The next July 10 in London, Sotheby's presents the auction “English Literature, History, Children's Books & Illustrations with 180 lots”. The interest is again all for the Murphy manuscript, the first great work of Samuel Beckett. This time autographed. Great expectations for Samuel Beckett and the 4 works by him in the catalogue:
- SERIES OF FIVE AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED AND THREE POSTCARDS, TO MIRA AVRECH – Estimate 4,675 – 7,012 EUR ;
- PHOTOGRAPH PORTRAIT OF BECKETT IN PARIS ON 5 DECEMBER 1985 BY JOHN MINIHAN (PRINT MADE JANUARY 1990 – Estimate 935 – 1,403 EUR
- “SASHA MURPHY”, THE COMPLETE AUTOGRAPH DRAFT MANUSCRIPT OF HIS NOVEL “MURPHY”, HEAVILY CORRECTED AND REVISED THROUGHOUT, WITH MANY CANCELED PASSAGES – Estimate 934,882 – 1,402,323 EUR
- Beckett, Samuel-MURPHY. GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS, LTD., 1938 Estimate 1,403 – 1,870 EUR
But it is still “Murphy” that leads the way to this writer's collecting, at almost 800 pages long, this is the most important manuscript of a novel written by a modern British or Irish writer. The July 10 sale also includes a range of other valuable printed books, letters and manuscripts, children's books and illustrations. To highlight some of the most beautiful illustrations by EH Shepard and two watercolors by Beatrix Potter and more…the last portrait of Nelson, a second Folio of Shakespeare, and an important group of magazines on the Industrial Revolution.
Top Lots:
Henry VIII–Fountains Abbey – LETTERS PATENT, GRANTING THE SITE AND CERTAIN POSSESSIONS OF THE LATE DISSOLVED MONASTERY OF FOUNTAINS, AND THE SITE AND POSSESSIONS OF THE LATE DISSOLVED PRIORIES OF SWINE AND NUNKEELING, TO SIR RICHARD GRESHAM – Estimate 9,349 – 14,024 EUR
Burghley, Lord, Russell, Lady Elizabeth, and other Elizabethan courtiers – A GROUP OF EIGHT LEGAL DOCUMENTS Estimate 1,753 – 2,338 EUR
Blake, Robert – LETTER SIGNED (“ROB: BLAKE”), ALSO SIGNED BY GENERAL RICHARD DEANE, TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE NAVY – Estimate 2,338 – 3,506 EUR
Cromwell, Oliver – DOCUMENT SIGNED (“OLIVER P”) Estimate 2,922 – 4,091 EUR)
Cromwell, Oliver – FUNERAL ESCUTCHEON – Estimate 3,506 – 5,844 EUR
More, Samuel – AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT JOURNALS, RECORDING HIS DETAILED OBSERVATIONS DURING SIX EXPEDITIONS PRIMARILY TO INDUSTRIAL SITES AROUND ENGLAND AND WALES – Estimate 58,431 – 81,803 EUR
Tudway family – A SERIES OF 48 LETTERS (TWO INCOMPLETE) BY ESTATE MANAGERS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANTIGUA ESTATES – Estimate 6,428 – 8,765 EUR
King William IV – SERIES OF 17 AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED, AS DUKE OF CLARENCE, TO JAMES WATSON, – Estimate 2,338 – 3,506 EUR
Nelson and the Napoleonic Wars – FOUR LETTERS, COMPRISING – Estimate 1,753 – 2,338 EUR
Nelson, Horatio Lord–English provincial artist, after LF Abbott -PORTRAIT OF NELSON – Estimate 5,844 – 8,181 EUR)
Locker, Edward Hawke -MEMOIRS OF CELEBRATED NAVAL COMMANDERS, ILLUSTRATED BY ENGRAVINGS FROM ORIGINAL PICTURES IN THE NAVAL GALLERY OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL. HARDING AND LEPARD, 1832 – Estimate 5,844 – 8,181 EUR
