Auction or Sell a Boris Pasternak Autograph for up to $15,000 at Nate D. Sanders
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Sell Your Boris Pasternak Autograph
Here are recent prices realized for a Boris Pasternak autograph and we can obtain up to these prices for you or more:
An original Boris Pasternak autograph on a manuscript sold for almost $15,000
An original Boris Pasternak autograph on a letter in 1959 sold for almost $3,000
An original Boris Pasternak autograph on a letter in 1959 sold for almost $2,000
Here are some related items we have sold:
Boris Pasternak Autograph Letter Signed, Autograph Poem Signed & Signed Envelope
Excellent lot of manuscripts signed and handwritten by “Dr. Zhivago” author Boris Pasternak, dated 6 June 1959 one year after winning his Nobel Prize in Literature. In addition to an autograph letter signed, contained within a signed envelope, Pasternak also includes an original handwritten poem, titled “Wet and Cold”, also signed by him. The entire collection was mailed to Julius Weder in Switzerland. Composed in purple fountain pen in German, letter translates in part,
“…I am transcribing for you the last three stanzas of one of my poems, one that describes late fall. I believe that the volume, translated beautifully into German by Dr. Keil, will soon be released by the Fischer publishing house. In Keil’s translation, the poem’s title is ‘Nasskalt’ (‘Wet and Cold’). It consists of five quatrains; – due to lack of time, I am not able to copy it for you from the beginning…B. Pasternak”.
Although Pasternak states that the poem was scheduled to be published, no record of it has been found. The poem translates in full,
“Wet and Cold
Heavy, like black autumn field clods,
Leaves are flopping on the pond,
Dying on the trembling surface,
Rows of them, resembling ships.
Droplets scatter as if sieved.
Pushing on, the cold stings harder
As if it all were draped in shame,
As if there were disgrace in fall.
As if there were insult and evil
In all the cawing and fluttering about,
And in the rain and in the wind
As it lashes right and left…
B. Pasternak
Peredelkino near Moscow”.
Finally, the envelope, postmarked from Moscow on 7 June 1959, is signed by Pasternak in Russian, “B. Pasternaka” from Moscow.
At the time Pasternak wrote this letter, he had been ostracized after winning the Nobel Prize for “Dr. Zhivago”, considered critical of communism by Soviet leaders. Pasternak didn’t want to leave Russia, but the isolation is said to have strained his health, and he passed away less than a year later.
Letter measures 8″ x 7.5″, with bottom edge trimmed. Poem measures 8″ x 10.125″, and envelope measures 6.25″ x 4.375″. Folds to documents, with small hole at intersecting folds, and light wear to envelope, overall in very good plus condition. Sold for $5,000.
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F. Scott Fitzgerald Lot of Two Extraordinary, Unpublished & Handwritten Poems: “…Tenderest evidence, thumb-print of lust…”
Incredible grouping of F. Scott Fitzgerald original prose, written for Helen Hayes’ daughter Mary MacArthur, who died of polio at the young age of 19. Here, the already famous author pens two lyrical poems, dated 1931 and 1937. At the time he writes the first poem, Fitzgerald was completing “Tender is the Night” while caring for his ailing wife, Zelda, whose mental illness had left her hospitalized in 1930. Fitzgerald handwrites the first, shorter poem in green ink. Inscribed “For Mary MacArthur”, it reads in full: “‘Oh Papa — / My Papa — / Say Papa’ / So! / ‘Is Papa / Your Papa / My Papa?’ / No! / So Spoke You / Why Joke You? Just For To-day / Our Word Is / (Like Birdie’s) / Plenty To Say”. Signed, “F. Scott Fitzgerald / Feb. 13th 1931”. The second, lengthier poem appears on the verso of the same sheet, titled, “Addenda (seven years later)”. Reads in full, “What shall I do with this bundle of stuff / Mass of ingredients, handful of grist / Tenderest evidence, thumb-print of lust / Kindly advise me, O psychologist / She shall have music — we pray for the kiss / of the god’s on her forehead, the necking of fate / How in the hell shall we guide her to this / ‘- Just name her Mary and age her till eight.’ / What of the books? Do we feed her our bread / of the dead, that was left in their tombs long ago / Or should all the fervor and freshness be wed / To next year’s inventions? Can anyone know? / How shall we give her that je ne sais quoi – / Portions of mama that seem to be right / Salted with dashes of questionable pa? / ‘- Age her till eight and then save me a bite.’ / Solve me this dither, O wisest of lamas, / Pediatrician – beneficent buddy / Tell me the name of a madhouse for mammas / Or give me the nursery – let her have the study / How can I pay back this heavenly loan / Answer my question and name your own fee / Plan me a mixture of Eve and St. Joan / ‘- Put her in pigtails and give her to me.’” Signed, “F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nyack 1937”. Sheet measures 7″ x 8″ with poem to front and longer prose poem to verso. From the estate of Helen Hayes. An extraordinary collection, adding to the catalogue raisonne of Fitzgerald’s known works. Sold for $30,875.
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Exceptional Ernest Hemingway autograph letter and signed envelope, one day after catching the 500 lb. marlin in Bimini that inspired ”The Old Man and the Sea”, apocryphal until this letter which documents for the first time in Hemingway’s own words not only the size of the marlin, but also its attack by sharks, similar to the plot of Hemingway’s novel. Letter is accompanied by a photo of Hemingway and his friend, Henry Strater, with the half-eaten marlin. Dated 8 May (identified as 1935 by the “Hemingway Letters Project”), Hemingway writes to Erl Roman, the fishing editor of the ”Miami Herald”, describing the catch in detail, the attack by the sharks, and also mentioning that he is sending some photos to Roman. Letter in pencil reads in part,
”Will make this very short on acct. Bill Fagen leaving May 8 / Dear Erl: Yesterday May 7 Henry H. STRATER, widely known painter of OGUNQUIT Maine, Pres. Maine Tuna Club, fishing with me on Pilar landed Blue Marlin which weighed 500 lbs on tested scales after all of meat below anal fin had been torn away by sharks when fish was brought to gaff– Had him ready to take in when sharks hit him– Fish 12 feet 8 1/2 inches– Tail 48 inch spread–girth 62 in. (will send all other exact measurements when have chance to use Steel tape on him). Fish hooked off Bimini, hooked in corner of mouth, never layted, jumped 18 times clear, brought to boat in an hour such a heavy fish jumped hell out of himself. We worked him fast our system. Had him at boat when shark hit him. Strater has football knee, went out of joint, had hell with it, we wouldnt handline fish, he got him up himself, in one hour 40 minutes, we got him over the roller after Some lifting boy, all blood drained, meat gone below anal fin to tail, but fish completely intact, Fred Parke is mounting it–“
Two page autograph letter is accompanied by an envelope signed in pencil, addressed in Hemingway’s hand to ”Erl Roman Esq. / Miami Herald / Miami / Fla.” and signed by Hemingway on the verso, ”E. Hemingway / Yacht Pilar / Bimini / B.W.I.”
Importantly, Hemingway’s account of the marlin catch differs from other anecdotal stories of it, one of which describes Hemingway using a ”machine gun” on the shark, which purportedly attracted more sharks to the feeding frenzy. It’s likely Hemingway left out this detail, as Strater would blame its use on attracting more sharks to the marlin, depriving Strater of a world record marlin catch. “Old Man and the Sea” has been noted by Hemingway scholars as most likely inspired by this particular 7 May 1935 trip, including Michael Culver in his biography “Sparring in the Dark: Hemingway, Strater and The Old Man and the Sea”.
Letter measures 8.5” x 11”, envelope measures approximately 6.25” x 3.625” and photo, which is a modern reproduction, measures 7.75” x 9.75”. Letter is uniformly toned with some chipping along edges, and small piece of tape at very top. Envelope has some foxing and torn edge from opening. Both items are in very good condition. A remarkable letter in Hemingway’s own words of a legendary fishing adventure that inspired one of his most popular, Pulitzer-Prize winning novels. Sold for $28,000.
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Lewis Carroll Autograph Poem Signed in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” — Carroll Cleverly Composes an Acrostic Poem Where the First Letter of Each Line Reveals a Message
Original Lewis Carroll autograph poem signed by Lewis Carroll, dedicated to the sister of an “Alice” who died in infancy. Carroll composes the tender poem inside a presentation copy of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (London: MacMillan and Co., 1874), inscribed on the half-title page in Carroll’s signature purple ink, “Presented to Jessie Howard Clark, in remembrance of her sister Alice, by the Author / July 15, 1875”. Young Jessie lived in Australia which served as the basis for the poem, alongside the themes of death and the connected experience of childhood across the world. The poem is additionally constructed so that the letters of the first words of each line form the recipient’s name, “Jessie Howard Clark”. Written on the page opposite the table of contents, poem reads in full,
“Just half a world to travel o’er,
E’re this may reach its Southern home:
Such waters wide between us roare
So many a league of barren foam.
In vain the trackless interspace –
England’s white ships can cleave the flood,
Hailing as brethren every race
Of English speech & English blood.
Wherever English childhood dwells
‘Alice’ may hope to find a band
Ready to listen while she tells
Dreams of the shadowy ‘Wonderland.’
Child-friend, whom I shall never see!
Let me in fancy feel thee nigh,
And trust in other lands to be
Remembered as the years go by –
Kind thoughts will live, though we may die.
Lewis Carroll autograph
July 15, 1875.”
Jessie’s father was author John Howard Clark, who originally wrote Charles Dodgson, aka Lewis Carroll, regarding his own book “Bertie and the Bullfrogs”, inspired by “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”. Upon learning that Clark had a daughter Alice who died in infancy, Carroll kindly composed this poem and gifted it to Clark’s other daughter Jessie. Book measures 5″ x 7.25″, bound in publisher’s red boards with gilt titling. With original black endpapers and all edges gilt. Separation starting to front and rear joints, and scuffing to boards. Interior is clean, including manuscript pages. Overall in very good condition, with a dramatic presentation. Sold for $16,800.
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Sylvia Plath’s Pulitzer Prize in Poetry
The Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, awarded posthumously to literary icon Sylvia Plath for ”The Collected Poems” in 1982, and the only notable literary award won by Plath. Pulitzer Prizes infrequently come to auction, with this one even more special for its importance to 20th century literature; the Poetry Jury Report from 1982 commented on its importance: ”The appearance of ”Collected Poems” of Sylvia Plath is an extraordinary literary event. Plath won no major prizes in her lifetime, and most of her work has been posthumously published…the combination of metaphorical brilliance with an effortless formal structure makes this a striking volume…”
Pulitzer Prize is accompanied by two telegrams from Sovern to Ted Hughes, both dated 13 April 1982, with one reading ”The Collected Poems of Sylvia Plath won the Pulitzer Poetry Prize to-day”. Also included is a typed letter signed by Sovern on Columbia University letterhead, dated 30 April 1982, to Ted Hughes that accompanied presentation of the Prize. Sold for $12,500.
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Charles Dickens Twice-Signed CDV
Very scarce carte-de-visite photograph of Charles Dickens with his Charles Dickens autograph upon the lower margin with his usual paraph emphasizing the signature, and again signed upon the verso. Photograph, circa early 1860’s shortly after the publication of “Great Expectations,” is by the photography studio of John & Charles Watkins, with the backstamp showing their 34 Parliament Street address. Photograph captures a somewhat disheveled Dickens in a contrast of both casual and formal attire, standing by an ornate table. It was during Dickens’ lifetime that photography became accessible to most people, although the ability to sign a photograph, such as this, wasn’t available until the invention of the carte-de-visite printed upon paper. The CDV format became popular during the 1860’s, just years before Dickens’ death in 1870. As a result, this signed photograph by Dickens came at a brief intersection of the author’s life and growing photo technology, making it very scarce. CDV measures 2.5″ x 4″. In very good condition with light soiling. Dark Charles Dickens autograph. Sold for $10,251.86.
Charles Dickens Autograph Twice on His CDV
Robert Frost Signed Book with Handwritten Verse
Robert Frost signed book “A Further Range” with handwritten verse from “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” New York: Henry Holt and Company: 1936. First edition, second impression. Original red cloth lettered in gilt with dustjacket. Signed and inscribed in ink in March, 1937 by Frost on the front free endpaper with the final verse from “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Inscription reads: “The woods are lovely, dark and deep / But I have promises to keep / And miles to go before I sleep / And miles to go before I sleep. / Robert Frost / For Mary Ellen Gombes San Antonio Texas March 1937.” Frost wrote this poem about winter in June 1922 at his house in Shaftsbury, Vermont that is now home to the “Robert Frost Stone House Museum.” Frost had been up the entire night writing the long poem “New Hampshire” and had finally finished when he realized morning had come. He went out to view the sunrise and suddenly got the idea for “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” He wrote the new poem in just a few minutes and later stated that “It was as if I’d had a hallucination.” “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” was Frost’s favorite of his own poems and later called it his “best bid for remembrance.” Dustjacket shows minor chipping to head and tail of spine and to folds; some toning. Near fine condition. Sold for $5,000.
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Charles Dickens Autograph Letter Signed From 1854 — ”…The result of the night is very gratifying indeed, and fills me with pleasure…”
Charles Dickens autograph letter signed from 1854, shortly after writing ”Hard Times”. Dickens writes from Tavistock House in London on 23 December 1854, writing ”Dear sir, Let me amuse you that your explanation was not at all necessary. I fully understood that you had a great deal to do, and never for a moment accused you in my thoughts of the slightest omission. The result of the night is very gratifying indeed, and fills me with pleasure. There is no hope of Sir towards Dalmer Lytton. He told me only the other day, that he was quite bewildered by such applications, and that where a speech hanging on him was to cast a shadow on his daily life. We resolve of never to ask any such service of each other and your letter binds me for the first time what I promise.” Dickens signs ”Faithfully yours / Charles Dickens” with his ornate paraph to second page of 2pp. letter on two sheets. Matted to blue background underneath brown wooden frame with engraving of Dickens. Letter measures 4.25” x 6.5”, framed to 20.25” x 26”. Light soiling to bottom of second page of letter, and very small tears to top of each sheet. Very good condition overall. Bold Charles Dickens autograph. Sold for $3,781.
Charles Dickens Autograph Letter Signed From 1854 — ”…The result of the night is very gratifying indeed, and fills me with pleasure…”
Robert Frost Autograph Poem Signed of “A Tuft of Flowers” — One of Frost’s Earliest Poems & Considered by Him to Be One of His Best, Bound Into a Signed Limited Edition of “Steeple Bush”
Beautiful limited edition signed presentation copy of “A Steeple Bush”, with an autograph poem signed by Robert Frost bound within. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1947, number 706 of the limited edition of 751 copies. Unique to this presentation copy is an autograph portion of his poem, “A Tuft of Flowers”, handwritten and signed by Frost in blue fountain pen. Originally entitled “The Tuft of Flowers”, this poem was included in “A Boy’s Will”, Frost’s first commercially published book of poems from 1915. Of this particular poem, Frost commented that it represented his coming back towards people, and considered it one of his best. Poem reads in full,
“A Tuft of Flowers
But he turned first and led my eye to look
At a tall tuft of flowers beside a brook –
A leaping tongue of bloom the scythe had spared
Beside a reedy brook the scythe had bared.
The mower in the dew had loved them thus
By leaving them to flourish, not for us,
Nor yet to draw one thought of ours to him,
But from sheer morning gladness at the brim……
Robert Frost
For Eugene R. Petty / December 25, 1959″.
Poem is bound into the book preceding the limitation page. Bound in sage green boards, with a gilt illustration to the front cover, book is housed in the publisher’s sage green slipcase, measuring 6.5″ x 9.875″. Mild wear to book and slipcase, overall in very good plus condition. Both poem and signature page are near fine. Sold for $2,300.
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Signed “The Poems Yeats”
“The Poems of W.B. Yeats. The Definitive Edition in Two Volumes.” London: Macmillan: 1949. One of only 300 limited edition copies signed by the author and printed on Glastonbury Ivory Toned Antique Laid paper. Two volume set bound in olive green buckram boards and housed in original slipcase. Yeats spent the final years of his life revising the text of this volume of poems, of which he had corrected the proofs and signed the special page to appear at the beginning of volume one. With his death in 1939 and the outbreak of the war later that year, Macmillan shelved the project and did not issue this signed limited edition until 1949. Volume One includes: “The Wanderings of Oisin,” “Crossways,” “The Rose,” “The Wind Among the Reeds,” “The Old Age of Queen Maeve,” Baile and Aillinn,” “In the Seven Woods,” “The Shadowy Waters,” and others. Volume Two includes: “The Wild Swans at Coole,” “Michael Roberts and the Dances,” “The Tower,” “The Winding Stair and other Poems,” “A Full Moon in March,” and “Last Poems.” Fading to backstrips. Slipcase shows wears in the form of bumped corners and worn edges. Covering to slipcase coming loose in several areas. Overall, a handsome set in very good condition. Sold for $2,279.
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FREE VALUATION. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Boris Pasternak autograph that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
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