ALS. 2pg. No date. No place. A partial autograph letter signed “Harriet Martineau”: “& in fortune, but in conscious, & form a cruel perplexity what do rest – unable as it seemed to them, to stir a step without the wish of greater visit chief than remaining as they are. I, of course, was not of this opinion – But we shall so soon meet that I will not fill my paper with a subject wh is far…Believe me, dear Madam, to be truly your obliged Harriet Martineau”. It is in fine condition.

MARIANNE MOORE GIVES PERMISSION TO TRANSLATE TWO OF HER POEMS

MARIANNE MOORE (1887-1972). A famous American poet, she was friends with Wallace Stevens and William Carlos Williams, and contributed to The Dial, that she later edited. She often wrote about animals and won the Pulitzer Prize for her Collected Poems.

TLS. 1pg. 5 ½” x 3 ½”. December 3, 1963. Brooklyn. A typed letter signed “Marianne Moore” to Mr. Mayesski: “You may translate for TENATY my lines TO A STEAM ROLLER and POETRY. $20 is very much for the magazine to pay. I thank you.” The letter has light wear to the upper left corner that affects nothing and is in fine condition. The letter comes with two unsigned postcard photographs of the famed poetess.

SCARLET PIMPERNEL AUTHOR EMMA ORCZY SENDS GOOD WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR

BARONESS EMMA “EMMUSKA” ORCZY DE ORCZI (1865-1947). The Hungarian-born Orczy is best remembered for The Scarlet Pimpernel.

TLS. 1pg. 8” x 10”. January 2, 1922. Villa Bijou, Monte Carlo. A typed letter signed “Emmuska Orczy”. It is written on her stationery from the Villa Bijou, Orczy’s home in Monte Carlo, and is addressed to Mr. Charles Wilson of Willington, Durham, England. Wilson was an author and teacher who maintained correspondences with many notable writers of the period: “Dear Mr. Wilson, I thank you very much for your kind letter of December 13th, and for your many kind wishes for the New Year which I heartily reciprocate. I am so glad you enjoyed your visit to Rome and I am sure you will like the second visit even better, because you will be more familiar with the ordinary circumstances of life in the city and will not have to worry about them and just be able to give yourself over to the enjoyments of the place. With renewed best wishes for your happiness and prosperity in the coming year, I am, Yours faithfully. Emmuska Orczy”. It is in very good condition with a few small tears along the fold lines and wrinkling to the lower right corner.

THE AUTHORESS OF THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL WRITES ABOUT THEATER TICKETS

EMMUSKA ORCZY (1865-1947). The Hungarian-born Orczy is best remembered for The Scarlet Pimpernel.

ALS. 2pg. 4 ½” x 6”. January 11, 1912. Snowfield. An autograph letter signed “Emmuska Orzcy” to Miss Scarth: “Will you kindly reserve us 9 seats for the entertainment at the Institute or the 17th, for which I enclose P.O.O. 13/6/ I am so glad that after all we were able to arrange for the little play, & I do hope the whole affair will be a great success. With kindest regards.” There is a large autograph and the condition is fine.

ARCHIVE OF FRANCES DICKENSON PINDER, ROARING TWENTIES POET

FRANCES DICKENSON PINDER (1879-1956) was a well-respected poet whose work was mostly published in the 1920’s. Her notable works included “Shallows,” “Marsh Pools,” “Sea Marsh,” “Frost,” and “Inland from Jupiter,” and she was published in American Poetry Magazine, New Republic, Contemporary Verse, North American Review, and other noted poetry publications.

This archive consists of her letters and poetry, predominantly sent to her friend and confidant, Hazeltine Whitney, between 1923 and 1928. The archive consists of eleven letters (some undated), nine postcards or envelopes addressed to Hazeltine Whitney, and fourteen copies of assorted poetry by Pinder to Whitney.

Notable items in the archive conclude:

1. TLS. 3 pg. 6” x 10”. March 24, 1922. N.p. A typed letter signed by “Frances Dickenson Pinder” to “My dear Hazeltine”: “If I may so call you—Our acquaintance, though brief, being based on realities sems to seek every simplicity…I have just read our lesson for the day in ‘the little book,’ and find it particularly lovely. From it, my thoughts went to your note from St. Augustine…I wondered if the peculiar charm of it is not due to the rare personality it emanates, touched with the loveliness of the lesson. It moved me very much, your note…Mother has departed on a round of visits, to last several weeks, and all day I am alone. There are so many things crowding in my mind, I scarcely know which to begin on – two short stories, plots all ready; a long poem which will require a great deal of study; and several short ones. My ‘subconscious’ is maturing work faster than conditions provide time for…I wonder if you mind my writing you on the type-writer? I write all but my most formal correspondence so, because my thoughts, in my writing, are so accustomed to flow out on the typewriter, that the medium is become tyrannous. I am more easily and unconsciously myself on the type-writer. Composing to the typewriter does not sound in the least poetic, but it is reasonable – you get the thought in all its proportions better in the printed line. I find that always I write a longer letter than if I write in ‘long-hand’ – perhaps just an idea of mine. And now I shall close – this very long letter for a first letter – but I feel that I know you so well. I am enclosing a copy of a poem I think you’ll like…It has not yet been published – just written and submitted to the Fortnightly Review, London – s that this copy is just for you, and your sister, if she would like to see it”. The letter then concludes with her poem, “Assurance.” This letter, the first in a series of letters to Miss Whitney, reveals the quick establishment of their friendship and the trust placed in the former by the latter. Pinder’s habit to send unpublished poetry to Whitney would be frequently repeated.

2. TDS. 1 pg. 5” x 7”. N.d. N.p. A typed document signed by “Frances Dickenson Pinder” to “Dear Hazeltine”: “See how your sweet name lends Its lyric measure to a sonnet’s use! – Though that alone, howbeit fair excuse, Would scarce content you, bent to subtlest ends of novel imagery to make amends for deeper luck…” This undated Christmas card is a sonnet from Pinder to Whitney, revealing the playful nature of our friendship and Pinder’s skill as a poet.

3. TD. 1 pg. 8” x 10”. N.d. N.p. A typed poem written by “Frances Dickenson Pinder” as a “Copy for Hazeltine”. The poem is Pinder’s “Don Christoval,” and includes the following note from Pinder to Whitney: “Does this poem seem too fragmentary? – it seems to me that historic emphasis should be accurate but secondary – I have tried to capture the attitude of those events so many ‘stars away.’ Do you and your sister agree? Of course this is for you two only”. This note reveals the trust Pinder placed in Whitney to help her, and the fact that there is no evidence the poem was ever published indicates that Whitney may have agreed with Pinder’s concerns.

Other than some minor tears and folds, the items in this archive are in fine condition.

AUTHOR SARA PRYOR DISCUSSES SHERMAN’S BURNING OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA: “NOT SPARING THE PEACEFUL NUNS OF A CONVENT”

SARA AGNES RICE PRYOR (1830-1912).  Pryor was a Virginia-born American writer and community activist in New York City; after the Civil War, she and her husband, who had been a Confederate general, fled north.  Her best-known books include The Mother Of Washington And Her Times and The Birth Of The Nation: Jamestown, 1607. 

ALS. 6pg. 5” x 6 ½”. August 28, 1908. 3 West 69^th [New York City].  An autograph letter signed “Sara A. Pryor” to Dr. Hayden on black-bordered mourning stationery: “I am honored by your mention of my book in the ‘Pennsylvania German’ of July.  And I thank you cordially for your kindness in sending me the magazine.  A new edition of ‘The Mother of Washington’ will probably be issued.  And I am instructed by you in general particulars which will enable me to make some corrections.  I cannot sufficiently express my regret that such a paper as the true by terrible one contributed…should have been admitted at this day.  Infinite harm is done by relating the outrages of the two sections, who were forced into opposition by the politicians of 1859-61.  What is the use of friends re-opening old sores?  They only provoke retaliation.  When I wrote my ‘Reminiscences of Peace & War’ I wrote a vivid, strange chapter relating to Sherman’s burning of Columbia & march & fire…not sparing the peaceful nuns of a convent – but I withdrew the chapter from motives superior to my natural desire for the interest of my book.  I know we agree about these things.  What is the use of calling ourselves Christians if we cherish injuries & repeat their story?  I suppose few suffered greater wrongs that did I – but I…in my book to record them with anything like the dark realty - & I think to keep them from my memory, as I kept them from the pages of my book.  I trust you are well, dear Dr. Hayden…”.  The letter is in good condition with soiling, mounting remnants and other faults.