[Rarebooks] Faulkner to his lover (1) + Steinbeck of his lovers [etc] (2)

[Serendipity Books]

                                                                 (1)



L41      1960 (September)

Snapshot by Cofield of William Faulkner in 
informal shirt, with tobacco pouch in his shirt 
pocket, holding his pipe.  5" x 3 1/4".  Sllight edge wear.


Taken for Meta Rebner [Meta Carpenter Wilde]. She 
remembers that "in one of my letters to Faulkner 
in the last years of his life I asked if he had a 
recent photograph that he could send me. He 
replied that he had no picture of himself but 
would have one made. A month or so later, this 
white-haired, dark browed likeness arrived." - A 
LOVING GENTLEMAN; recto of inserted leaf 
immediately preceding p. 97, where this picture is reproduced.

The verso of this photograph is inscribed by 
Faulkner, "I had this one taken especially for 
you, first in I dont remember how many 
years.  Will be in Va for hunting, about Nov. 1 
917 Rugby Rd. Charlottesville.  Bill."

With Faulkner's envelope, addressed by him to 
Meta Rebner in Los Angeles [he uses an already 
used envelope]; he has cancelled the old return 
address and the previous addressee with red 
crayon, and added "AIR MAIL".   The envelope is 
docketed by Rebner, and accompanied by another 
note: "MOST RECENT PHOTOGRAPH 1960 / Hand-written 
note on back / May be viewed after Dr [Carvel] 
Collins Faulkner biography has been published / Meta Rebner 5/10/64."

Inscribed photographs of Faulkner are of the 
greatest rarity.  This one is inscribed to the love of his life.


Footnote:  I catalogued this photograph as L41, 
p. 546, Serendipity Books Catalogue 48 = the Carl 
Petersen collection (1991).  I sold it to a local 
customer of modest means, along with many other 
books and items of various sorts, over many, many 
years.  Recently,  Allen cut himself accidentally 
in his kitchen, and - living alone - he bled to 
death.  I was advisor to the heirs, who chose to 
send almost the entire library to auction, but 
who honored my single request to allow me to buy 
back this photograph, in order to settle unpaid 
accounts and for cash considerations, and because of wondrousness.

$12,500.00




                                                                 (2)


[ca 1942]

Autograph letter signed, ink, 1p,  8 ½" x 11, 
ruled yellow foolscap from a pad. To his literary 
agent Mavis McIntosh, of McIntosh & Otis, 
candid.  The draft is undated, but must have been 
written ca 1942, since Steinbeck refers to the 
fact that Carol (his first wife) has not replied 
to his offer of a divorce 
settlement.  Steinbeck's personal distress during 
this difficult period is apparent:

                                                     "Of 
Carol? I have a great deal of love for her. Of 
Gwen? I have a great deal of love for her.  Of 
myself? I haven't very much. I wish I had more. 
Lots of things to get rid of first though and I 
think I am getting rid of some of them
..Of 
course where the trouble is going to come is that 
neither Carol nor Gwen will be able to understand 
that I can love more than one woman.  I'm pretty 
darned faithfull sexually though and would only 
stop if some pressure or unhappiness
in the status quo whatever that is."

                                                                 Some 
215 words, unsigned.  Crumpled once. Clearly a 
draft, unsent. Numerous letters to Mavis McIntosh 
are included in STEINBECK: A LIFE IN LETTERS, but 
none resembles this draft, which may never have been rewritten.


$5000.00



/pbh


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Peter B. Howard
Serendipity Books
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