Done
New York, NY, United States
Auction Details
Autographs
It is doubtful that anyone needs to be reminded that the names of Americans have a surprising way of turning up on the pages of history. Foremost among them are the names of U.S. presidents, and the fall autographs auction includes some remarkable illustrations of this, including an extraordinary album of autographs by presidents—a continuous run of autograph letters, many outstanding in content and condition, from George Washington to Harry Truman—one of only a handful of such albums ever offered at auction (pictured left). Other important Americans in the sale include a Revolutionary War–dated letter signed by Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben concerning Cornwallis’s abandonment of his own troops; and an endorsement from Major General George Custer, signed by him during the Civil War.
The world is wide and there are heroes everywhere, like Marie Curie, whose uncommon autograph note signed to a dancer wanting help making her costume glow is available; or Florence Nightingale, who, in an attractive autograph letter, thanks an engineer for supplying equipment to a girls’ school in Sarajevo; or Rabindranath Tagore, who stole a moment to sign a photographic portrait of himself.
In addition to yet more exceptional autographs—such as a copy of Black Muslims in America signed and inscribed by Malcolm X, and the autograph notes by John Ford for his 1939 film Stagecoach—there are also notable items by writers, artists, entertainers, astronauts, scientists, musicians, and others.
Auction Curator:

Marco Tomaschett
Specialist, AutographsSold
0217: H.G. Wells. Three Autograph Letter Signed, to Denys Kilham Roberts. [London], 18 October 1930; 1Est. $1,500-$2,500
Sold
0218: Walt Whitman. Manuscript Signed, draft of three complete poems from his Leaves of Grass. Np,Est. $7,000-$10,000
Sold
0219: John Greenleaf Whittier. Autograph Letter Signed, "JohnG. Whittier," to author E.D.E.N. SouthworthEst. $400-$600
Sold
0220: Jane Wilde ("Speranza"). Brief Autograph Letter Signed, "Speranza," to an unnamed recipient (lackingEst. $600-$900
Sold
0221: William Butler Yeats. Autograph Letter Signed, "WB Yeats," to his publisher Charles Elkin MathewsEst. $800-$1,200
Sold
0222: Lin Yutang. Two items, each Signed, to Editor Clara Urquhart: Typescript, with numerous holographEst. $1,000-$2,000
0223: Israel Zangwill. Two Typed Letters Signed, to James Huneker. East Preston, 19 May 1910; 9 AprilEst. $600-$900Lot Passed
Sold
0224: (Writers.) Group of 4 letters, each Signed: T.S. Eliot (2) * Emile Zola * Thornton Wilder. MÈEst. $1,000-$1,500
0225: (Writers.) Group of 6 items Signed, or Signed and Inscribed. Vp, vd.Est. $700-$1,000Lot Passed
Sold
0226: (Writers.) Group of 8 letters, to various recipients, on various topics. Vp, vd.Est. $1,500-$2,500
Sold
0228: Charles Addams. Two reproductions of his cartoons, each Inscribed and Signed. Np, 1964; JanuaryEst. $600-$900
Sold
0230: Jean Cocteau. Photograph Signed and Inscribed, "A Abelardo Arias / TrËs / amicalement / JeanEst. $300-$400
0231: Howard Cook. Holograph greeting card Signed and Inscribed, with two ink drawings. Np, 1967.Est. $600-$900Lot Passed
Sold
0232: Victor De Pauw. Group of 8 sketchbooks containing over 200 mostly ink or ink-and-watercolorEst. $700-$1,000
Sold
0233: Marcel Duchamp. Robert Lebel. Marcel Duchamp. Signed and Inscribed, in French. New York: Grove,Est. $1,500-$2,500
Sold
0234: James Ensor. Autograph Note Signed, to Editor of La Plume magazine LÈon Deschamps, in French,Est. $600-$900
Sold
0235: James Montgomery Flagg. Ink drawing Signed, with a 5-line poem in holograph. Np, [April 1921].Est. $600-$900
Sold
0236: Grandma Moses. Autograph Letter Signed, to her dealer Louis J. Caldor ("Dear Mr. Caldor"), inEst. $600-$900
Sold
0237: Keith Haring. First Day Cover dated and Signed, with small ink drawing. Np, 1988.Est. $700-$1,000
0238: Al Hirschfeld. Typed Letter, unsigned, with small ink drawing, to illustrator Don Freeman. Np,Est. $600-$900Lot Passed
TOP



![H.G. Wells. Three Autograph Letter Signed, to Denys Kilham Roberts. [London], 18 October 1930; 1: H.G. Wells Three Autograph Letter Signed, to The Author Editor Denys Kilham Roberts. The first, sending a copy of judgment in the Deeks case [not present] and suggesting that he publish it in The](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603670_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)



![William Butler Yeats. Autograph Letter Signed, "WB Yeats," to his publisher Charles Elkin Mathews: William Butler Yeats Autograph Letter Signed, "WB Yeats," to his publisher Charles Elkin Mathews ("Dear Mr. Matthews [sic]"), concerning a dispute about terms of an agreement involving Mathews and](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603678_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)








![Jean Cocteau. Photograph Signed and Inscribed, "A Abelardo Arias / TrËs / amicalement / Jean: Jean Cocteau Photograph Signed and Inscribed, "A Abelardo Arias / TrËs / amicalement / Jean Cocteau / [star] 1961," bust portrait by Harcourt showing him with hand on painted table and looking](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603693_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)
![Howard Cook. Holograph greeting card Signed and Inscribed, with two ink drawings. Np, 1967.: Howard Cook Holograph greeting card Signed and Inscribed, "With great good wishes to all [at Mission Gallery, Taos, NM]," with two ink drawings, in black and orange ink. The drawings, unsigned,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603695_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)



![James Montgomery Flagg. Ink drawing Signed, with a 5-line poem in holograph. Np, [April 1921].: James Montgomery Flagg Ink drawing Signed, with a 5-line poem in holograph. The drawing, depicting a shirtless man wearing a laurel crown, playing a flute, and leaping from his front door. Signed](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603703_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)

![Keith Haring. First Day Cover dated and Signed, with small ink drawing. Np, 1988.: Humane Treatment of Animals First Day Cover with Crawling Baby Keith Haring First Day Cover dated and Signed, "K. Haring / 88 [astrological Earth symbol]," at lower right, with small ink drawing.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603706_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)



