623. Wilkie Collins.
British author regarded as the first British detective story writer (1824– 1889). Bold and florid vintage ink signature, “Wilkie Collins, Boston, February 28th, 1874,” on an off-white 4.5 x 2.5 card affixed to a slightly larger slip. In fine condition, with light creasing and toning. RRAuction COA.…(MB $100)
624. Noel Coward. TLS, one
page, 5.5 x 9, personal letterhead, April 22, 1933. In a letter to R. F. Casemore, Coward writes in full: “Thank you so much for your kind letter about ‘Cavalcade’ and all the other nice things you say about my work. I am glad you have enjoyed the plays and appreciate your taking the trouble to write and tell me so.” In very good condition, with light creasing, a uniform shade of toning, a few trivial spots of soiling, two small separations, show-through from remnants on the reverse, and one of the mailing folds passing through the very bottom of the “L” in the signature. RRAuction COA.…(MB $100)
625. Palmer Cox. Ca-
nadian writer and illustrator (1840–1924) best known for his series of books and comic strips featuring the Brownies. Vintage ink signature, “Palmer Cox, Brownieland, Dec. 1st, 1894,” on an off-white 4.5 x 2.75 card featuring a printed sketch of one of his famed Brownies. In fine condition, with scattered light soiling and a small area of paper loss to the bottom right corner. RRAuction COA.…(MB $100)
626. Theodore Dreiser. Signed book: The
Symbolic Drawings of Hubert Davis for an American Tragedy. Limited edition of 525 copies, this being No. 350. Horace Liveright. Hardcover with slipcase, 11.5 x 15. Signed in black ink at the conclusion of the foreword by Dreiser, and signed in blue ink on the limitations page by Davis. In very good condition, with pencil notations in another hand on the first and second free end pages, uniform toning throughout, a loose, but intact hinge, and some mild to moderate rubbing to the cover. Slipcase is in good condition, with moderate separation and paper loss to the top and bottom edges. RRAuction COA.…(MB $100)
A crisp handwritten letter from Doyle, accompanied by an astounding letter from his wife five years after his passing regarding his “definite proof of immortality” 627. Arthur Conan Doyle. ALS signed “A. Conan Doyle,” one page, 5 x 8, Windlesham, Crowborough, Sussex letterhead, December 31, 1914. In a letter to Mrs. Gribble, Doyle writes, in full: “I send enclosed only to show you that I have done what I could. My advice to return to London was only because I thought your family was there. If you are comfortable where you are I should not move. You must remember that a simple & open-airy sort of life has very often a good effect upon a man’s health and that things may come out very much better than you fear.” Intersecting folds, one passing through the “o” in “Conan,” some light toning, a few trivial surface marks, and two small pieces of mounting remnants to the top corners on the reverse, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by a letter written by his wife, Jean Conan Doyle, five years after Doyle’s passing. This ethereal letter talks of spiritualism, the quest for “immortality,” and the practice that she and her family ritually engage in: “Both my family and I have had continual and irrefutable proof of my husband’s nearness and interest in our welfare since he passed on. I may say that we never make an important decision in our daily lives without first consulting him.” After losing several family members, Doyle found solace in supporting spiritualism and its attempts to find proof of existence beyond the grave. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.…(MB $200) Art & Literature 131