Thoreau Journal Leaf at Second Part of William A. Strutz Library Auction
Autograph manuscript leaf from Henry David Thoreau's journal
An autograph manuscript leaf from Henry David Thoreau's journal leads Part II of The William A. Strutz Library rare books auction at Heritage Auctions on December 11.
The one-page fragment from his entry for October 28, 1852, is written in dark brown ink and comes from a passage in the journal headed "8 p.m. To Cliffs" in which he compares the many stars in the sky to the ripe summer berries:
"After whatever revolutions in my moods and experiences, when I come forth at evening, as if from years of confinement to the house, I see the few stars which make the constellation of the Lesser Bear in the same relative position -- the everlasting geometry of the stars. How incredible to be described are these bright points which appear in the blue sky as the darkness increases, said to be other worlds, like the berries on the hills when the summer is ripe! Even the ocean of birds, even the regions of the ether, are studded with isles. Far in this ethereal sea lie the Hesperian isles, unseen by day, but when the darkness comes their fires are seen from this shore, as Columbus saw the fires of San Salvador. "
Other highlights include:
* James Hilton's Lost Horizon (London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1933), a first edition, presentation copy with unclipped dust jacket, inscribed by Hilton "To W. L. M. from / J. H. / in memory of and / with gratitude / for an idea. / Sept. 1933."
* Robert Louis Stevenson's autograph manuscript lyrics (unsigned) of his Over the Sea to Skye (c.1895), one page, written in ink on ruled paper and running to 20 lines, an adaptation of the late 19th century Scottish song adaptation of a Gaelic song composed c.1782 by William Ross known as The Skye Boat Song
* uncorrected page proofs of the first edition of Norman Maclean's A River Runs Through It (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, [1976], a presentation copy inscribed by the author "Christmas, 1976 / To Gavin, / who sure as hell / helped 'to make / this work possible.' / Norman."
The inaugural auction featuring selections from William Strutz’s Library made $5.65m when it went under the hammer earlier this year. Highlights then included the only privately owned copy of Frankenstein in original pink boards which went for $843,750, an inscribed copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby ($425,000, becoming the world’s most valuable copy), and a presentation copy of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit ($300,000). Henry David Thoreau’s Walden; or Life in the Woods sold for $275,000.
