Upcoming Highlights: Autographs
At Auction March 21
Complete Catalogue
This spring auction brings an assortment of hard-to-find items from world leaders, writers, musicians, scientists and other notable figures. Presidential autographs include a fine portrait of Ulysses S. Grant by Mathew Brady, dated and signed as president. An extraordinary group of autograph letters signed by Princess Diana to the editor of British Vogue includes two letters relating to the December 1991 issue which featured the Princess on the cover.
Among musicians, it is difficult to find one more important than Richard Wagner, whose irate ALS to his publisher concerning piano reductions of his opera Rienzi is among the best in the sale. Autographs by artists feature an autograph postcard signed by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, asking for the address of his favorite subject, Yvette Guilbert. Some of the most desirable autographs by inventors are from Nikola Tesla, whose dated and signed correspondence card bearing his monogram is on offer, and Alexander Graham Bell, whose ALS accepts an invitation to tea in Japan.
American Revolutionary
Lot 1: Joseph Brant, Mohawk Chief, ALS, writing with news after pledging support to King George III against the American rebels, 1776. Estimate $20,000 to $30,000.
Presidential
Lot 143: Ulysses S. Grant, Photograph dated & Signed as President, portrait by Brady, 1875. Estimate $3,000 to $4,000.
Inventors
Lot 44: Alexander Graham Bell, Autograph Letter Signed, accepting an invitation to tea during his only trip to Japan, 1898. Estimate $1,000 to $2,000.
Lot 123: Nikola Tesla, Signature & date on his monogrammed correspondence card, 1935. Estimate $3,500 to $5,000.
Musicians
Lot 199: Richard Wagner, Autograph Letter Signed, concerning his opera Rienzi, 1869. Estimate $3,000 to $4,000.
Artists
Lot 254: Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, Autograph Note Signed, requesting the address of Yvette Guilbert, 1895. Estimate $2,000 to $3,000.
Lot 247: Claude Monet, ALS, to painter Harry Lachman, complaining that his vision has not improved, 1920s. Estimate $2,500 to $3,500.
Other Notable Figures
Lot 52: Diana, Princess of Wales, group of six Autograph Letters signed to the editor of British Vogue, 1989-92. Estimate $5,000 to $7,500.