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  • "You are one of the most special people to me, and you have meant so much to my life": Exceptionally Rare collection of original Harper Lee drawings, a painting, and letters with a first edition of To Kill A Mockingbird in the scarce first issue dust jacket; inscribed by Lee to close colleague and friend Charles Weldon Carruth

    LEE, HARPER.

    To Kill a Mockingbird. Original Harper Lee Drawing, Painting and Letter Collection.

    Philadelphia & New York: J.B. Lippincott Company 1960.

    First edition of perhaps the most important American novel of the 20th century, inscribed by Harper Lee to a close college friend and with a scarce archive of drawings and letters exchanged between the two.

    Octavo, original green cloth backed brown boards, titles to spine in gilt. Association copy, inscribed by Harper Lee to close University of Alabama college friend, Charles Weldon Carruth, “To my dear friend Charles, with love always — Harper Lee.” In the fall term of 1945, Lee and Carruth both enrolled in a Shakespeare course taught by one of the University of Alabama’s most famous faculty members, Hudson Strode, who directed the school’s theatre troupe and taught several courses in theatre and creative-writing. At the University of Alabama, Lee contributed a regular column to the campus newspaper,  ‘Caustic Comments for Crimson White’, as well as many articles to the university’s humor magazine, Rammer Jammer, of which she became editor in chief in 1946. Lee ultimately dropped out of college before graduation and moved to Manhattan in 1949 to pursue writing as a career; Carruth later moved to New York City as well, where he worked as a radio producer before becoming a writer and editor for the Catholic News. Near fine in the rare first-issue dust jacket which is in very good condition.

    Accompanied by an exceptionally rare archive of pencil and ink drawings sketched by Lee of Carruth, caricatures drawn by her while attending Strode’s Shakespeare courses, an original acrylic portrait by Lee of Carruth inscribed by her on the verso “From Nelle Lee, Dec 25, 1952”, and three letters written by Lee to Carruth regarding her thoughts on her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama.

    Measuring 8 inches by 10 inches on ruled sheets of paper, the 11 drawings, four of which are signed by Lee “NLee”, include 5 realist studies of Carruth in various poses and six captioned caricatures in ink depicting him as Shakespearean leads including: a portrayal of Shylock as a pawn shop owner and “Money Lender Extraordinaire: Easy Loans – Pound of Flesh Compounded Semi-Annually”, King Lear standing on the cliffs of Dover with a price tag (“$3.98”) hanging from his cloak, Hamlet standing on a diving board with Yorick’s skull and a bloody knife hidden behind his back (performed at the “Old Vic”), Julius Caesar smoking a pipe while “contemplating the infinite”; Othello towering over an angel and devil; Cassius dripping dry outside the Roman baths where “you must have a ticket before you bathe”, Malvolio, “the impatient one,” crossing his legs while “waiting to go to the jakes”, and Carruth dressed as an unidentified female character with Carruth’s note, “Fall Quarter/ Univ. Ala 1945”. Additionally included is a caricature of Professor Strode wearing the breeches and curly-toed shoes of a court jester with his book “Timeless Mexico” in one hand and Yorick’s skull in the other, signed “Nelle Lee” and dated “11/8/45.”

    Showcasing not only the depth, but also the length of Lee and Carruth’s friendship, the three letters include a letter written by Lee to Carruth in 1991 regarding his retirement, “My beloved Charlie, I can’t think of anyone to whom these words apply more — in your work, in your life — ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’ …You are one of the most special people to me, and you have meant so much to my life.” Two years later, in January 1993, the second letter thanks him for a “…lovely Christmas remembrance and, farther back, your memoir of Winston County [Alabama, where Carruth was born].” Despairing the changes occurring in her hometown, she continues, “You remember the Faulknerian prophecy — the Snopeses shall inherit the earth? They’ve already taken over Monroeville … they are trying to turn Harper Lee into a tourist attraction like Graceland or Elvis.” She goes on to discuss the restoration of the Old Courthouse, and remarks that she “nearly had a fit” after seeing a billboard featuring a mockingbird, describing it as “in indescribable taste” and “a fraud on the public”. “[They] say they are doing this to honor me. What they are doing … [is] embarrassing me beyond endurance … So keep an eye out for a small place that will hold 10,000 books … is near grocery stores & hospitals, and you! … We can look at each other and celebrate our longevity.” Signed by Lee as the Queen Victoria, “Your unamused but loving, Victoria R & I.” Lee often gave herself nicknames when signing letters: “Francesca da Rimini,” one of Dante’s damned, when she felt hopeless; “E. Bouverie Pusey,” the Anglican theologian, when she got worked up about some finer points of theology; and “Victoria R/I”—the Queen Empress Victoria—when she felt royal and moody.

    A remarkable collection offering unprecedented insight into the education, broad talents, unique sense of humor, and deep personal thoughts regarding the reception of the most important work of one of America’s most respected and enigmatic writers.

    Price: $100,000.00     Item Number: 1115260

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  • "Faulkner was breathtaking in the accuracy of his observations": Rare advance reading copy of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird; signed by three actors from the 1962 film and with a two page autograph letter signed and entirely in the hand of harper lee declining the invitation to participate in a documentary film about her novel

    LEE, HARPER.

    To Kill a Mockingbird.

    Barnstable, MA: Crane’s Duplicating Service, for J.B. Lippincott Company, 1960.

    Rare advance reading copy of the first edition of Harper Lee’s classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel signed by three actors from the 1962 film and with a two page autograph letter signed and entirely in the hand of Harper Lee declining the invitation to participate in a documentary film about her novel. Octavo, original wrappers. Presentation copy, inscribed by three actors from the film on the pastedown and front free endpaper, “Bonnie Great Weekend My Best Wishes Phillip Alford ‘Jem'”, “To Bonnie Sincere regards Brock Peters ‘Tom Robinson'”, and “Bonnie, Thank you so much for all your help this week. Please stay in touch. You are now a member of our family. Sincerely Mary Badham ‘Scout.'” With an autograph letter signed and entirely in the hand of Harper Lee which reads in full, “3 September ’97 NYC but on the way South! Dear Ms. Lafave: I am sorry to be so long in writing you, but Claudia Johnson sent your letter to my NY address where I signed for it on my way out of town. I’m back here now, but only until Saturday, when I return to Monroeville for the winter. I must say no to your kind request. I simply do not grant interviews, & loathe talking about myself, and the prospect of participating in a documentary film fills me with dread. You may not realize it, but in the five years since you visited there, Monroeville has developed a new industry – tourism, with Harper Lee the main attraction. They’ve even produced a map, showing where the houses of my neighborhood used to be! I cannot tell you of the cynicism of the whole operation and the embarrassment it causes me. Monroeville is now a perfect example of Faulknerian prophecy: in the South, the Snopeses shall prevail, Faulkner was breathtaking in the accuracy of his observations. (That might be worth looking into for a film, although it requires a re-reading of the Snopes trilogy!) Why even return, you may well ask. Because of family, that is the one and only reason. I did so love the Eudora Welty film. She, of course, is my favorite American writer and the film itself seemed perfect of its kind. Thank you for it, and for thinking of me in similar terms! Sincerely, Harper Lee.” With the original transmittal envelope addressed in Harper Lee’s hand and postmarked September 4, 1997. The recipient, Bonnie Lafave is an American documentary filmmaker and producer. In the early 1990s Lefave reached out to Alice Lee to see if she could assist her in arranging a meeting with Harper Lee to discuss the production of a documentary film about the place of To Kill a Mockingbird in American culture. She met with Alice at her law office in Monroeville and was told that Nelle “preferred a quiet life” and would not want to participate, however, she was welcome to send her a letter. Some time later, Lefave began to correspond with writer and scholar, Claudia Durst Johnson, who had a warm relationship with Ms. Lee. In 1997, Claudia was attending a conference about To Kill a Mockingbird in Virginia and suggested that Lefave attend also. She brought with her her advance reading copy of To Kill a Mockingbird to share with Claudia which she impulsively asked three members of the cast of the 1962 film adaptation who were also in attendance, including Mary Badham who played Scout. After the conference, Lefave wrote a careful letter to Ms. Lee which Claudia forwarded to her for her consideration. Lee kindly responded with her own letter, and not surprisingly, declined to participate in the documentary. In near fine condition. An exceptional example of this rarity, printed before the first trade edition appeared and was swiftly acknowledged as one of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century, with fine provenance, and offering remarkable insight into Lee’s deep personal thoughts regarding the reception of her great work.

    Price: $32,500.00     Item Number: 133817

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  • "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view": Rare To Kill A Mockingbird; Signed by Harper Lee

    LEE, HARPER.

    To Kill a Mockingbird.

    Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company 1960.

    Early printing (twelfth printing) of Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Harper Lee in a contemporary hand on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a later dust jacket. Jacket design by Shirley Smith. Housed in a custom clamshell box. Uncommon signed.

    Price: $5,000.00     Item Number: 136209

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  • "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird"; First edition of To Kill A Mockingbird; Signed by Harper Lee and Truman Capote

    LEE, HARPER (TRUMAN CAPOTE).

    To Kill a Mockingbird.

    London: Heinemann 1960.

    First British edition of Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by both Harper Lee and Truman Capote on the front free endpaper. Truman Capote’s friendship with Harper Lee began in the summer of 1929 when the two became next door neighbors in Monroeville, Alabama; both were the age of five. They shared a love of reading and began collaborating when Lee was gifted a typewriter by her father as a child. Lee drew on their friendship as inspiration for the characters Lee and Scout in her masterpiece To Kill A Mockingbird; Capote based his tomboy character Idabel Thompkins in his first novel Other Voices, Other Rooms on Lee. They worked together on Capote’s true crime novel, In Cold Blood; Lee acted as his ‘assistant researchist’ and edited the final draft of the book. Upon its publication in 1965, Capote failed to acknowledge Lee’s contributions to the book, after which their relationship was never the same. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing and wear to the extremities. Jacket design by Fratini. Exceptionally rare and desirable signed by both Lee and Capote.

    Price: $55,000.00     Item Number: 138302

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  • First edition of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird; with an autograph note signed by her

    LEE, HARPER.

    To Kill A Mockingbird.

    Philadelphia & New York: J. B. Lippincott Company 1960.

    First edition of one of the most important American novels of the 20th century which had an initial first printing of 5,000 copies and went on to earn Harper Lee the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Octavo, original half cloth. With an autograph postcard signed by and entirely in the hand of Harper Lee laid in. Addressed to Stewart Richardson, Executive Editor of Doubleday & Company, the postcard reads in full, “Monroeville, Ala. September 5, 1970 Dear Sandy: No, I didn’t receive galleys on James Purdy’s – but I’d like to. They’re probably sitting in New York somewhere. I’ll be back by the first of October, but if you need a quote before then, please send galleys to Monroeville, zip 36460. Best, Nelle.” Following the publication of To Kill a Mockingbird in 1960, Lee became increasingly reclusive, granting almost no requests for interviews or public appearances and, with the exception of a few short essays, publishing nothing further until 2015. 40 years, she lived part-time at 433 East 82nd Street in Manhattan, near her childhood friend Truman Capote, but tensions grew between them with the publication of Capote’s In Cold Blood and his growing penchant for a decadent lifestyle, which contrasted with Lee’s preference for a quiet, more anonymous existence. At the time of this correspondence with Doubleday, Lee had begun to spend more time in Monroeville, where she had assumed significant care responsibilities for her aging father. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Shirley Smith. Author photograph by Truman Capote. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box made by the Harcourt Bindery.

    Price: $27,500.00     Item Number: 139543

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  • "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view": Rare First Bookclub edition of To Kill A Mockingbird; Signed by Him

    LEE, HARPER.

    To Kill a Mockingbird.

    Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company 1960.

    First book club edition (published the same year as the first edition) of Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Octavo, original half cloth. Boldly signed by Harper Lee on the front free endpaper. Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket with a touch of shelf wear. Jacket design by Shirley Smith. Photograph of Lee on the back panel by Truman Capote.

    Price: $7,800.00     Item Number: 140603

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  • "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird"; First edition of To Kill A Mockingbird

    LEE, HARPER .

    To Kill a Mockingbird.

    London: Heinemann 1960.

    First British edition of Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing and wear to the extremities. Jacket design by Fratini.

    Price: $1,250.00     Item Number: 144085

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  • 35th Anniversary Edition of To Kill A Mockingbird; Inscribed by Harper Lee

    LEE, HARPER.

    To Kill A Mockingbird.

    New York: HarperCollins 1995.

    First edition, early printing of the 35th Anniversary edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Justina -best wishes, Harper Lee.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Suzanne Noli.

    Price: $1,750.00     Item Number: 144061

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  • 35th Anniversary Edition of To Kill A Mockingbird; Inscribed by Harper Lee

    LEE, HARPER.

    To Kill A Mockingbird.

    New York: HarperCollins 1995.

    First edition, early printing of the 35th Anniversary edition of the author’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Best wishes to Gilda Conner -Harper Lee.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Suzanne Noli.

    Price: $1,750.00     Item Number: 144177

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