. house and put a maid in it too..." (The Selected Letters of Thornton Wilder (2008), pp.201-202).
The note in the author's autograph loosely inserted into this copy probably dates from around 1950, when Wilder was living as a visiting professor at Dunster House, the oldest dormitory at Harvard University. Isabella Thornton Niven Wilder (1873-1946) had died a few years earlier, so it is likely that this copy was then returned to him and his note inserted to remind himself of its provenance.
This preliminary issue was released the day before the London edition (published by Longmans Green and Co) and a week before the standard American edition.