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Fine Books & Manuscripts

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  • American Celebrities and Musicians, Signed Photographs, Letters, and Cards.
    Estimate
    $700 - $900
    Lot 1

    American Celebrities and Musicians, Signed Photographs,...

    Est.
    $700 - $900
  • American Composers of the 20th Century, Five Signed Letters and Cards.
    Estimate
    $400 - $600
    Lot 2

    American Composers of the 20th Century, Five Signed Let...

    Est.
    $400 - $600
  • American Film Stars, a Collection of Signed Photographs, c. 1942.
    Estimate
    $500 - $700
    Lot 3

    American Film Stars, a Collection of Signed Photographs...

    Est.
    $500 - $700
  • Anderson, Sherwood (1876-1941) Four Letters: Two Autograph Signed and Two Typed Signed.
    Estimate
    $400 - $600
    Lot 4

    Anderson, Sherwood (1876-1941) Four Letters: Two Autogr...

    Est.
    $400 - $600
  • Archive of Approximately Twenty-five Documents, Signatures, and other Paper Ephemera, 17th, 18th, and 19th Century.
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,000
    Lot 5

    Archive of Approximately Twenty-five Documents, Signatu...

    Est.
    $800 - $1,000
  • Archive of Assorted Ephemera.
    Estimate
    $500 - $700
    Lot 6

    Archive of Assorted Ephemera.

    Est.
    $500 - $700
  • Authors and Novelists of the 20th Century, Ten Signed Letters and Cards.
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,000
    Lot 7

    Authors and Novelists of the 20th Century, Ten Signed L...

    Est.
    $800 - $1,000
  • Barton, Clara (1821-1912) Autograph Letter Signed, Glen Echo, Undated.
    Estimate
    $300 - $500
    Lot 8

    Barton, Clara (1821-1912) Autograph Letter Signed, Glen...

    Est.
    $300 - $500
  • Berlioz, Hector (1803-1869) Autograph Letter Signed, 9 January [1851].
    Estimate
    $300 - $500
    Lot 9

    Berlioz, Hector (1803-1869) Autograph Letter Signed, 9 ...

    Est.
    $300 - $500
  • Borglum, Gutzon (1867-1941) Three Typed Letters Signed and Two Signed Picture Postcards.
    Estimate
    $400 - $600
    Lot 10

    Borglum, Gutzon (1867-1941) Three Typed Letters Signed ...

    Est.
    $400 - $600
  • Boris III, Czar of Bulgaria (1894-1943) Signed Photograph, 1933.
    Estimate
    $300 - $500
    Lot 11

    Boris III, Czar of Bulgaria (1894-1943) Signed Photogra...

    Est.
    $300 - $500
  • Brahms, Johannes (1833-1897) Autograph Letter Signed, [21 April 1877, Vienna].
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,000
    Lot 12

    Brahms, Johannes (1833-1897) Autograph Letter Signed, [...

    Est.
    $800 - $1,000
  • Browning, Elizabeth Barrett (1806-1861) Autograph Letter Signed and   Envelope Addressed and Signed by Robert Browning (1812-1889)
    Estimate
    $2,000 - $4,000
    Lot 13

    Browning, Elizabeth Barrett (1806-1861) Autograph Lette...

    Est.
    $2,000 - $4,000
  • Burr, Aaron (1756-1836) and Daniel Webster (1782-1852) Two Documents Signed.
    Estimate
    $250 - $350
    Lot 14

    Burr, Aaron (1756-1836) and Daniel Webster (1782-1852) ...

    Est.
    $250 - $350
  • Chaplin, Charles (1889-1977) Signed Photograph and Typed Letter Signed.
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,000
    Lot 15

    Chaplin, Charles (1889-1977) Signed Photograph and Type...

    Est.
    $800 - $1,000
  • Cody, William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" (1846-1917) Autograph Note Signed, 21 September 1917.
    Estimate
    $300 - $500
    Lot 16

    Cody, William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" (1846-1917) Auto...

    Est.
    $300 - $500
  • Collection of Signed Letters.
    Estimate
    $400 - $600
    Lot 17

    Collection of Signed Letters.

    Est.
    $400 - $600
  • Copland, Aaron (1900-1990) Two Autograph Letters Signed, Ossining and Peekskill, New York, 19 October 1960, and 7 March 1961.
    Estimate
    $250 - $350
    Lot 18

    Copland, Aaron (1900-1990) Two Autograph Letters Signed...

    Est.
    $250 - $350
  • Craig, Edward Gordon (1872-1966) Twenty-six Signed Proofs, 1907-1939 Inscribed to Percy Mackaye.
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,000
    Lot 19

    Craig, Edward Gordon (1872-1966) Twenty-six Signed Proo...

    Est.
    $800 - $1,000
  • Dickens, Charles (1812-1870) Autograph Note Signed, 6 June 1854.
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,200
    Lot 20

    Dickens, Charles (1812-1870) Autograph Note Signed, 6 J...

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,200
  • Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan (1859-1930) Autograph Letter Signed, London, 18 January 1910.
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,200
    Lot 21

    Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan (1859-1930) Autograph Letter Si...

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,200
  • Duncan, Isadora (1877-1927) Signed Photograph.
    Estimate
    $400 - $600
    Lot 22

    Duncan, Isadora (1877-1927) Signed Photograph.

    Est.
    $400 - $600
  • Earhart, Amelia (1897-1937) and Howard Hughes (1905-1976) Photograph and Negative, Posing with the Carnegie   Mellon Flying Club.
    Estimate
    $250 - $350
    Lot 23

    Earhart, Amelia (1897-1937) and Howard Hughes (1905-197...

    Est.
    $250 - $350
  • Earhart, Amelia (1897-1937) Signed Ticket to Amelia Earhart Day, Waterville Airport, 13 August 1934.
    Estimate
    $500 - $700
    Lot 24

    Earhart, Amelia (1897-1937) Signed Ticket to Amelia Ear...

    Est.
    $500 - $700
  • Earhart, Amelia (1897-1939) Signed Photograph and Signed Card.
    Estimate
    $600 - $800
    Lot 25

    Earhart, Amelia (1897-1939) Signed Photograph and Signe...

    Est.
    $600 - $800
  • Ecclesiastical Wax Seals, Three, European, c. 1400-1600.
    Estimate
    $250 - $350
    Lot 26

    Ecclesiastical Wax Seals, Three, European, c. 1400-1600...

    Est.
    $250 - $350
  • Eisenhower, Dwight D. (1890-1969) Signed Photograph and Typed Letter Signed 16 December 1950.
    Estimate
    $250 - $350
    Lot 27

    Eisenhower, Dwight D. (1890-1969) Signed Photograph and...

    Est.
    $250 - $350
  • European Composers and Musicians, Late 19th and Early 20th Century, Signed Pieces.
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,200
    Lot 28

    European Composers and Musicians, Late 19th and Early 2...

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,200
  • European Composers and Musicians, Late 19th and Early 20th Century, Carte-de-visites and Photographs, Some Signed.
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,500
    Lot 29

    European Composers and Musicians, Late 19th and Early 2...

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,500
  • European Composers and Musicians, Late 19th and Early 20th Century, Six Signed Pieces.
    Estimate
    $1,200 - $1,800
    Lot 30

    European Composers and Musicians, Late 19th and Early 2...

    Est.
    $1,200 - $1,800
  • Fire Prevention Societies, New England, Boston, 1764.
    Estimate
    $300 - $500
    Lot 31

    Fire Prevention Societies, New England, Boston, 1764.

    Est.
    $300 - $500
  • Gage, Thomas (1721-1787) An Address of the Gentlemen and Principal Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, to His Excellency Governor Gage.
    Estimate
    $4,000 - $6,000
    Lot 32

    Gage, Thomas (1721-1787) An Address of the Gentlemen an...

    Est.
    $4,000 - $6,000
  • Garfield, James (1831-1881) Franking Signature.
    Estimate
    $200 - $300
    Lot 33

    Garfield, James (1831-1881) Franking Signature.

    Est.
    $200 - $300
  • Glenn, John (b. 1921) Typed Letter Signed, 7 September 1972.
    Estimate
    $200 - $300
    Lot 34

    Glenn, John (b. 1921) Typed Letter Signed, 7 September ...

    Est.
    $200 - $300
  • Grant, Ulysses S. (1822-1885) Autograph Album Containing His Signature, and those of Associated Political Figures
    Estimate
    $400 - $600
    Lot 35

    Grant, Ulysses S. (1822-1885) Autograph Album Containin...

    Est.
    $400 - $600
  • Grieg, Edvard (1843-1907) Autograph Letter Signed, Kristiania, 1906.
    Estimate
    $300 - $500
    Lot 36

    Grieg, Edvard (1843-1907) Autograph Letter Signed, Kris...

    Est.
    $300 - $500
  • Hemingway, Ernest (1899-1961) Typed Letter Signed, 7 August 1941.
    Estimate
    $700 - $900
    Lot 37

    Hemingway, Ernest (1899-1961) Typed Letter Signed, 7 Au...

    Est.
    $700 - $900
  • Himes, Charles Francis (1838-1918) Lecture on the Telephone, Rheem's Hall, Thursday, June 13th [1878].
    Estimate
    $1,000 - $1,500
    Lot 38

    Himes, Charles Francis (1838-1918) Lecture on the Telep...

    Est.
    $1,000 - $1,500
  • Hoover, Herbert (1874-1964) Four Signed Offprints of Speeches, Signed Portrait, and Two Typed Letters Signed.
    Estimate
    $700 - $900
    Lot 39

    Hoover, Herbert (1874-1964) Four Signed Offprints of Sp...

    Est.
    $700 - $900
  • Hughes, Langston (1902-1967) Autograph Letter Signed and Signed Autograph Postcard.
    Estimate
    $200 - $300
    Lot 40

    Hughes, Langston (1902-1967) Autograph Letter Signed an...

    Est.
    $200 - $300
  • Stoker, Bram (1847-1912) Autograph Note Signed Bram Stoker, 17 January 1908.
    Estimate
    $200 - $300
    Lot 41

    Stoker, Bram (1847-1912) Autograph Note Signed Bram Sto...

    Est.
    $200 - $300
  • Johnson, Lyndon B. (1908-1973) Two Signed Color Photographs, Typed Letter Signed, and Printed Statement Signed.
    Estimate
    $800 - $1,200
    Lot 42

    Johnson, Lyndon B. (1908-1973) Two Signed Color Photogr...

    Est.
    $800 - $1,200
  • Keen, Dora (1871-1963) Large Archive of Photographs and Ephemera.
    Estimate
    $3,000 - $5,000
    Lot 43

    Keen, Dora (1871-1963) Large Archive of Photographs and...

    Est.
    $3,000 - $5,000
  • Kerouac, Jack (1922-1969) Typed Letter, with Manuscript Additions, [18 February 1940.]
    Estimate
    $3,000 - $5,000
    Lot 44

    Kerouac, Jack (1922-1969) Typed Letter, with Manuscript...

    Est.
    $3,000 - $5,000
  • Kerouac, Jack (1922-1969) Typed Letter, with Manuscript Additions, [March 1940.]
    Estimate
    $3,000 - $5,000
    Lot 45

    Kerouac, Jack (1922-1969) Typed Letter, with Manuscript...

    Est.
    $3,000 - $5,000
  • Kerouac, Jack (1922-1969) Typed Letter, with Manuscript Additions, [2 May 1940.]
    Estimate
    $3,000 - $5,000
    Lot 46

    Kerouac, Jack (1922-1969) Typed Letter, with Manuscript...

    Est.
    $3,000 - $5,000
  • Kerouac, Jack (1922-1969) Typed Letter, with Manuscript Additions, 1-5 June 1940.
    Estimate
    $3,000 - $5,000
    Lot 47

    Kerouac, Jack (1922-1969) Typed Letter, with Manuscript...

    Est.
    $3,000 - $5,000
  • Kerouac, Jack (1922-1969) Typed Letter, [9 June 1940].
    Estimate
    $4,000 - $6,000
    Lot 48

    Kerouac, Jack (1922-1969) Typed Letter, [9 June 1940].

    Est.
    $4,000 - $6,000

Auction Description

Fine Books & Manuscripts  by Bonhams Skinner

Skinner has the privilege to offer a group of newly discovered letters written by a
teen-aged Jack Kerouac to a boyhood friend. The Fine Books & Manuscripts auction also
presents 490 lots of historical and literary documents, fine and rare books, prints,
and maps, and will be presented as part of Boston’s traditional fall rare book
events, including the 38th Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.

Preview Times
November 14, 12PM–7PM
November 15, 12PM–5PM
November 16, 9AM–9:30AM

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Bonhams Skinner
Boston, MA 02116
United States

bidsquare@bonhamsskinner.com

Phone:+16173505400

Buyer’s Premium

Start Premium (%)
$0 25.00

Bid Increments

Start Increments ($)
$0 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$3,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$30,000 $2,500
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000
$300,000 $25,000
$500,000 $50,000
$1,000,000 $100,000

Shipping Info

Please visit http://www.skinnerinc.com/services/payment-and-shipping/ for information regarding the collection of items purchased at auction. 

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Terms & Conditions

1. Some of the lots in this sale are offered subject to a reserve. The reserve is a confidential minimum price agreed upon by the consignor and Skinner, Inc. below which the lot will not be sold. In most cases, the reserve will be set below the estimated range, but in no case will it exceed the estimates listed. A representative of Skinner, Inc. will execute such reserves by bidding for the consignor. In any event and whether or not a lot is subject to a reserve, the auctioneer may reject any bid or raise not commensurate with the value of such lot.

2. All property is sold “as is,” and neither the auctioneer nor any consignor makes any warranties or representation of any kind or nature with respect to the property, and in no event shall they be responsible for the correctness, nor deemed to have made any representation or warranty, of description, genuineness, authorship, attribution, provenance, period, culture, source, origin, or condition of the property and no statement made at the sale, or in the bill of sale, or invoice or elsewhere shall be deemed such a warranty of representation or an assumption of liability.

3. Except as provided in paragraph 1 above, the highest bidder as determined by the auctioneer shall be the purchaser. In the case of a disputed bid, the auctioneer shall have sole discretion in determining the purchaser and may also, at his or her election, withdraw the lot or reoffer the lot for sale. The auctioneer shall have sole discretion to refuse any bid, or refuse to acknowledge any bidder. Any bidder that plans on spending in excess of $100,000 should make arrangements with the accounting department at least five (5) days in advance of the sale, as a deposit may be required to participate.

4. All merchandise purchased must be paid for and removed from the premises the day of the auction. Skinner Inc. may impose, and the purchaser agrees to pay, a monthly interest charge of 1.5% of the purchase price of any lot or item lot not paid for within thirty-five (35) days of the date of sale. Skinner, Inc. shall have no liability for any damage or loss to property left on its premises for more than three (3) days from the date of sale. If any property has not been removed within three (3) days from the date of sale, at the option of Skinner, Inc. (a) Skinner Inc., may impose, and the purchaser agrees to pay, a monthly storage charge of 1.5% of the purchase price of any lot or portion of a lot not removed within the three days, and/or (b) Skinner Inc. may place the merchandise in a subsequent auction, without Reserve, to be sold to the highest bidder, and after deducting the standard commission and any additional charges that may apply, remit the proceeds to the purchaser.

5. Skinner accepts cash or check for payment. Personal checks will be acceptable only if credit has been established with Skinner, Inc. or if a bank authorization has been received guaranteeing a personal check. Skinner, Inc. reserves the right to hold merchandise purchased by personal check until the check has cleared the bank. The purchaser agrees to pay Skinner, Inc. a handling charge of $25.00 for any check dishonored by the drawee. Please contact Accounting for additional payment methods. Skinner does not accept payment by credit card for merchandise purchases.

6. If the purchaser breaches any of its obligations under these Conditions of Sale, including its obligation to pay in full the purchase price of all items for which it was the highest successful bidder, Skinner Inc. may exercise all of its rights and remedies under the law including, without limitation, (a) canceling the sale and applying any payments made by the purchaser to the damages caused by the purchaser’s breach, and/or (b) offering at public auction, without reserve, any lot or item for which the purchaser has breached any of its obligations, including its obligation to pay in full the purchase price, holding the purchaser liable for any deficiency plus all costs of sale.

7. In no event will the liability of Skinner, Inc. to any purchaser with respect to any item exceed the purchase price actually paid by such purchaser for such item.

8. Shipping is the responsibility of the purchaser. Upon request, our staff will provide the list of shippers who deliver to destinations within the United States and overseas. Some property that is sold at auction can be subject to laws governing export from the U.S., such as items that include material from some endangered species. Import restrictions from foreign countries are subject to these same governing laws. Granting of licensing for import or export of goods from local authorities is the sole responsibility of the buyer. Denial or delay of licensing will not constitute cancellation or delay in payment for the total purchase price of these lots.

9. All purchases are subject to the Massachusetts 6.25% sales tax unless the purchaser possesses a Massachusetts sales tax exemption number. Exemption numbers from other states are accepted in Massachusetts if presented with a business card or letterhead. Dealers, museums, and other qualifying parties can apply for a Massachusetts exemption number prior to the auction by contacting the Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation at 100 Cambridge Street in Boston.

10. A premium equal to 23% of the final bid price up to and including $100,000, plus 20% of the final bid price from $100,001 up to and including $1,000,000, plus 12% of the final bid price from $1,000,001 and over will be applied to each lot sold, to be paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price.

11. Bidding on any item indicates your acceptance of these terms and all other terms printed within, posted, and announced at the time of sale whether bidding in person, through a representative, by phone, by Internet, or other absentee bid.

12. Skinner, Inc. and its consignors make no warranty or representation, express or implied, that the purchaser will acquire any copyright or reproduction rights to any lot sold. Skinner, Inc. expressly reserves the right to reproduce any image of the lots sold in this catalog. The copyright in all images, illustrations and written material produced by or for Skinner, Inc. relating to a lot, including the contents of this catalog, is, and shall remain at all times, the property of Skinner, Inc. and shall not be used by the purchaser, nor by anyone else, without our prior written consent.

13. These conditions of sale shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (excluding the laws applicable to conflicts or choice of law). The buyer/bidder agrees that any suit for the enforcement of this agreement may be brought, and any action against Skinner in connection with the transactions contemplated by this agreement shall be brought, in the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any federal court sitting therein. The bidder/buyer consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and waives objections that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such suit.

Revised January 8, 2014