A Look Inside the Catalogue: Autographs

At Auction November 8

Complete Catalogue

Artists, Authors & Musicians

Some artists have adorned their everyday communications with illustrations or artworks, and the sale includes two interesting examples: a greeting card from 1959 signed by Joan Miró with colorful holograph drawings, and a birthday card with a still-life drawing signed by Jacob Lawrence.

Illustrated birthday card by artist Jacob Lawrence, inscribed "happy birthday Jake & Gwen."

Lot 370: Jacob Lawrence, illustrated greeting card signed, 1960. Estimate $2,000 to $3,000.

Illustrated note in French by artist Joan Miró to Monroe Wheeler, Director of Exhibitions & Publications at MoMA, 1959.

Lot 371: Joan Miró, illustrated autograph note signed, to MoMA Director of Exhibitions & Publications Monroe Wheeler, 1959. Estimate $6,000 to $9,000.

Lot 356: Kurt Vonnegut, archive of 12 letters signed, to his family, including 6 illustrated, 1930s-40s. Estimate $4,000 to $6,000.

Lot 331: Allen Ginsberg, 11 autograph manuscripts, including 10 drafts of poems and a page of notes, circa 1948. Estimate $4,000 to $6,000.

Lot 353: Mark Twain, autograph letter signed, explaining that the target of his new book is the founder, not the followers of Christian Science, 1902. Estimate $3,000 to $4,000.

Additional highlights include an ALS by Charles Dickens written in the voice of a character from Martin Chuzzlewit; an ALS by Mark Twain expressing irreverence and disrespect for Christian Science founder Mary Baker Eddy; and a typed letter signed by Carl Jung in 1948 that discusses his “association method” of identifying psychological complexes.

Lot 314: Charles Dickens, autograph letter signed, accepting a birthday party invitation in the voice of a Martin Chuzzlewit character, 1843. Estimate $4,000 to $6,000.

Lot 289: Gustav Mahler, autograph letter signed, arranging a meeting during his historic visit to New York, circa 1908. Estimate $4,000 to $6,000.

Politicians

Among Americana is an ALS by Robert E. Lee as commander of Confederate forces in Western Virginia, to a Colonel, offering encouragement for dispirited volunteers, and an ALS by Sam Houston to Gideon Welles, suggesting an “America first” foreign policy and taking inspiration from Andrew Jackson.

Half-length portrait by Vivienne of Winston Churchill, signed by Churchill, 1950s.

Lot 117: Winston S. Churchill, photograph signed, portrait by Vivienne, 1950s. Estimate $4,000 to $6,000.

Autograph Letter Signed Sam Houston to Gideon Welles, praising his view on foreign policy, Washington, 1852.

Lot 44: Samuel Houston, autograph letter signed, to Gideon Welles, suggesting an “America first” foreign policy, taking inspiration from Andrew Jackson, 1852. Estimate $6,000 to $9,000.

Civil War

Lot 249: Mary Todd Lincoln, autograph letter signed, describing her unwanted visitors as a ‘Rebel horde,’ on mourning stationery, 1874. Estimate $3,500 to $5,000.

autograph letter signed by robert e. lee

Lot 17: Robert E. Lee, autograph letter signed, to the colonel of the Kanawha Valley volunteers, boosting troop morale, 1861. Estimate $15,000 to $25,000.

Additional Highlights

Promising to be an oasis of artifacts from figures both admirable and notorious, the sale includes uncommon offerings such as an autograph letter signed by Gustav Mahler, and two remarkable photographs: a signed portrait of Winston Churchill, and an image of the Wright Flyer’s first flight, signed and inscribed by Orville Wright.

Lot 176: Carl Gustav Jung, typed letter signed, to a colleague, stating that he employed the “association method” at a time when he “felt insecure and understood little about dreams,” 1948. Estimate $3,000 to $4,000.