Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - January - 2009 Issue

Letters, Literature and Film from James Pepper Rare Books

James Pepper's latest catalogue features some fascinating letters.


By Michael Stillman

James Pepper Rare Books has issued their Catalogue 178. Pepper catalogues are mostly filled with items of literature or those relating to film and theater. There are always a few exceptions, an occasional work related to history or art, but literature and film predominate. Here are a few we found this time, including some very interesting personal letters.

Item 43 is a biography, along with a most critical letter from its subject. The book is Robert Mitchum. A Biography by George Eells, published in 1984. The tough-guy movie actor was evidently not pleased with his biography. Along with the book is a copy of a letter Mitchum sent to a man who wished Mitchum to sign his copy. After noting that he never met author Eells, Mitchum writes, "The book is a compilation of inaccuracies and downright fabrication, and I have adopted a posture of disclaimer and refusal to sign my name to avoid any semblance of endorsement. I might suggest that you paste this note inside the book, if you so please." Priced at $1,500.

If you think that comment is tough, take a look at this one from writer-journalist-satirist Ambrose Bierce. Bierce had evidently been asked for an opinion of the magazine Lantern, published in Chicago, by its editor. Bierce most caustically replied. "Will I tell you what I think of your magazine? Sure I will. It has thirty-six pages of reading matter. Seventeen are given to the biography of a musician, - German, dead. Four to the mother of a theologician, - German, peasant-wench, dead. (The mag. is published in America, to-day). Five pages about Eugene Field's ancestors. All dead. 17 + 4 + 5 = 26. 36 - 26 = 10. Two pages about Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Three-fourths page about a bad poet and his indifference to - German. Two pages of his poetry. 3 = 3/4 + 2 = 4 3/4. 10 - 4 3/4 = 5 1/4. Not enough to criticize. What your magazine needs is an editor - presumably older, preferably American, and indubitably alive. At least awake." We gather Mr. Bierce didn't particularly care for the publication. The letter was written on May 22, 1913. Later that year, Bierce headed off to Mexico to report on that nation's revolution and was never heard from again. His fate is still unknown. Item 14. $3,000.

Now for a more positive letter. Item 101 includes a first edition, first issue of Gone With The Wind. It is signed by author Margaret Mitchell. This is already highly collectible and very valuable, but additionally, laid into this copy is a 1960 letter from Clark Gable, who played the leading male role in the movie adaptation of the book. The letter was to an editor of the Atlanta Constitution, in response to some written questions he sent. Gable most obligingly wrote out his answers in this letter. Gable states his belief that Gone With The Wind "is one of the finest motion pictures ever made," that Rhett Butler was his favorite role, and that he was more associated with this film than any other. Of author Mitchell, he says that not only did she write "a wonderful novel," but was very helpful to him in describing how to play the role. "I listened to her and followed her advice, and fortunately for me everything she told me was right. Naturally she was the one to whom I went for advice, because she was the one who had created the character. I am forever grateful to Margaret Mitchell." Gable died later that year, making this likely his final observations about this film. $85,000.

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    28th March 2024
    Forum Mar. 28: [Langland (William)]. The vision of Pierce Plowman, nowe the seconde time imprinted..., Roberte Crowley, 1550. £8,000 to £10,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: [Shakespeare (William)]. [Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies], second folio edition, [by Tho.Cotes, for Robert Allot], [1632]. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Bible, Czech Biblia Bohemica, first complete Bible printed in the Czech vernacular, Prague, August 1488. £30,000 to £40,000.
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    Forum Mar. 28: Shabthai Tzvi.- Collection of four printed and illustrated broadsides detailing the appearance, rise and fall of the false messiah, Shabthai Tzvi, Augsburg, 1666-67. £40,000 to £60,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Leaf from the Beauvais Missal, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment, [Northern France (perhaps Beauvais or Amiens)], [fourteenth century (c.1310)]. £4,000 to £6,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Aubrey (John). [Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme], manuscript in English, Latin and Greek, [c. 1693]. £30,000 to £50,000.
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    Forum Mar. 28: Byron (George Gordon Noel, Lord). Poems on Various Occasions, first edition, Harriet Maltby's copy, Newark, Printed by S. & J. Ridge, 1807. £30,000 to £40,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Hobbit, first edition, second impression with dust-jacket, 1937 [but 1938]. £7,000 to £10,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Blake (William).- Thornton (Robert John). The Pastorals of Virgil, 2 vol., engraved plates by William Blake, 1821. £8,000 to £12,000.
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    Forum Mar. 28: America.- Mount (William J.) & Thomas Page. The English Pilot…, [bound with] The Fourth Book, describing The West Indies Navigation from Hudson's-Bay to the River Amazones, 1721. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Oldfield (Henry Ambrose), Rajman Singh Chitrakar & others. An album of 160 photographs and 13 original artworks, (1833-1919), [c. 1850s-1880s]. £20,000 to £30,000.
    Forum Mar. 28: Audubon (John James) [and William MacGillivray]. Ornithological Biography…, 5 vol., first edition, presentation copy inscribed by Audubon, Edinburgh, 1831-49 [i.e. 1831-39]. £10,000 to £15,000.
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    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: ONLY KNOWN COPY OF THE ONLY BOOK BY THE REMARKABLE EVE ADAMS. $8,000 - $12,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A COMPLETE RUN OF VISIONAIRE MAGAZINE THROUGH 2010. $6,000 - $9,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: LAW REVIEW OFFPRINT SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY RUTH BADER GINSBURG. $3,000 - $5,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: META REBNER'S WORKING SCRIPT OF THE LOVED ONE. $1,500 - $2,000
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A KATHY GROVE PORTRAIT OF CYNDI LAUPER FOR THE FEBRUARY 1989 DETAILS COVER. $800 - $1,200
    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A PLASTIC COAT BY MILLIE DAVID FEATURED IN SOHO NEWS STYLE SECTION, FROM THE COLLECTION OF ANNIE FLANDERS. $500 - $700
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    Bonhams, Mar. 22 – Apr. 2: A SET OF JONI MITCHELL LYRICS FOR "IF I HAD A HEART." $2,000 - $3,000
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    Catalogue 198 just published
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    Part IX
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    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: [RUTH, George Herman “Babe” (1895-1948)]. Signed photograph. Circa 1930s. 191 x 248 mm. $1,500 to $2,500.
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    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: NEWLY DISCOVERED FIRST PRINTING OF "WITH MALICE TOWARDS NONE... " FROM THE ONLY NEWSPAPER ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN LINCOLN’S SECOND INAUGURAL PROCESSION. $4,000 to $8,000.
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    April 18, 2024
    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: EDISON, Thomas. Patent for Edison’s Improvements on the Electric-Light, No. 219,628. [Washington, D.C.: U.S. Patent Office], 16 September 1879. $2,000 to $3,000.
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