An Archive of Bret Harte Materials, Including Rare Signed Image and Feisty Letter to His Publisher </i>

Book Description

An American author and Western short story writer, he is best remembered for "The Luck Of Roaring Camp" and "The Outcasts Of Poker Flat." <P> Archive. A collection of Bret Harte material, including two signed books, two handwritten letters and a signed photograph: <P> <B>a)</B> PS. 4 ‰¼" x 6 ‰ˆ". No date [probably pre-1877]. No place. A photograph of a young Harte inscribed <I>"To Miss Maud Howe from her friend <B>Bret Harte</B>"</I> in purple ink. Maud Howe Elliott (1854-1948) was a Pulitzer-Prize winning write who authored a biography of her mother, The Life of Julia Ward Howe. As she married in 1877 and this is inscribed with her maiden name, it was probably signed before 1877. On the back is the notation <I>"Bret Harte Miss John Elliot 150 Rhode Island Ave Newport RI... May 1939"</I>. There is some rounding to the corners and parts of the ink inscription can be light. The <I>American Book Prices Current</I> shows only one other Harte photograph selling at major auction in the past thirty years (1988 at Christie's), attesting to their rarity. <P> <B>b)</B> ALS. 1pg. 4" x 6". July 18, 87. London. An autograph letter signed in the third person <I>"<B>Mr. Bret Harte</B> begs to enclose herewith his cheque for... bill. Please acknowledge same."</I> It is written on light green letterhead with <I>"15 Upper Hamilton Terrace N.W."</I> at the top. There is some light toning but the ink is dark. <P> <B>c)</B> ALS. 2pg. 4 ‰ˆ" x 7 ‰¼". July 22/78. Crefeld [Germay]. An autograph letter signed <I>"<B>B.H.</B>"</I> addressed to James R. Osgood; Harte was then the United States Consul there: <I>"My dear Osgood, I've got so much to do for these d---d silk spinners, who have the absurd idea that the Govt. has sent me out to listen to them... I can't get my new Vice Consul up to the point of snubbing them properly, and will have to stay to do so myself. So if I'm not at the Hotel de Norel Opera, nor at the English Church, nor at any of your familiar haunts of Vice on Sunday evening at 8 o'clock not early Wednesday morning, telegraph me here - at my own (ie the Govt.) expense - if you cannot wait a day or two longer for your bereaved friend <B>B.H.</B>"</I> Osgood was Harte's publisher. The letter, which has been folded, is laid into Harte's book <I>Drift From Two Shores</I>, which appears to be a first edition. <P> <B>d)</B> SB. 231pg. 4 ‰ˆ" x 6". July 1890. London. A Harte book <I>A Waif Of The Plains</I> inscribed on the first endpage <I>"Mrs Myers from <B>Bret Harte</B> London July 1890"</I>. <B>Eveleen Myers</B> (1856-1937) was a photographer and the wife of the writer Frederick William Henry Myers. Eveleen's mother was a close friend of many writers, including Flaubert. The book, published in 1890, has a blue cover with some wear, but is in fine condition otherwise. <P> <B>e)</B> SB. 342pg. 4 ‰¾" x 7 ‰¼". 1897. No place. A Harte book <I>Three Partners</I> inscribed on the first page <I>"Miss Chapelle from <B>Bret Harte</B> 1897"</I>. This first edition is bound in red with some light wear to the spine, but is in very fine condition otherwise

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