Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - November - 2009 Issue

Autographs from Famed Leaders, Artists, Musicians, Writers and More from David Schulson Autographs

Mark Twain signs his photograph while visiting Australia.

Mark Twain signs his photograph while visiting Australia.


Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, became quite a spiritualist. The death of his wife, son, and other family members likely led him to embrace theories of life beyond death and the ability to contact the dead. This 1914 letter to fellow writer Lucy Clifford expresses his confidence in his beliefs: "You should look into the psychic question...All fear of death is lost & one begins to realize this general plan of the universe. What I say on this subject is not what I think but what I know. Why man should refuse or neglect such enormous consolation is a mystery to me. It is more important than everything else put together..." Certainly Doyle did not want for confidence in his views, and 16 years later he had the opportunity to put them to the ultimate test. Item 14. $1,950.

Item 48 is a photograph from the Falk Studios of Australia, but the subject is the very American writer Mark Twain. It was signed by the author to a Mr. Robeson in 1896, evidently while on an overseas speaking tour. Twain had lost a lot of money through speculation at the time and embarked on a long tour as he needed the money. His signature as "Twain" rather than his actual name of Samuel Clemens indicates Mr. Robeson was not a personal friend. $4,850.

David Schulson Autographs may be reached at 973-379-3800 or schulson@aol.com. Their website is www.schulsonautographs.com.

You will find many of David Schulson's autographs listed in "Books For Sale" on this site. Click here.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Koller Auctions
    Books & Autographs
    18 September 2024
    Koller, Sep. 18: Cowper, William. Anatomia corporum humanorum ab excellentissimis… Utrecht, 1750. CHF 25,000 to 40,000
    Koller, Sep. 18: Bell, Thomas. A Monograph of the Testudinata. London [1836-1842]. CHF 20,000 to 30,000.
    Koller, Sep. 18: Gould, John. A monograph of the Trochilidae, or family of humming-birds [and] Supplement completed after the authors death…, London [1849-]1861 and [1880-]1887. CHF 50,000 to 80,000.
    Koller Auctions
    Books & Autographs
    18 September 2024
    Koller, Sep. 18: Gould, John. The birds of New Guinea and the adjacent Papuan Islands, including many new species recently discovered in Australia. CHF 50,000 to 80,000.
    Koller, Sep. 18: Levaillant, François. Histoire naturelle des oiseaux de paradis et des rolliers, suivie de celle des toucans et des barbus. Paris [1801-]1806. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.
    Koller, Sep. 18: Pfinzing, Melchior. Die geverlicheiten und einsteils der geschichten des loblichen streytparen…, Nürnberg, 1517. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.
  • Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: HAMILTON, Sir William - Campi Phlegraei. Napoli: 1779. € 50,000 - 80,000
    Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: KIRCHER, Athanasius - Turris Babel. Amsterdam: 1679. € 3,000 - 5,000
    Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: EDWARDS, George.London - Gleanings of Natural History. Londra: 1758-1764. € 7,000 - 10,000
    Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: HEVELIUS, Johannes - Cometographia. Danzica: 1668. € 20,000 - 30,000
    Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: KUPKA, Frantisek - Quatre histoires de blanc et noir. Parigi: 1926. € 10,000 - 15,000
  • Sotheby’s
    10 September 2024
    The Shem Tov Bible

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