VILLE DI DELIZIA O SIANO PALAGI CAMPARECCI NELLO STATO DI MILANO.

(VILLAS OF DELIGHT or PALATIAL COUNTRY HOMES of the PROVINCE OF MILAN.)

A LARGE, LAVISHLY PRODUCED, FINE-PRINTING with 44 DOUBLE-PAGE ENGRAVINGS of the work originally engraved and published by MARC'ANTONIO DAL RE in 1726 and 1743.

Published by Edizioni il Polifilo, Milan, Italy, 1963. Designed and printed by Luigi Maestri; plates by Anniìbale Belli; paper specially manufactured by Cartiera Ventura.

Large hardcover book in slipcase, folio size 13x19 inches (33.5x48 cm). Pagination: 74, [3] pages, plus 44 engraved plates, and an engraved map. TEXT IN ITALIAN

ILLUSTRATED with 44 engraved plates (33 double-page, 7 fold-open, and 4 single page); a two page engraved map of the State of Milan (now Lombardy) showing the location of the Villas; plus 17 in-text drawings in a section at the rear that contains notes about the various Villas.

NEAR FINE book, there is a bump to the lower right corner of the front cover and to the bottom of the spine, and there is a 1 inch thin indent on Plate IV, otherwise beautiful; in a GOOD slipcase that has a few bumps and some general wear but is solid and doing its job well.

Marc'Antonio Dal Re, b.1697 d.1766, was an Italian engraver and publisher. He is known for his engravings of villas and vedute of the State of Milan.

A gorgeous, fine-printing production.

INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS PLEASE NOTE: This book is very large and heavy and will require substantial additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the charges and be able to accept or reject them before payment is taken. Thanks!

A POEM : HOW A POEM CAME TO BE. A Lovely BROADSIDE POEM by LAURA RIDING JACKSON.

SIGNED by LAURA RIDING JACKSON at the end of her poem, beneath her printed name.

Published by [Lord John Press, 1980]. LIMITED EDITION OF ONLY 150 COPIES, this being copy #109.

Broadside, printed on fine heavy stock paper, deckled top and bottom edges, 15x22 inches.

FINE condition, bright and beautiful.

From the Broadside: "Within a very few years of the publication of my Collected Poems (1938)... I renounced further trying the way of poetry... saying: I would write no more poems - and I wrote no more poems... (however) I wrote for (a close friend), in the 1978 Christmastime, a poem, marked as a poem for him only, giving it the title HOW A POEM CAME TO BE. I kept no copy of this privately written and given poem, and forgot the writing and the giving of it... I chanced, recently, to tell my friend of receiving a request for a poem to publish in broadside form from the Lord John Press, indicating my feeling some surprise that Mr. Yellin, the Press's director, should not have been aware that FOR FORTY YEARS there had been NO NEW POEMS of mine. But my friend reminded me that about a year ago there HAD been a new poem - the one I wrote for him; and he urged me to let him release it to me from its private status of being a poem for him only... I give here the poem, given him, to be out in the world..."

LAURA RIDING JACKSON, 1901-1991, was an iconoclastic American Poet. She left New England at the age of 25 to live with ROBERT GRAVES and his wife, Nancy Nicholson. The triangle did not suit her, and Laura Riding tried to commit suicide in 1927. Thereafter Robert Graves divorced his wife and lived together with Laura Riding in Majorca, France, England and Switzerland, and even went with her when she returned to the United States. They bitterly broke up in 1939. In 1941 Laura Riding Jackson renounced poetry, married Schuyler B. Jackson, and lived quietly with him in Wabasso, Florida, until her death in 1991. In the 60s, 70s and 80s she wrote a number of pieces explaining her reasons for renouncing poetry, but no poetry. This is apparently THE ONLY POEM written by Laura Riding Jackson since 1941.

You can read much more about LAURA RIDING on Wikipedia and elsewhere on the Internet.

This Large and Lovely BROADSIDE will be shipped carefully rolled in a sturdy mailing tube.

THE PROVIDENCE DIRECTORY and RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

A directory of every resident in PROVIDENCE, and every BUSINESS in RHODE ISLAND, in 1933.

Published by Sampson, Murdock, & Co., Providence, Rhode Island, 1933. This is an Original, Vintage Directory.

Original hardcovers, cloth covered boards and spine, 8x11 inches, thick volume, 1036 pages.

Contains numerous advertisements of the day. These directories were published as advertising vehicles so ads are everywhere, including the covers.

This volume was part of the amazing SUTRO GENEALOGICAL LIBRARY of SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. There are Sutro and related library stamps, marks and numbers on the front endpapers, title page, and here and there throughout. The Sutro Library was (and to a large part still is) a treasure trove of genealogical books collected by Adolph Sutro and donated to the City of San Francisco. The collection was pretty much neglected by the City until the City gave the collection to the library of San Francisco State University. Before and after the move to SFSU quite a few volumes from the Sutro genealogical library were, sadly, deaccessioned, so the collection would fit into its new space. In its new home the Sutro Library is still considered to have the best genealogical collection west of Salt Lake City, and is now much better cared for, it is just not as large as it was. Once these wonderful deaccessioned Sutro genealogy books find new homes they will likely not be seen again for some time.

FAIR CONDITION: The covers are worn through at the cornet tips, frayed at the spine ends, and soiled, but remain solid with clear printing. Internally, there are Sutro and related library stamps and marks as noted above; the title page is significantly damaged but present, it has tears, creases, and tape repair; the first three leaves (pages of ads) are soiled and have some edge creases; the table of contents page is creased and has edgewear; otherwise the pages are just lightly used, tight, bright, clean and clear. A solid copy.

A COMPLETE, ORIGINAL 1933 GENERAL DIRECTORY for the CITY of PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, and BUSINESS DIRECTORY for the STATE of RHODE ISLAND. A treasure trove of R.I. genealogy.

INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS PLEASE NOTE: This book is heavy and will require additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the charges and be able to accept or reject them before payment is taken. Thanks!

The Commercial Advertiser DIRECTORY FOR THE CITY OF BUFFALO, to which is added a BUSINESS DIRECTORY, and Advertisements of Merchants and Manufacturers in the cities of Buffalo and New York.

A directory of every resident and business in BUFFALO, NEW YORK, in 1857.

Published by E. R. Jewett, Buffalo, New York, 1857. This is an original, vintage directory.

Original hardcovers, paper covered boards, 6x9 inches, 359 pages.

This copy was deaccessioned from the Massachusetts Historical Society. There is a vintage bookplate of the Massachusetts Historical Society on the front pastedown that has the handwritten date of May 3, 1870, and its blindstamp on the title page There are also a couple other stamps and marks here and there. The bookplate has a blue overstamp that reads: Cancelled / Massachusetts Historical Society.

These directories were produced as advertising vehicles, so there are ads throughout, many are very interesting and some with cool illustrations.

FAIR CONDITION: The front cover is present but detached, the spine covering is missing but the spine remains solid, the front and rear boards are worn through at the corners and edges, and are rubbed and soiled but the printing remains clear, handwritten at the top of the front cover is: "Torrance Thayer & Blanchard, 290 Main Street, Buffalo". Internally, there is a Massachusetts Historical Society bookplate, and some other stamps and marks, as noted above; there is some spotting here and there but overall the pages are tight, bright, and clear. The ads are really cool!

A complete, original, vintage 1857 Buffalo, New York, City Directory.

A treasure trove of Buffalo genealogy.

HANDWRITTEN LETTER by HENRY MILLER to a Mrs. Clairmonte, a woman presumably well-connected in Carmel, California society, asking for her help in locating clients for his SILKSCREEN ART PRINTS.

Written on Henry Miller's personal stationery, with "HENRY MILLER * BIG SUR * CALIFORNIA" printed on the left side, and a small b&w reproduction of one of his art works on the upper right side.

Written on heavy stock orange paper, 7.5x8.5 inches, dated 11/29/48. The sheet was folded in half for mailing, with a postage stamp, postmark, and address on the backside..

In the letter Miller asks Mrs. Clairmonte if she could provide him with names of people who would be interested in buying a silkscreen print of one of his watercolors. "...I think you must know a few people whom I don't know...It (the silkscreen print) will be a beautiful job and makes a good Xmas present."

The letter is in VERY GOOD condition, there is a crease from folding for mailing, a few staple holes, a couple light smudges, overall solid, bright, and clear.

Included is a 2002 catalog of Henry Miller prints. Published by the long gone Coast Gallery of Big Sur, California. Softcovers, side stapled, 8.5x11 inches, printed on glossy paper. Illustrated throughout with Henry Miller's lithographs and b&w photographs of Henry Miller at work and at rest. The catalog also includes essays and a chronology. The catalog is in NEAR FINE condition, tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. Included because it gives an idea of the type of art Miller was hawking back in 1948. The catalog is in NEAR FINE condition.

EIGHT PHOTOGRAPHS (CDVs?) of ANNA E. DICKINSON from AGE 12.

About ANNA E. DICKINSON (extracted from Wikipedia):

Anna E. Dickinson, b.1842 d.1932, was a renowned abolitionist, noted speaker, women's rights activist, political proponent of Lincoln, author, actress, and mountaineer. At age 14 she had an essay published in The Liberator, an important abolitionist newspaper. She gave her first major speech in 1861 at age 19 before a crowd of 800 paid attendees; a two-hour speech on The Rights of Women. Her 1863 speaking tour in favor of the Republican Party helped elect President Lincoln. She was the FIRST WOMAN to GIVE A POLITICAL SPEECH before the PRESIDENT & the U.S. CONGRESS (the President was ABRAHAM LINCOLN, and her topic was ABOLITION and the CIVIL WAR). She was also a mountaineer, being the first white woman to summit Colorado's Gray's Peak, Lincoln Peak, and Elbert Peak, the second to summit Pikes Peak, and the third to climb Colorado's Longs Peak. Her first book, a novel titled What Answer?, was radical in its day, tackling negative views on interracial marriage; it was published in 1868. She became an actress when her speaking engagements dwindled and her finances ran low, that career was not very successful. Though Anna Dickinson had been the major support of her family, in 1891 her sister had her committed against her will to a STATE INSANE ASYLUM. Her friends got her transferred to a Private Hospital from where Anna Dickinson began a protracted legal battle, eventually winning her case of illegal kidnapping and three libel suits. From that point her life spiraled downward, she was blackballed, her friends mostly no longer wanted to associate with her, and so on. For the next forty years she lived in Goshen, New York, with George and Sallie Ackley. It is said she was Sallie's lover during this time. It is also said she became a heavy drinker. What an amazing, wonderful, momentous, trail-blazing, and tragic life!

Included with the eight photographs is a first edition biography titled EMBATTLED MAIDEN - THE LIFE OF ANNA DICKINSON - The DRAMATIC STORY of the JOAN OF ARC of the CIVIL WAR, by Giraud Chester, published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York 1951.

Seven of the photographs are 2.5x4 to 4.25 inches including mounts. One photograph is 4.25x6.5 inches.

Six of the card mounts have printed information about the photographic studio on the backside, one (the larger) on the front side, and one has no studio information.

ALL the cards have handwritten information on the backside (e.g. Anna E. Dickinson at the age of 12; about 16; about 20; on Anna's tour west with her brother John Dickinson).

The photos are all in GOOD condition, the one of her at age 12 has light foxing, all have some slight signs of handling and age, the images are all bright and clear.

The book is in GOOD condition, the covers are worn at the spine ends and edges, toned at the edges, and have a few small spots; the page edges (page edges of the closed book) have some foxing; internally, there is a previous owner's signature and date (Ada J. Miller / 1953), and there is a small area of offsetting to the rear free endpaper, otherwise tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. The dustjacket is in only FAIR condition, with wear and tears along its edges, spine ends corners, and folds, some tape repair on the backside and rear panel, and soiling to the rear panel; nonetheless the dj remains bright and is doing its job.

The EIGHT PHOTOS of ANNA E. DICKINSON are quite SCARCE. I have never before seen some of these images.

REESE WITHERSPOON, WHY HAVEN'T YOU MADE A MOVIE OF THIS INCREDIBLE WOMAN and her DRAMATIC LIFE?

PAGES FROM THE PAST / THE STORY OF THE HUDSON RIVER TUNNELS.

A PRIVATELY PRODUCED HISTORY of the HUDSON RIVER TUNNELS.

"COMPILED FOR W. V. McMENIMEM". McMenimen was one of the notable engineers who supervised the building of the tunnels. Published by his associates - fellow "tunnel men" - at Raymond Concrete Pile Company, likely as a 1944 Christmas keepsake book.

SIGNED by WILLIAM V. McMENIMEN on the title page, a presentation copy for the engineer John Q. Barlow.

Hardcover book, black cloth covered boards, gilt title on the front cover, 8.5x11 inches, sewn binding, 107 pages. Illustrated.

The book contains material gathered from 'The Railroad Age', 1909; 'Scientific American', 1904 to 1909; excerpts from the book 'Crowded Years' by McAdoo', 1931; a paper written by James Forgie in 1912 for the Aberdeen, Scotland, Society of Engineers; and a Graduate Thesis on the Construction of the Hudson Tunnel written by John Barlow, 1882. ALL the compiled articles, papers, and thesis, deal with the CONSTRUCTION OF THE HUDSON RIVER TUNNEL.

Laid in is a 1945 TLS from the Raymond Concrete Pile Company to John Q. Barlow forwarding a copy of the book to him, and thanking him for providing a brief (new) foreword to his 63 year old thesis for the book. John Q. Barlow was Chief Engineer at The Utah Construction Company, located in San Francisco. The letter begins: "I have been away for many months and I cannot find that a copy of the book which we compiled for Mr. William V. McMenimen on the Hudson-Manhattan Tunnels has ever been sent to you. Mr. McMenimen has autographed a copy...for you. You will note that a most interesting section of this book is your old thesis..."

CONDITION: NEAR FINE book, the pages are lightly browned / age toned and there is a slight bow to the boards. The tls is in Good condition, worn and browned where it overhangs the text block, otherwise bright and clear.

About W. V. McMENIMEN, from the Foreword:

"In 1904 a young man, Bill McMenimen, just out of MIT came to New York and secured a position as a rodman with Jacobs and Davies, who were then constructing the first Hudson River tunnel. Within a year he was promoted to superintendent of the North River tunnel at Morton Street at the age of twenty three. Within two years he was made general superintendent. After completion of the tunnel job he organized the Dock Contracting Co. This Company was successful in building subway sections in New York City and Brooklyn; a Power House and Dam in Rochester, New York; and a diversion tunnel in Kansas City, Kansas. In 1918 he joined Raymond Concrete Pile Company as VP in charge of Construction. Today he is Vice President and General Manager. Under McMenimen's supervision they have done heavy construction in various parts of the world. Today "Mac" is recognized as one of the foremost leaders in the construction field. Many of his old tunnel men have remained with him and for years it has been the custom to get together at Christmas to wish him good cheer. The thought this year (1944) is to delve into the past and renew memories of tunnel days. It is hoped that MAC will enjoy reading it."

SCARCE. None online; none in WorldCat. Privately published, likely in a small quantity.

OPERA CAVALCADE - STORY OF THE METROPOLITAN. Published by The Metropolitan Opera Guild, New York, 1938.

Doubling as an AUTOGRAPH ALBUM, the book contains SIGNATURES of 55 OPERA SINGERS collected by a fan over the OPERATIC SEASONS 1943-1948. The signatures are on opera program covers, cut pages, and clipped sheets, that have been glued on (most at the corners) to the pages and inside covers of the book. The signatures are in ink and pencil.

On the title page the previous owner lists some of the operas he/she attended, and the dates they were performed.

On page 63 there is a list of all the members of the "current" Metropolitan Opera Company (i.e. 1938 when this book was published). There are check marks by twenty-one of the names. Those names make up part of the 55 signatures collected in this album/book.

Signatures include: Karin Branzell, Thelma Votipka, Edward Johnson, Bidu Sayão, Nicola Moscona, Patrice Munsel, Ezio Pinza, Rose Bampton, Frances Greer, Richard Tucker, Zinka Milanov, Lily Pons, Astrid Varnay, Florence Quartararo, and many, many more.

The book - Opera Cavalcade: The Story of the Metropolitan, is a history of the Metropolitan Opera. It is filled with b&w photographs of stage productions and singers, and includes a nice frontispiece photograph of Edward Johnson by Steichen.

Condition: The book is in GOOD MINUS condition, worn through at the edges and corners, with rubs, scrapes and scratches to the boards; but is solid and has a cover image that is bright and attractive. The inner pages have some age toning and foxing, and two pages have offsetting likely from a newspaper page laid in at some point; otherwise the inner pages are tight, bright, clean and clear. The signatures are mostly sharp and clear though some of the pencil signatures are fading, but even those are easily legible with only one that has faded into near illegibility, at least according to my aging eyes.

A wonderful look at the world of Opera as it was in the mid 1940s, filled with signatures of those who were part of that world.

A unique treasure for the lover of opera in your life or soul.

CREATIVE CROCHET, by LOUISA CALDER (The Wife of Artist Alexander Calder) and Mary Konior. The book is filled with hats, bags, rugs, gloves, bands, clothes, etc., DESIGNED by ALEXANDER CALDER and CROCHETED by LOUISA CALDER. Published by The Viking Press / A Studio Book, New York, 1979. First Edition, with the statement First Published 1979 on the copyright page with no indication of additional printings.

The book is SIGNED & INSCRIBED by LOUISA CALDER on the half-title page: "To Betty / With my best / Louisa Calder".

Laid-in is a TYPED LETTER SIGNED by LOUISA CALDER and a folded flyer for a Gallery show of her work that took place at the Washington Art Gallery in Washington Depot, Connecticut, in 1979. The letter reads:

******We bought our house in Roxbury In 1933 but didn't live in it permanently until the early forties. My desire was for us to do everything ourselves. Right away we planted an orchard and started a vegetable garden. Sandy made many things for the house, particularly kitchen utensils. I knew how to knit; so I made sweaters, socks and scarves. I learned to crochet and made gloves and caps. Learned to embroider by looking carefully at a piece of Portuguese embroidery on a tea cosy we had. A few years later a friend showed me how to hook so started to make rugs for the home. At first made up a design as I went along . Then I asked Sandy to design them for me. All this with cooking, baking bread and gardening kept me very busy. Friends from the city would come and say to us "Aren't you bored living in the Country, what do you do all the time?" I never had time to be bored, particularly, as I enjoyed doing all these things. // Lately a young girl from France came to see us. I was working on a rug. She looked at it and said "Isn't that nice, it keeps you busy".******

The "Sandy" referred to in the letter is Alexander "Sandy" Calder, her husband the sculptor. Most relevant in relation to this book is the sentence "Then I asked Sandy to design them for me", meaning that most of the crochet works in this book are UNIQUE ALEXANDER CALDER DESIGNS.

The letter is not addressed, but titled Louisa Calder. It is an original typed letter, hand signed in ink by Louisa Calder at the bottom. The letter is 8.5x11 inches and typed on watermarked "Caravan Onion Skin" paper.

Hardcover book, illustrated glossy covers, no dustjacket as issued, 6x8.5 inches, 143 pages. Filled with illustrations of Louisa Calder's crochet work, most of which were designed by Alexander Calder. Really cool stuff!!!

CONDITION: GOOD book, the front inner hinge is split but holding; the half-title page is pulling from the binding but has been reinforced with three pieces of clear tape on its front and back side; the half-title page, with the signature and inscription of Louisa Calder at the top, has relevant handwritten information by the previous owner at the bottom: "Louisa Calder 1905-1996 / Died at age 91 on August 6, 1996 / Alexander Calder died on Nov. 11, 1976 / Age 78"; and there is some foxing on the first few pages; otherwise the book is tight, bright, clean and unmarked. The letter is in VERY GOOD condition, folded once horizontally and once vertically, bright and clean. The single fold gallery flyer has a mailing label on the front, "Mr. & Mrs. Asa D. Hall / Litchfield, Conn", and some light foxing and soiling. (Mrs. Asa D. Hall aka Elizabeth Hall aka Betty, to whom the book is inscribed.)

From the book:

******Louisa Calder is the wife of sculptor Alexander Calder. Her husband, one of the greatest sculptors of all time, was responsible for giving sculpture a revolutionary new dimension: Movement. Louisa Calder with her work, published for the first time in this book, has added a new dimension to crochet, elevating it from the narrow confines of a moribund craft into an art of tremendous vitality, creativity and freedom.******

Approximately 85 photographs and real photo postcards of female and male College of

Emporia students, circa 1909-1915.

Likely the collection of DELLA PEASE and/or JOHN ELLIOTT ROSS, as most of the photos are of her and her friends, and some others are of him and his friends. The two College of Emporia students may have taken these snaps of each other and their friends, and then combined the photos into this gathering when they later got married. The marriage turned Della Pease into Della Pease Ross. They both graduated from the College of Emporia in 1912. Most of the photos seem to be from that year or earlier. One photo is very old, the backside info indicates it is a photo of the parents of one or the other. Della Pease and John Ross were married in 1916, a few years after graduating.

The photos are various sizes, from very small up to 3.5x5.5 inches. Included are many real photo postcards that are truly RPPC because the images are mostly of the students themselves. Good condition, some with edge wear, some fading, signs of light handling, overall clear images and legible information where found on the backsides and margins.

Rich in KANSAS GENEALOGY. What makes this Emporia Kansas photo collection interesting is that many have the FULL NAMES of the people in the photo written on the backside, and sometimes information about where they are and what they are doing.. Some of the names include: Della Pease, John E. Ross, Katherine Polk, Claire Boyle, George Merritt Polk, Grace Smith, and many, many more. Some of the photo postcards are unused, others were sent and have writing on the backsides, all relate to Della Pease, John E. Ross, or others of the College of Emporia.

In the photos Della Pease and her friends seem to be doing the usual fun college stuff. The back of one of the photos reads: "A picnic supper at the Chautauqua grounds at one of the girls' tents. We had a great time. Can you find me?" After graduating in 1912 it wouldn't always be fun for Della Pease or her school mate and future husband John Elliott Ross...

About JOHN ELLIOTT ROSS (from his Obituary in the Princeton Theological Seminary Alumni Report of 1920-1929):

JOHN ELLIOTT ROSS, b.1883 d.1925, was born near Smith Center, Kansas, son of Wilson Erskine and Mary Frances (Elliott) Ross. He made a public confession of his faith in the United Presbyterian Church of Sterling, Kansas. His preparatory studies were pursued in the Franklin Academy, Kansas, and he graduated from the COLLEGE OF EMPORIA in 1912. He entered the Seminary at Princeton in the fall of the same year, remaining more than two years. He completed his theological course in the Western Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1916. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Osborne and ordained by the same Presbytery, September 19, 1916. He sailed for India October 10, 1916, and engaged in missionary work at Ludhiana, India, and then at Saharanpur, from 1918 to 1923. He returned to this country on furlough, remaining a year from 1923 to 1924. He died January 15, 1925, in Kasur, Punjab, India, of heart failure, while sleeping, in the forty-second year of his age. He was buried at Ferozepur, India. He received the degree of A.M. from Princeton University in 1914. He was married August 17, 1916, in Pittsburg, Kansas, to Della Pease, who with two sons survives him.

About DELLA PEASE ROSS (from her Obituary in the EMPORIA GAZETTE of 10 February 1930):

Word has been received in Emporia of the death of Mrs. Della Pease Ross, a graduate of the College of Emporia, in 1912. She died Friday, February 7, at the Lahore hospital in India. Her husband, the late John E. Ross, was also a member of the College graduating class of 1912. They had been doing missionary work in India for about 15 years.

To be clear, the photos in this collection are all pre India missionary work, when there was lots of laughter in their and their friends' eyes.

LENNY BRUCE - handwritten notes and typed letter, regarding HEROIN.

Includes:

Lenny Bruce's HANDWRITTEN NOTES to his SECRETARY, JAN MATTHEWS, with instructions for a letter to be sent to his ATTORNEY, Godfrey Isaac. The notes are written on both sides of four 5x8 inch notepad sheets and both sides of a cocktail napkin (i.e. on ten sides).

A typed, 8.5x11 inch carbon LETTER to his Attorney composed by Bruce's secretary from his notes.

The envelope Bruce used to send his notes to his secretary. The address is HAND WRITTEN by Lenny Bruce. The envelope is stamped and postmarked "Chicago November 13, 1962" then "Los Angeles, November 14, 1962". Interestingly, Bruce sealed the envelope with a "Solomon's Cedar Street Liquors / Chicago" sticker.

The notes and letter concern Bruce's upcoming Los Angeles trial on heroin charges. They contain ideas Bruce believed his attorney could use for his defense, such as: the heroin wasn't tested correctly, no one knows for certain if it was heroin, the lab tests were not done correctly, the powder was unidentifiable, etc.

Lenny Bruce must have come up with these ideas while drinking at a bar, as the cocktail napkin seems to contain his initial thoughts. It's amazing that his secretary was able to form these somewhat rambling notes into a sensible letter, but she did.

The LETTER is a carbon copy of the letter sent to Bruce's attorney, presumably a file copy. It is typed on Lenny Bruce's personal letterhead, and dated November 15, 1962 (the day after the envelope containing Bruce's notes was postmarked as received in Los Angeles). Typed at the bottom is "LB:JM", i.e. Lenny Bruce / Jan Matthews. It is an unsigned carbon.

The letter reads in part: "I was arrested for possession of a substance whose nature is not recognizable to the untrained eye - only an expert can give this report...Ask if there are any other chemicals that are not illegal in their natural state that might cause the powder to show...there is heroin in it...The expert witness, the chemist, didn't test it, else he would know what percent of heroin there was in it...Very truly yours, Lenny Bruce."

CONDITION: The four note sheets and cocktail napkin show some signs of age, handling and use, but are solid and the handwriting is bold, bright and clear; the carbon letter has its lower corner torn off and substantial edge wear, edge tears and creasing, though not significantly affecting the text which is clear and entirely legible.

Bruce's Los Angeles drug charges were dropped before they went to trial, but these notes and letter from November 1962 show the relentless hounding by the legal system that Lenny Bruce was having to bear. He died four years after writing these notes, in 1966, at the age of forty.

Attorney Godfrey Isaac died in 2015 at the age of 90. He represented some of Hollywood's elite in civil and family matters, including Judy Garland and Anthony Quinn. He was also a criminal attorney and, in addition to Lenny Bruce, represented Watergate defendant Charles Colson and RFK assassin Sirhan Sirhan.

HEGEL'S PHILOSOPHY OF NATURE. Three Volume Set. Translated with an introduction by Michael John Petry.

Published by George Allen and Unwin, London, 1970. First Edition of the First English Translation, with the statement "First Published in 1970" on the copyright page with no indication of later printings.

Three hardcover books in dustjackets, dark green cloth covered boards with gilt embossed lettering to the spines, top page edges stained green, 6x9.5 inches, 392, 469 and 422 pages.

Condition: VERY GOOD books, volume III has foxing to the page edges of its later pages, otherwise all three volumes are just lightly used, still tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked; in VERY GOOD dustjackets that have some shelf rubbing, a slight bit of wear to the spine ends and corner tips, and light signs of handling, else bright, attractive, and doing their job well. A solid, nice set.

From the front dj flap: "This is the first English translation of the second part of Hegel's Encyclopedia of the Philosophical Sciences. It provides a thoroughgoing and critical survey of the whole range of early nineteenth-century science. In a lengthy and most scholarly introduction Dr. Petry shows how Hegel came to develop them, and indicates their relevance to current issues. He identifies all Hegel's references to scientific literature of the day, and provides comprehensive notes to each of the three volumes."

INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS PLEASE NOTE: These three books will require significant additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the charges and be able to accept or reject them before payment is taken. Thanks!

HANDWRITTEN, SIGNED LETTER by ROBERT GRAVES. The letter is half in English and half in Spanish. It is written from his home in Deyá, Mallorca, Spain, and dated November 13, 1966.

Single page letter in ink, on Graves' personal "Canellun Deyá Mallorca Spain" letterhead, 8.5x10.5 inches. Written to "Mr. Newman".

Though not clearly stated, Graves' letter reads like Mr. Newman had asked him to write a review for one of his works and Robert Graves was replying with a firm, though again unstated, NO. In the letter, Graves writes about his dislike of modernist poetry (and therefore modernist poets), states that he and Newman are different in many ways, including location, culture, and feelings about poetry, and he makes it clear that they do not share a unified understanding (i.e. poetic understanding) and that he does not want a close relationship. Though I do not know who Mr. Newman is, my guess would be that he a fellow poet, writer, or colleague, maybe from Oxford where Graves taught from 1961-1966 before returning to Spain as an expat.

It is a wonderfully written letter, abstract - almost poetic - in its use of language, yet precise in its intent.

GOOD Condition: Light creasing, tape residue to edges. The writing is sharp, bright and clear. Would look great mounted and/or framed.

******************* The letter begins:

"Dear Mr. Newman: I think there is a mistake somewhere; I'm not in your game, and am too old to learn it even if I wanted to: it would mean a certain degree of denigration if you see what I mean, our nationalities being so far distant not merely in time and space but in..."

The remainder of the letter is in Spanish, as follows (Graves' handwriting, is not easy to transcribe, so please forgive any errors):

"...categoría y calidad, me comprendes? Pues gracias. Se mi corazon, pero no se mi inteligencia. Tengo amistad con ultra-lejanisimos "gatos" de jazz y de la pintura y de la escultura pero con la poesía es otra cosa - no me gusta nada al modernismo que yo encuentro es orientado de la tradición diremos "puro-arabe" - lo que ha dirigido el espíritu más puro de la poesía occidental desde el siglo 9x. Si: nacido bajo la Reina Victoria, y no me lamento se esa fatalidad, porque, claro, nosotros todos tenemos elegido nuestra natividad y familias y países e idiomas. Podemos, tu y yo, mandar respectos de aqui alla, pero enfocar una comprensión unanima sería falso.

Good Luck. Robert Graves.

Postcripto - Saludos a la familia Watkin - muy buenas personas."

(There is also a sentence in Spanish at the very bottom of the letter which is undecipherable.)

Below is an English rendition of the Spanish section of the letter, with thanks to my son-in-law and daughter. It is meant to convey the meaning of Graves' letter and is not an exact word-for-word translation, so please forgive any wrong assumptions. Graves has his own way of saying what he wants to say - and in Spanish it's especially difficult to know what that is. The provided images of the letter will allow you who are able to decide what you think he is trying to convey.

"...category and quality, do you understand me? Thanks anyway. My heart says one thing but my mind another. I have friends that are far out-of-the-mainstream "cats" of jazz and painting and sculpture but with poetry it is something else - I do not like the modernism that I find is oriented away from tradition, what we might call "pure-Arabic" - that which has directed the purest spirit of western poetry since the 9th century. Yes: I was born under Queen Victoria, and I do not regret that fatalism, because, of course, you and I decided to choose our place in this world, our nativity and families and countries and languages. We can, you and I, send our respects from here to there, but to focus on a united understanding would be false.

Good Luck. Robert Graves. Postscript - Greetings to the Watkin family - very good people." *******************

WARREN BUFFETT Book on Contract Bridge SIGNED & LOVINGLY INSCRIBED to HIS BRIDGE PARTNER and GOOD FRIEND

THE OFFICIAL SYSTEM OF CONTRACT BRIDGE: THE OFFICIAL BOOK ON THE OFFICIAL SYSTEM. Produced by Bridge Headquarters, Inc., New York; and Published by The John C. Winston Company, Chicago,1931.

SIGNED and LOVINGLY INSCRIBED by the great Bridge Player and even greater Investor WARREN BUFFETT to his long-time BRIDGE PARTNER and FRIEND SHARON OSBERG.

"To Sharon - / This was the nursery book my mother read to me at age 1. / Unfortunately she emphasized Chapter 17 / Love, / Warren".

Chapter 17 discusses the subject of overbidding, how it can be either a disastrous move or a smart tactic. Hmm. I think Warren applied the smart tactic part of the lesson in his business dealings!

Not just signed and inscribed, but affectionately so.

Sharon Osberg is not only a bridge partner to Warren Buffett but to Bill Gates as well.

The Book: Hardcovers, faux suede leather covered boards, gilt lettering and designs on the front cover and spine (though mostly faded away on the spine), 5x7.5 inches, [2], vi, 236 pages.

In addition to the Contract Bridge book, the lot includes 15 booklets on Bridge from the collection of Sharon Osberg. Each of the booklets has a mailing label addressed to Sharon Osberg (or Sharon Smith, her earlier married name) on the back or front cover.

GOOD Condition: The Contract Bridge book is darkened at the spine, rubbed at the boards, and has inner pages that are lightly toned, but it is a solid, complete, nice copy. Warren Buffett's inscription on the title page is bright and clear.

The Osberg collection of 15 Bridge booklets are in generally GOOD condition, a couple of the covers are splitting at the spine, and a few have some creases, but overall they are solid and clean, and together they provide great provenance for the book.

Want to really know how Warren Buffett learned to invest? He learned to play Bridge, taught to him by Sharon Osberg.

A UNIQUE TREASURE once it's gone it's gone.

FOR IMAGES of Osberg together with Buffett and Gates, Google "Warren Buffett" "Sharon Osberg" or "Bill Gates" "Sharon Osberg", and you will find images of her with one, or the other, or both.

FOR IMAGES of Osberg together with Buffett and Gates, Google: "Warren Buffett" "Sharon Osberg" or Google: "Bill Gates" "Sharon Osberg", and you will find images of her with one, or the other, or both.

There is a great interview with Sharon Osberg that delves into her close relationship with Warren Buffett and Bill Gates. Google: "Sharon Osberg" "Warren Buffett" "SFGate" or Google: "THE BRIDGE CLUB / WHAT DO SHARON OSBERG, WARREN BUFFETT and BILL GATES SHARE? A LOVE OF BRIDGE".

And I leave you with this tidbit:

When Sequoia [a large Venture Capital firm] was seeking new independent directors 12 years ago, Mr. Buffett recommended Ms. Osberg. In a 2006 interview with The San Francisco Chronicle, she described Mr. Buffett as her best friend, and she has often spent Thanksgiving with him in Omaha. A former Wells Fargo executive, Ms. Osberg is perhaps best known as a world-class bridge player. She has won two world championships, and she and Mr. Buffett play bridge electronically four times a week. - NY Times 2015.

Two Page Printed and Handwritten Official Document, Notarized and Signed, recording a Trademark application for "GOLDEN GATE ZINFANDEL", [illustrated] "with scene of sunrise over hills of vineyards - winery set in center of vineyard - bridge in front of vineyards - farmer walking beside his donkey who is loaded with wine barrels".

The official trademark document is accompanied with a sample of the multi-color wine label that employs the trademark.

Trademarked applied for by Philip N. Pulleys, President, J. S. Contas Co., in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1947.

VERY GOOD condition. The document has several horizontal folds, as normal; the label has some light signs of handling.

Insofar as I can find, J.S. Contas Co. was a wholesale wine and liquor distributor, and its president, Philip. N. Poulleys, was a Greek immigrant who had no apparent connection to any California winery.

Interesting wine ephemera. I see there is a "Golden Gate Zinfandel" on the market, but its label is nothing like this label. Same name though. Hmm.

AN ANTIQUARIAN ABC. By Ian Jackson. Illustrated by Ann Arnold.

Self Published, Berkeley, California, 1998.

Printed paper covers, side stapled, 8.5x11 inches oblong, 32 pages. Illustrated throughout with b&w drawings.

SIGNED, INSCRIBED and DATED by IAN JACKSON and ANN ARNOLD on the inside front cover: "For Michael Thomas / Ian Jackson / Ann Arnold / 31st Jun '98".

A satirical ABC children's style rhyming picture book that pokes fun at Antiquarian Booksellers and Rare Book Collectors. Some of the booksellers in the drawings are identified in a statement on the inside front cover; they include Nicolas Barker, Bernard Rosenthal, Ian Jackson himself, and others.

From the Colophon page (the last page): "An Antiquarian ABC, with text by Ian Jackson and illustrations by Ann Arnold, is published by them on the occasion of the antiquarian book fairs held in San Francisco and Los Angeles in February 1998."

VERY GOOD condition, the front edge of the front cover is bending upwards, otherwise tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked.

If you love antiquarian books then your inner child will love this ABC book.

Ian Jackson's obituary in the 2018 Berkeley Daily Californian can be found online, he was an intriguing character.

L'HISTOIRE DES GUERRES MITHRIDATIQUES VUE PAR LES MONNAIES, par François de Callatay.

(HISTORY of the MITHRIDATIC WARS as SEEN through its COINS, by Francois de Callatay.)

SIGNED, INSCRIBED and DATED by the AUTHOR on the half title page: "March 15, 2003 / To my friend Buzz Owen / With all my very best wishes / François de Callatay".

Also, laid-in is a brief handwritten letter from the author, along with its mailing envelope. "Brussels / January 14th, 2003 / To Buzz (Owen) / The most enthusiastic buyer of my Mithridatic book! With recent but true friendship! / Francois (de Callatay)". The return address on the envelope is Koninklijke Bibliotheek Van Belgie (The Royal Library of Belgium) where Francois de Callatay was head of the Cabinet des Medailles.

Published by Département d'Archéologie et d'Histoire de l'Art / Séminaire de Numismatique Marcel Hoc, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 1997. First edition.

Hardcovers, green cloth covered boards, gilt titles on the front cover and spine, gilt Pegasus on the front cover, 8.5x11 inches (21x27 cm). Pagination: xii, [2], 480, [6] pp. With 54 PHOTOGRAPHIC PLATES of ANCIENT COINS depicting the era of the MITHRIDATIC WARS.

TEXT in FRENCH.

VERY GOOD condition, the upper front and bottom rear cover corners are bumped, otherwise the covers are solid with bright gilt on the front cover and spine; internally near fine, tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. A nice, very presentable copy.

RARE, especially so SIGNED and INSCRIBED.

About the MITHRIDATIC WARS (from Wikipedia):

******The Mithridatic Wars were three conflicts fought by Rome against the Kingdom of Pontus and its allies between 88 BC and 63 BC. They are named after Mithridates VI, the King of Pontus who initiated the hostilities after annexing the Roman province of Asia into its Pontic Empire (that came to include most of Asia Minor) and committing massacres against the local Roman population known as the Asian Vespers.******

About François de Callatay (from Wikipedia):

******François de Callatay, b.1961, is a Belgian ancient historian, professor at the École Pratique des Hautes Études (Sorbonne - Paris), who has written significant studies of coinage in the ancient Mediterranean world.******

INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS PLEASE NOTE: This book is heavy and will require substantial additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the charges and be able to accept or reject them before payment is taken. Thanks!

THE INJUSTICE COLLECTORS, by LOUIS AUCHICLOSS. His second book, but the first under his own name (his first book, Indifferent Children, was published under the name Andrew Lee).

Published by Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1950. First edition, with the date 1950 on the title page and copyright page, with no indication of additional printings.

Hardcover Book in Dustjacket, 5.5x8.5 inches, viii, 248 pages.

SIGNED by LOUIS AUCHINCLOSS on an armorial ownership bookplate of ROLLAND COMSTOCK, a renowned book collector who was MURDERED BY HIS WIFE for HAVING TOO MANY BOOKS. The attractive bookplate is on the front pastedown. You can read all the details of this intriguing biblio murder mystery on the Internet, search "Rolland Comstock murder".

Condition: NEAR FINE book, there is a scrape to the bottom edge of the front cover, light toning to the pages as normal, otherwise the covers and inner pages are sharp, tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. In a VERY GOOD dustjacket that has some wear at the spine ends and corner tips, some sunning to the spine, and light soiling to the rear panel. A solid, attractive, very presentable copy.

An early Auchincloss novel, hard-to-find in its dustjacket, made Bloody Interesting being SIGNED on the bookplate of the MURDERED ROLLAND COMSTOCK, BOOK COLLECTOR.

Below you can read about the NOTED BOOK COLLECTOR ROLLAND L. COMSTOCK, his book collection, and his murder. A true bibliophile mystery. Enjoy.

***********March 2000 By Heather Berry, Rural Missouri

Most people would be hard pressed to fill a library in their home. Not book collector Rolland Comstock. He needs two. Once the walnut shelves of his old library were near bursting Comstock began thinking that maybe he and his wife, Alberta, should add yet another library into their already imposing home on a hill.

The library is a sight to behold. Book laden shelves cover the walls from floor to ceiling. "In my library there are around 50,000 items, of which 90 percent are books. A majority are signed first editions of the author's work."

If you ask him if he's got anymore room for books, he'll look around and answer in a hushed voice:

"I wouldn't want to say without checking to see if this room is bugged," Comstock says. "If my wife would hear me say that we're running very short on room, I think she'd murder me tonight!"

***********July 4, 2007 By Amos Bridges, News-Leader

Attorney found shot dead in home. Rolland Lee Comstock, an attorney known for his book collection, dies at 70.

Greene County authorities are interviewing family members and associates of Springfield attorney Rolland Lee Comstock, found dead Tuesday morning in an apparent homicide.

Comstock, 70, a longtime tax and probate attorney and nationally recognized book collector, was found at his home north of Springfield with an apparent gunshot wound.

Inside, the slain attorney's famed book collection appeared to be untouched. Comstock was nationally known for a home library that contained over 50,000 items, primarily modern first editions. He was reportedly looking to build an additional wing, or even another home, for his ever expanding collection.

***********2013

The investigation into the shooting death of Rolland Comstock will remain open, Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott confirmed.

The recent death of Comstock's ex wife, Alberta Comstock, brought up the question of whether the investigation of the 2007 homicide of Rolland would be officially closed. She was the main suspect in the murder investigation.

Though never criminally charged with the crime, Alberta Comstock was found liable for Rolland's death in civil court. Her daughter, Faith Stocker, filed the civil suit, claiming Alberta Comstock was solely responsible for her father's murder.***********

COMPLETE SET OF AUCTION CATALOGS for the SEIZED PROPERTY LIQUIDATION SALE of YAMANAKA & CO. Its inventory was seized by the U.S. Government in 1944 as part of the WWII Japanese hysteria, and was liquidated in several auctions.

Each catalog has the heading: "BY ORDER OF THE ALIEN PROPERTY CUSTODIAN OF THE UNITED STATES - LIQUIDATION OF THE ENTIRE STOCK OF THE NEW YORK STORE OF YAMANAKA & CO. INC."

Prior to the seizure of its property, YAMANAKA & CO. was one of the MOST IMPORTANT ASIAN ART DEALERS in the UNITED STATES, acknowledged to have been a MAJOR SUPPLIER TO THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM for its Asian art collection.

THREE AUCTION CATALOGS plus a SUPPLEMENT. The auctions took place at the PARKE-BERNET GALLERIES, New York, in May and June, 1944.

The three catalogs have grey paper covers printed in red and black, the supplement has off-white covers printed in black.

Part One: ORIENTAL ART, 7x10 inches (18x25.5 cm), 939 lots, 190 pages. Illustrated with b&w photos of some of the items. Auction took place on May 24, 25, 26 and 27, 1944.

Part Two: ORIENTAL ART, 5.25x9.5 inches (16x23.5 cm), 1172 lots, 119 pages. Illustrated with b&w photos of some of the items. Auction took place on June 14, 15 and 16, 1944.

Part Three: ORIENTAL ART, 5.25x9.5 inches (16x23.5 cm), 1253 lots, 139 pages. Illustrated with b&w photos of some of the items. Auction took place on June 28, 29 and 30, 1944.

Supplement: CHINESE, KOREAN & JAPANESE GARDEN SCULPTURES. Booklet, staple-bound, 6x9 inches (15x23 cm), 55 lots, 10 pages. Illustrated with some b&w photos. Auction took place on June 26.

Each of the three catalogs has an unused absentee bid sheet laid in at the rear.

On the last page of one of the catalogs and the supplement is a full page ad stating: "FOR VICTORY BUY UNITED STATES WAR BONDS". I guess they forgot to add: "and seize and liquidate all property owned by Japanese-Americans."

CONDITION: Catalog Part One is in GOOD condition, the covers are toned at the margins and spine, worn at the yap edges and spine ends, and have some corner creases; internally there is a crease to the bottom and top corner of the early pages, otherwise the pages are just lightly used and still bright, clean, clear and unmarked. Catalogs Part Two and Part Three are in VERY GOOD condition, their covers are worn along the yap edges, are toned at the spine and edges, and have some corner creases, spine end wear and light signs of handling, but are still solid, bright and clean; internally the pages of Part Two and Part Three are just lightly used, still tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked.

A solid and very presentable set of the catalogs of this three part auction.

The SUPPLEMENT catalog is only in FAIR condition, it has significant soiling, creasing, some shorelining, and what looks like a footprint on its back cover and maybe the front cover too (maybe stomped on by Uncle Sam), but is nonetheless complete and present. It is almost never found as part of the Yamanaka & Co. set of catalogs.

These catalogs are not only a record of Asian antiques that were bought and sold in New York and in museums throughout America pre 1945, they are also an important historic document of the looting of Japanese-American businesses in the name of Liberty during World War II.

About YAMANAKA & CO. and It's Founder (from Wikipedia):

******Yamanaka Sadajiro, b.1866 d.1936, arrived in the United States in 1894, opening a small antique shop in Chelsea, New York City. He subsequently founded Yamanaka & Company, which in 1917 took over a five story building on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

After Yamanaka's death, Yamanaka & Company continued to operate under the direction of his heirs, but saw its inventory confiscated and auctioned by the U.S. Government Office of Alien Property Custodian in a series of auctions in 1944.******