(JOHN DEERE). BOND, William H. (?-?)
This painter served as graphic artist for The National Graphic Society for 36 years and his work appears in a great many of their books, magazines and other publications; his work appears on an extraordinary 58 United States postage stamps, including fifty stamps commemorating World War Two. On his heavy stock 3½" X 2" business card (showing "Geographic Art Division / The National Geographic Society / Washington, D.C. 20036" as address at lower left), he boldly inscribed and signs "To Paul Johnston / My best wishes / Bill Bond" in black fineline along top. Fine. Accompanied by a First Day Cover for the 1987 14-cent "Self-scouring steel plow, 1837" postal card designed by Bond, 5½" X 3½", cancelled in Moline, Illinois on 22 May 1987 and with "First Day of Issue" noted. Typed recipient name/address and at left a small graphic and John Deere quotation. This FDC is housed in a 6" X 4¼" leather folder with "1837-1987 / 150 / John Deere" giltstamped on front cover. Opening it, the FDC appears at right, under clear mylar cover, while at left is a reproduction on cloth of an artist's rending titled "Blacksmith Shop, Grand Detour, Illinois" showing farmers testing a self-scouring steel plow in front of a workshop with signage reading "JOHN DEERE PROP." A superb sesquicentennial keepsake in pristine condition, accompanied by small printed presentation slip from the Deere & Company chairman. Quite unusual.
BARING-GOULD, Sabine (1834-1924)
This insanely prolific English novelist, folklorist, hagiographer, antiquarian, scholar, travel writer and Anglican priest during his free time reputedly authored some 1,240 works -- but today is remembered as author of hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers." ANS, 1p, 4½" X 7", Lew Trenchon, near Devon, 19 May 1907. Addressed to Mr. Routhi. Very good. Lightly age toned, with faint mounting traces. "I am very much obliged to you," he writes, "what you tell me helps me very much." He continues: "I send you my last book just out for your Masters Club & reading room. It will interest the men more than Pabo." Boldly signed. His "last book just out" would be his 1900 nonfiction release "A Book of Dartmoor," and "Pabo" references his 1899 novel "Pabo the Priest." Clearly, Baring-Gould thinks men would prefer a book of travel and exploration over a yarn about King Henry Beauclark's rule with his beautiful wife.
Influential English mathematician, physicist and astronomer at Cambridge and Princeton, Sir James made his mark with advanced research on stellar evolution, quantum theory and theory of radiation, multiple star systems and the like, reported in numerous books; he is considered co-founder of cosmology, that branch of physics concerned with the origins of the universe; but he also sought to popularize science as a lecturer and broadcaster and with such books as "The Universe Around Us" (1929) and "Through Space and Time" (1934). TNS, 1p, 8" X 10", Dorking, U.K., 20 June 1931. Addressed to S.J. Woolf. Very good. Original folds (not weakened). On letterhead of "Cleveland Lodge," the Surrey abode he purchased in 1918 where he lived the rest of his life, Jeans thanks the popular "New York Times" portraitist Samuel Johnson Woolf (1880-1948) "for the two photographs you were so good as to send us. I am very glad to have them as I think you have made an exceedingly good sketch." Bold signed. With original envelope. Johnson no doubt sent Jeans photographs of his pencil portrait of Jeans, which appears on page 71 of his 1932 book "Drawn from Life."
Prolific French writer, novelist, poet, essayist and literary critic, elected to the Academie Francoise in 1946; he was the son of noted French caricaturist Henri Henriot. IPS (in French), 8" X 11", n.p. [Chicago, IL], n.y. Good only. Heavy horizontal crack extends across bottom from ½" up from lower left edge to 2½" up from lower right edge, easily visible but not terribly disfiguring. Attractive sepia-tone closeup portrait of a youthful mustachioed Henriot, mat-finish and soft focus, gazing soulfully to upper right. Boldly inscribed and signed in black ink at upper left "a' l'Université / de Chicago," with lengthy inscription near bottom; aforementioned crack runs below this inscription and just above the signature, but touches neither. Full translation: "To the University / of Chicago / It's nice to know something the others / don't know; but it's even nicer / to know something without someone bragging about it," handsomely signed. NOT to be confused with the French chemist of the same name who was born a few years ahead of the writer and died the same year. Despite unfortunate crease, an appealing item.
The finest of the fine arts auctioneers was Sir Alec, who began as an office boy at Christie's in London in 1897, by 1930 had become partner and by 1940 was managing partner, leading that firm as chairman until 1958. TLS, 5" X 8" (both sides, London, England, 11 December 1952. Addressed to Pauline Spender Clay. Very good. Faintly age toned, with minor edgewear. Writing on Christie, Manson & Woods Ltd. letterhead to the daughter (1880-1971) of William Waldorf Astor and brother of John Jacob Astor, Martin discusses with this socialite and aristocrat a photograph of an unidentified John Singer Sargent painting she owned -- perhaps the full-length portrait Sargent painted of her in 1898? "I think it is an extraordinarily fine example of Sargent's work and I think that some time it will be appreciated for what it is. But at the moment Sargent is out of fashion and large pictures also are difficult to sell. For these reasons I hardly like to advise you to offer the picture at auction as I think you are not likely to get more than a small price for it. If you wish me to do so, I can, I think, find a home for it at the Birmingham Art Gallery if you are willing to lend it to them." Large, bold signature at the close in blue ink.
12mo. Red cloth with gilt lettering. 8pp, 10pp, (2pp), 8pp, 6pp, (2pp), 10pp, (2pp), 8pp, 10pp, (2pp), 11pp, (1p), 8pp, 11pp, (1p), 8pp, 11pp. Illustrations. Near fine. Homely dampstain to four preliminary leaves (only), rest is tight and bright. Physicians at Finlay Hospital of Dubuque, Iowa, contributed "Clinico-Pathologic Conferences" articles to every issue of the Journal of the Iowa State Medical Society between January and December, 1942, gathered together here. The editor boldly inscribes and signs the inner flyleaf "With Best Wishes of the / Editor / F.P. McNamara M.D. / 1943" and he contributes five of these dozern articles. First separate edition and apparently the dozen articles from 1941 were likewise thus gathered and published. Unusual.
The colorful Mexican artist is as famed for his fiery relationship with Frida Kahlo as for his inspired fresco murals and his controversial Communist connections. TNS, 1p, 8½" X 11", San Francisco, CA, 29 December 1940. Addressed to Quinby Self. Good only. Although fairly attractive overall, the upper of the two folds is heavily chipped (but not separated; see image). Rivera and Kahlo first lived in San Francisco for six months in 1930 shortly after marrying, but by 1939 they had divorced. On December 8, 1940 they remarried in San Francisco and set up house at 42 Calhoun Street, from where this letter was written three weeks later. Rivers notes, ". I have been rather undecided as to my plans. I am sorry I was not able to be in Mexico during the hollidays [sic] to that I might have been able to meet your wife and see her paintings, but I am just now able to start toward the south." Boldly signed. Quinby Self (1909-91) was an insurance agent whose wife Jess Edith (1914-2001) was an art instructor whose work was exhibited in many exhibitions -- it seems likely he was trying to advance his 26-year-old wife's career by establishing a relationship with the influential artist. As the married Rivera at age 42 became involved with 22-year-old Kahlo in 1928, he certainly enjoyed meeting much younger female artists. Rather scarce.