Literature Autographs ($50 - $100)

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 dramatist (1854-1916), a prolific author in creating theatrical works. Autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him, dated in Paris, January 27, 1908, to a gentleman composer: “…J’ai hâte également d’entendre votre partition, dont Alexandre est très enthousiaste, ce que je comprends d’avance…”. Size is 4.2 x 5.4 inches, 2 written pages in one sheet (front and back) with SACD letterhead, creases, folds, rust stains, and a punched hole at the top, in 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.

French dramatist (1814-1867) and poet. Autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him, dated in Vienna, June 1, [1859], where he addresses a gentleman, thanking him for having sent a volume he recently translated and rejoices for the theater re-opening, hoping for new successes on the stage for the soprano Marie-Stéphanie Meyer (1828-1914).  Size is 5.3 x 8.3 inches, 3 written pages in one folded sheet, central fold, creases, overall age toning, in very good 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.

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.

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.

French dramatist (1794-1877), theatre director, and critic. Set of two autograph letters in French (untranslated) signed by him, dated in January 1863. Both letters are addressed to the Director of the Société de Beaux Arts Louise Martinet (1814-1895), concerning a new “…centre de publicité musicale…”. Different sizes, lengths, and conditions (see scans provided for a detailed view). SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

German Writer (1889-1969). Autograph letter in French signed by her, dated in Munich, 1924, to Arturo Toscanini, who desired an autograph letter by Richard Wagner: "... Countess Blandine Gravina, who came to see me on the way, told me of your desire to have an autograph of Richard Wagner. A happy coincidence gives me the opportunity to send you one; it is a letter from Wagner to Malwina von Meÿsenberg, the great friend of the Wagner family, the author of the famous "Memoirs of an Idealist (...) The enclosed letter is an invitation from Wagner to the "Mastersinger" in Munich 1868...". Each page's size is 5.6 x 8.7 inches, 4 written pages, in very good condition. Envelope is INCLUDED.

French philosopher (1841-1929), poet, playwright, novelist, music critic, and publicist of esoteric literature. Autograph letter in French signed by him, dated in Paris, March 6, 1921, where he addresses a gentleman, concerning Bossuet's music connections. Size is 4.4 x 6.9 inches, 3 written pages, vertical fold, in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is his visiting card with a short message written by Schure, dated March 29, 1922.

French writer (1837-1901), librettist, whose poems have been set to music by Camille Saint-Saëns, André Messager, Léo Delibes, Benjamin Godard, and many others. Autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him, dated 25 Nov. 1897, concerning some newspaper directors: “…M. Walduck Romeau est l’ami de Valentin Simond; mais je crois que Valentin Simond n’est plus grand … au journal l’Echo où prévaut son fils…”. Size is 8.4 x 11.6 inches, 1 page, mounted on a larger piece of cardboard, in overall very good condition.

American playwright (1927-2018), screenwriter, and author. Fine black-and-white photograph signed by him, shown in his office. Size is 7.9 x 9.8 inches, in excellent condition.

American playwright (1927-2018), screenwriter, and author. Beautiful color casual photograph signed by him, shown young. Size is 7.8 x 9.7 inches, probably trimmed at the bottom, otherwise in excellent condition.

French musicologist (1846-1918) and music critic. Autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him, no date, where he addresses the musicologist Johannes Weber (1818-1902): "...Je viens pour la 17e fois vous recommander mon petit Almanach des Spectacles...". Size is 4.5 x 7 inches, 1 page, central fold and some light creases, in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is his visiting card signed by him with a short sentiment dated August 24, 1886.

American poet (1833-1908), critic, and essayist.  Autograph note signed by him initialized as "E.C.S.". Size 4.7 x 7.6 inches, plus a card also signed by him, 4.9 x 3.8 inches in size, both in excellent condition.

French musicologist (1827-1894) and bibliophile, one of the first to study French music of the 17th and 18th centuries. Autograph letter in French (untranslated) signed by him, no date [ probably Paris, 1861 ca.], where he addresses a gentleman, concerning the renown engraver Firmin Gillot, inventor of the printing method based on relief photo-engraving known as "Gillotage": "...Je ne puis vous envoyer mon homme car il ne se dérangera pas. C'est lui qui fait toutes les planches des journaux illustrés tels que la Vie Parisienne, Le journal amusant (...) Il est donc très occupé et le plus simple est d'aller chez lui...".  Size is 5.2 x 8.1 inches, 2 written pages in one sheet (front and back), folds and creases, overall dust stains, missing upper-right corner, in overall very good condition.

French musicologist (1857-1936), remembered for his work on folk songs of the French Alps. Set of two autograph letters in French (untranslated) signed by him, both dated 1912. We report an extract as a sample, concerning an autograph dedication by Gaspare Spontini: "...J'avais l'an dernier chez Costa-Borgna l'exemplaire des trios de César Franck revetus de la dédicace à Spontini, et j'apprends maintenant que c'est nous qui en êtes l'heureux possesseur. Je voudrais pour une publication de documents autographes, pouvoir reproduire par la photographie l'une de ces dédicaces de l'auteur de Béatitudes à l'auteur de La Vestale...".  Size is 5.5 x 8.4 inches each, 1 written page each, central folds, light creases, printed letterhead, both in very good condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

American author (1827-1916) An album page signed by him with a short text quote dated March 1892. Size is 5 x 4 inches, loss of paper at the bottom, otherwise in good condition.

English writer (1787-1849) and politician, a Shakespeare scholar. Autograph letter signed by him, written on both sides of a sheet. Size is 4.4 x 7.4 inches, 2 pages, folds, in very good condition.

French writer (1819-1893). Collection of three autograph letters in French (untranslated) signed by him, no date, addressed to the literary critic Paul de Saint-Victor (1827-1881), concerning his contemporary composers: "...M. Victor Massé vient de publier un recueil de 12 mélodies qui a tout l'intérêt d'une partition. M. Victor Massé appartient avec Gounod et Félicien David a cette école qu'on pourrait appeler en musique l'école philosophique, talent peut-être un peu chercheur, et sait toujours rendre ses idées dans une forme élevée autant qu'original....".  Different sizes, lengths, and conditions (see scans provided for a detailed view). SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

American author of historical fiction (1924-2003).  Black and white photo signed and inscribed by him; ink-stamped on verso by photographer Jill Uris.  Size is 7.9 x 9.9 inches, in excellent condition.

French writer and dramatist (1854-1937), knight of the Legion of Honor. Autograph letter in French signed by him, dated in Paris, July 30, 1885, to the art critic Henry Lapauze, informing "... I immediately wrote to [Henri] Pagat. I hope that he has kept a copy of his short story and that he will be able to send it back to you (...) I am currently in the middle of my work, but as soon as I have finished the play I have in progress, I will write a short story for you, which I hope you will like...".  Open size is 10 x 8 inches, 2 written pages in one folded sheet, some smudges, folds, overall rust tone, in good condition.  

French romantic writer (1802-1885) and politician, whose career spanned more than sixty years. Gorgeous vintage carte-de-visite (CDV) of him by Photographer Charles-Albert Bertall (Paris). Size is 2.3 x 4 inches, in very good condition.

French writer (1796-1871). Interesting unpublished draft of an article dedicated to the memory of the French composer and organist Hippolyte Monpou signed by Waldor. Size is 7.8 x 9.3 inches, 8 written pages, overall rust tone, in very good condition.

American best-selling author and screenwriter (1916-1990), famous for some his novels. Signed photo shown with a copy of his famous novel "The Word" (1972), inscribed with a short sentiment dated in 1972. Size is 8 x 10 inches, in excellent condition.

American writer (b.1937) known for his fictional and nonfictional accounts of police work in the United States. Black-and-white promo photograph signed and inscribed by him with a short sentiment, dated 1981. Size is 7.9 x 10.1 inches, in excellent condition.

German historian (1817-1897). Autograph note signed by him, written in German (sold untranslated).  Size is 5.5 x 8.6 inches, 1 page, folds, in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is  an extra page with a text written in Latin by the composer.

Romanian-born American writer (1928-2016), professor, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. 4-page card for an event at the Marriott Hotel, 1983, signed and inscribed by him in the last page. Size is 5.2 x 7.75 inches, in excellent condition.

German poet (1845-1909) and dramatist. Autograph letter signed by him, written in German (sold with translation). Size is 5.6 x 8.6 inches, 1 page, recipient's name was trimmed at the top, small cracks, folds, otherwise in good condition.

French librettist and lyricist (1887-1964), author of many songs for cinema, including the movie "Tossing Ship" (1932) and "Passionnément" with music by André Messager. Set of three typed letters in French (untranslated) signed by him with autograph additions, both dated 1932, addressed to Alfred Bloch of the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques concerning the Italian distribution and the sale to Paramount of his work for the movie "Passionnément". Size is 8.4 x 10.8 inches each one, different lengths, all with letterhead from "Theatre des Bouffes Parisiens" in each one,  some creases and stains, in overall very good condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

French librettist and lyricist (1887-1964), author of many songs for cinema, including the movie "Tossing Ship" (1932) and "Passionnément" with music by André Messager. Typed letter in French (untranslated) signed by him, dated in Paris, December 6, 1929, addressed to the composer and conductor Gustave Goublier (1856-1926), attaching a typed copy of a letter by the lyricist Charles-Louis Pothier (1881-1962), that caused him some astonishment. Size is 8.4 x 10.7 inches, 1 page, letterhead from Theatre des Bouffles Parisiens, folds, creases, in very good condition. We report a sample of the letter by Pothier: "...J'apprends par Benjamin Rabier que Monsieur Goublier vous aurait demandé à faire la musique de l'opérette "LES FAUCHES DE L'AMOUR". Il est malheureusement un peu trop tard. Voici pourquoi: Monsieur Goublier lut, il y a environ deux ans, le scénario des "FAUCHES DE L'AMOUR" (...) Il cessa de s'intéresser à l'affaire et dit à Rabier que cette pièce ne l'emballait plus (...) Croyant bien que l'affaire n'intéressait plus Monsieur Goublier, je proposai à un musicien qui l'accepta. Il m'est donc impossible de reprendre maintenant ce livret à un musicien envers qui je suis engagé...". 

English writer (1905-1987), dramatist, and actor.  Signed publicity photograph, shown young, size is 3.75 x 5.75 inches, mounting tape traces on verso, otherwise in excellent condition.

English novelist (1913-1991) and short story writer.  Magazine Twentieth Century Literature issued in the summer of 1983, signed and inscribed with a short sentiment by the writer on the first page.  Size is 5.75 x 8.9 inches, 150+ pages, in very good condition.

German musicologist  (1869-1947), known for his research on medieval and Renaissance music and early music notation. Autograph note signed by him on the French sculptor Ernest Dubois' visiting card, no date [postal markings indicate May 14, 1895].  Wolff addresses Mademoiselle Du Rozier-Magneux, regretting not being able to attend a meeting with her. Size is 5.1 x 3 inches, in overall very good condition.

German writer and poet (1834-1910). Autograph letter signed by the writer, written in German (sold untranslated), dated in Charlottenburg, 1887.  Size is 5.7 x 8.75 inches, 2 pages (in one sheet), minor cracks, otherwise in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDE is an envelope, size is 5.75 x 4.7 inches, in very good condition.

American author (1915-2019), best known for historical fiction such as The Caine Mutiny (1951) for which he won the Pulitzer Prize in fiction. Card signed by him. Size is 5 x 3.1 inches, in excellent condition.

Lotos Club is a gentleman's club in New York City, to promote and to develop the art and sciences. The club celebrated gala dinners with famous guests, and the menus, signed by attendees, are today highly collectible. See individual descriptions for details. Scroll down to see all the autographs and click on each to enlarge or see more photos if available. SOLD INDIVIDUALLY.