Literature Autographs

American musical critic and author (1857-1918), best known for his guide to the operas, "The Complete Opera Book" first published in the United States in 1919 and the United Kingdom in 1922. Autograph letter signed, 5 pages, dated in March 1918, size of each page is 8 x 9.75 inches, small tear on left side of final page, otherwise in very good condition. 

Russian ballet historian (1915-1999) and critic, highly respected for her books and articles.  Beautiful photograph shown at home signed and inscribed by her with a short sentiment.  Size is 5.25 x 3.2 inches, in excellent condition.

Austrian writer and actor (b.1953). Black-and-white promo photograph signed by him, shown young. Size is 9.75 x 7.9 inches, in excellent condition.

Polish-born French poet (1857-1908), autograph letter signed. 1 page with very attractive handwriting and signature. Written in French, sold untranslated. Size is 5.25 x 8.1 inches, in very good condition.

English poet (1784-1834), politician, and writer. Autograph letter signed by him, dated December 28th, 1820. Size is 7.25 x 8.9 inches, 4 pages written on a folded sheet, some damage over the upper border, folds, otherwise in very good condition.

French playwright (1761-1833) whose works played an important role against the mob rule during the French Revolution. Fine autograph letter in French signed by him (untranslated), no year indicated. Size is 4.5 x 7.25 inches, 1 written page, in very good condition.

French poet (1851-1915). Autograph poem in French in two separate pages signed by Legay on the second page, and inscribed to the French baritone Leon Melchissedec. Size is 7.1 x 9 inches each page, central fold, minor spotted dust, in overall very good condition.

French writer (1807-1903), dramatist, and women's rights activist. Set of two autograph letters signed by him (no date). One of them addressed to the French physician and poet Théophile Coupier (1820-1872), and the other, to a gentleman, thanking him for his appreciation.  Sizes are 5.1 x 8 inches and 5.2 x 8 inches, overall rust tone, in very good condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

French writer (1853-1914), dramatist, and critic. Short autograph letter in French (untranslated) on a card signed by him, dated 1907. Size is 4.4 x 3.4 inches, in excellent condition.

American novelist (1925-2013), short-story writer, and screenwriter. Black-and-white photograph signed and inscribed by him with a short sentiment. Size is 10 x 7.9 inches, in excellent condition.

American journalist (1855-1914), novelist, and short story writer. Album page with a text quote signed by him. Size is 4.7 x 6.4 inches, folds, in excellent condition.

French writer (1832-1896), composer, and performer. Autograph poem titled “Impromptu” signed by her. Lionnet pens five stanzas: “Je voudrais bien éloquemment/Répondre à ce toast si charmant/Qui vous trouble et qui nous remue,/Mais devant tant d’amenité,/Je me sens l’âme, en vérité,/Fort émue…”. The poem appears in the volume “Souvenir et anecdotes” (1888) by Hyppolite and Anatole Lionnet. Size is 8 x 11.5 inches, 1 page, folds, incomplete upper-left corner, otherwise in very good condition.

American Lawyer and writer (1861 – 1927), best known for his short story "Madame Butterfly", which inspired Puccini's opera of the same name. Signature cut mounted on album page which also contains an unsigned portrait etching. Signature cut is 2.75 x 4.75 inches, total item is sized at 5 x 9 inches, attractive vintage item in excellent condition. 

American poet (1807-1882) and educator. Short autograph letter signed and dated in 1879, sending an autograph to a fan. 1 page, size is 4.3 x 7 inches, folds, in excellent condition.

Swiss dramatist (1873-1921), son of the founder of the Gallican church movement Charles "père" Loyson. Set of four autograph letters signed by him, written in French and Italian, dated three of them in 1907, about different topics and addressed to different people. Different sizes and lengths, in very good condition or better (see scans provided).   SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

English dramatist (1793-1873). Signature cut of the dramatist (probably a clip from the bottom of a letter), mounted on a piece of soft paper. Size is 7.4 x 1.6 inches, minor cracks, in good condition.

Italian writer (b.1936) whose work focuses mostly on women's issues having written numerous plays and novels. Fine color photograph signed by her. Size is 7.9 x 9.75 inches, in excellent condition.

American poet (1933-2015), singer, songwriter, and composer; active between 1955 and 2004. Black-and-white photograph signed and inscribed by him with a short sentiment dated in August 1984. Size is 7.9 x 9.9 inches, in excellent condition.

French dramatist (1830-1897), and opera librettist. Meilhac wrote the libretto for Bizet’s Carmen and also for Offenbach and Massenet. Autograph note signed, in French, sold untranslated. One page, sized 4.4 x 7 inches, in excellent condition.

American poet (1925-2011).  Short handwritten poem and note on one single page.  Size is 8.4 x 11 inches, in excellent condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a short printed biographical article on him, inscribed and signed twice by him, dated in 1990.

French writer (1841-1909), author of many librettos and music poems for composers such as Reynaldo Hahn, Georges Bizet, Ignacy Paderewski, Andre Messager, and others. Autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him, no date indicated [but circa 1890], addressed to a gentleman, recommending Mademoiselle Léonie Dupont, who is taking the entrance exam for singing at the Conservatoire.  Open size is 10.7 x 8.3 inches, 2 written pages in one folded sheet, letterhead from "Echo de Paris", creases, in overall very good condition.

French playwright (1859-1913) and novelist, who founded Le Theatre du Grand-Guignol in Paris in 1897. Set of 4 Autograph letters in French signed by him (sold untranslated), three of them are dated 1887, one with no date. Different sizes, from 3.5 x 5.4 to 5.25 x 8.25 inches, in very good condition.  SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

American novelist and journalist (1900-1949), whose only novel written was "Gone with the Wind" for which she was awarded a Pulitzer prize in 1937. Album page signed by her dated in Atlanta, on October 11, 1936, attached with a photograph of her (probably a clip from a program or magazine). Size is 4.3 x 5.75 inches, in good condition.

American novelist and journalist (1900-1949), author of the famous novel "Gone with the Wind", winner of Pulitzer prize in 1937.  Typed letter signed by her with her full married name (in the letterhead), discussing with her publisher about rights and edition of the novel.  Size is 8.5 x 11 inches, 1 page, light damage on edges, 2 folds, otherwise in very good condition. Very important document, unique as one of the America's greatest writers.

American novelist and journalist (1900-1949), author of the famous novel "Gone with the Wind", winner of the Pulitzer prize in 1937.  Typed letter signed by her using her married last name, dated July 20, 1949, thanking someone for a nice note about "Gone With The Wind". Size is 7.2 x 10.5 inches, 1 page, folds, rust stains, otherwise in excellent condition.

British statesman (1838-1923), and newspaper editor. Autograph letter in English signed by him, dated 1874. Size is 4.3 x 7 inches, 1 page, folds, in excellent condition.

Italian poet and writer (1870-1945), first woman member of the Italian Academy (1940). Fine signed photo postcard by Camuzzi, Milan, signed and inscribed by her, with a short sentiment in latin. Size is 3.25 x 5.3 inches, minor silvering on borders, in very good condition.

Chilean poet, diplomat and politician (1904-1973), winner of the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. Signed book "Tercera Residencia", inscribed to someone thanking her visit and books, dated in Isla Negra (Chile) in 1964, with a small drawing by him.  Tercera Residencia is a book of poetry, 112 pages, this is the 2nd edition (1951), Editorial Losada, Buenos Aires, soft covers, 6 x 8 inches. Neruda signs it on the first page. Original dust jacket and book are both in excellent condition. See scans of autograph page, front cover and title page.

Mexican poet (1870-1919), journalist, and educator, considered one of the most important of the XIX century in Mexico, and also an ambassador of Mexico in Argentina and Uruguay. Set of 2 typed letters in Spanish (sold untranslated) signed by him weeks before his decease and addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Law Estanislao Zeballos in Buenos Aires requesting the admission of his nephew. The first letter has two sheets (dated April 17, 1919), and the second one (dated May 12, 1919) is only 1 sheet. Each page is 8.25 x 11.25 inches, both in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a unsigned letter referred to in the second letter.

French dramatist (1854-1916) and composer, who often collaborated with other playwrights, composers, and musicians, for a large number of operettas, opéra-bouffes, comedies, and vaudevilles. Autograph letter in Frnch (untranslated) signed by him, dated in Paris, October 19, 1897, to a gentleman composer, concerning a manuscript he cannot find: “…Il me semble vous l’avoir remis en vous disant: ‘gardez tout le commencement du second acte et modifiez surtout la fin qui couchait la pièce’…”.  Size is 4.6 x 7 inches each page, three written pages in one folded sheet, irregular borders, creases, folds, dirt stains, in good condition.

French writer (1883-1984) and collector, collaborated with composers such as Massenet, Saint-Saëns, Ravel, and Fauré before devoting himself successfully to novelistic and theatrical writing. Autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him, dated 1931, to the writer, member of the Académie des sciences, lettres et arts d'Amiens Henri Chenu: “…je viens de lire votre délicieux discours de l’Académie d’Amien et vous en félicite (…) Quel dommage de ne pas vous avoir vu à ma séance Lesueur (…) voici: votre groupement théâtral “la jeune comédie”, m’intéressa beaucoup. Pourrait on y monter une oeuvre de…, soit celle jouée ici au théâtre des arts, dans la direction de Lurel (1924), soit celle jouée à Bruxelles avec la Comédie-Française, soit encore celle montée par Gaston Baty [1885-1952]…”. Size is 8.4 x 10.6 inches, 1 page, central fold, in overall very good condition.

German actor (1823-1880), reciter, and writer. Autograph letter signed by him, written in German (sold untranslated), dated in Hamburg, 1871.  Size is 5 x 8 inches, 2 pages written on both sides of a sheet, folds, in excellent condition.

English poet (1842-1916), and also translator and publisher. Autograph letter signed by him on the first page, mentioning three of his works on the second page, dated April 1st, 1985.  Size is 5 x 7.9 inches, 2 written pages, folds, in excellent condition.

British actor, theater director and writer (1887-1964), known mainly for his popular biographies which made him the leading British biographer of his time, in terms of commercial success. Set of 2 1 page typed letters signed, both dated in 1949 addressed to various editors of the Saturday Review of Literature, an American literary publication referring to his published review of a book about George Bernard Shaw. Also included is the 6 page typed review. Each of these three documents are 8 x 10 inches, with several creases and folds, but in otherwise very good condition. Not sold separately.

English author (1862-1960), and also a poet and dramatist. Card signed by the author mounted on a larger piece of paper with a newspaper article about his death, dated December 30th, 1960. Size is 8.4 x 9.4 inches, in excellent condition.

American journalist (1833-1896), notorious for his anti-Lincoln sentiment during the American Civil War. Fantastic carte-de-visite (CDV) signed by him, shown young (circa the 1860s). Size is 2.4 x 3.9 inches, in excellent condition.

French poet (1864-1936). Fine autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him. Size is 4.1 x 6.75 inches, 2 written pages in one sheet (front and back), some stains, in very good condition.

American fiction writer (1875-1950), celebrated for his adventure and science-fiction novels, including Tarzan. Signed check printed with his name in Tarzana, CA, dated in 1939. Size is 8.4 x 3 inches, protected in hard plastic case, in excellent condition. PSA-DNA Certificate of Authenticity.

French politician (1831-1913), writer, journalist and politician, founder of the of the newspaper “L’Intransigeant” in 1880. Autograph letter in French (sold untranslated) signed by him, dated 1908, to the French writer Jeanne Loiseau-Lapauze, wife to the art critic Henry: "... I have no news of the famous portrait, but I suppose it is installed in your little Palace. Judging by your charming verses, I guess your loan is at least as attractive as that of Fontainebleau...". Open size is 9.6 x 6.6 inches, two written pages in a folded sheet, overall rust stains, folds, otherwise in very good condition.

Austrian poet (1819-1904). Manuscript poem in German for famous Austrian ballerina Fanny Elssler (1810-1884) signed below by the poet himself.  Size is 5.7 x 8.8 inches, 2 written pages in one sheet, folds, minor stains, in overall very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a transcription in German and a translation into English.

Italian poet (1788-1865), and librettist for Don Nicetti and Bellini. Autograph letter signed, dated in Turin, 1849. One page, in Italian (sold untranslated), sized 8.25 x 10.4 inches, in excellent condition.

French writer (1805-1870), journalist, and director of the Paris Opera between 1847 and 1854. Set of 2 autograph letters signed by him. One of them, dated 1837, was written by a third hand but signed by him. Size is 5.25 x 8.2 inches, 1 page in French, in very good condition. The second one is an autograph note written and signed by the writer, with letterhead, 1 page in French, size is 5.25 x 8.2 inches, in very good condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATED.

French poet (1857-1926), painter, writer, art critic, and director of the magazine "La Revue Lyrique et Choréographique". Set of three autographs letters in French (sold untranslated) signed by him and addressed to the art critic Henry Lapauze, as follows: A. Marseille, 1886, sending an issue of the magazine and requesting Lapauze to write an article to be published. 1 written page. B. Marseille, Dec. 2, 1886, saying, among other things, "... I am a poet before I am a dilettante and in a few months I intend to offer you a volume of verse...". 4 written pages. C. Marseille Dec. 4, 1886, with letterhead “Revue Lyrique & Choréographique”, concerning an article. 1 page. Different sizes, lengths, and conditions (see scans). SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Australian writer/novelist (1859-1936), her actual name was Elfie Adelaide Maria Henderson, later changed to Albanesi (Elfie Marie Albanesi), using her husband´s last name. Under the pen name of Rowlands, she became famous for publishing over 250 six-penny novels. Autograph note signed, dated in London in 1913, thanking someone for a letter to her. One page, 5 x 6.4 inches, mounted on soft cardboard, in excellent condition.

British writer (b.1965) and philanthropist, best known for writing the Harry Potter fantasy series, which has won multiple awards and sold more than 500 million copies. Fine color photograph signed by her, shown promoting one of her books.  Size is 10.7 x 8.1 inches, authentication sticker on verso, in excellent condition.

English writer (1819-1900), philosopher, and art critic. Clip with his signature (probably the bottom of a letter). Size is 3 x .75 inches, in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is an unsigned carte-de-visite (CDV) by Elliot & Fry (London). Size is 2.3 x 4.1 inches minor mounting traces on verso, otherwise in very good condition.

British philosopher (1872-1970), historian, writer, social and political activist, and Nobel Prize of Literature laureate. Nice signed photograph, size is 4 x 5.9 inches, stamped on verso by Keystone Press Agency Ltd., London, in excellent condition.

Famous French dramatist (1831-1908), whose plays were turned into popular operas (Tosca, Fedora and others).  Large signed photo shown as himself, inscribed, mounted on a photographer mat; original photo by Paul Bayer, Paris.  Total size is 8.25 x 12.6 inches (actual photo is 5 x 8.4 inches), minor wear on corners, in excellent condition.