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Robert Louis Stevenson. Autograph manuscript of the short story "The Waif Woman: A cue--from a Saga." [Samoa, c. 1892]....
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Description
Extremely rare complete autograph manuscript of a short story of horror and mystery
Robert Louis Stevenson. Autograph manuscript of the short
story "The Waif Woman: A cue--from a Saga." [Samoa, c. 1892].13 1/4 pages, folio, written in ink on rectos of fine quality lined paper, a working draft with numerous holograph corrections and revisions, black morocco, gilt-lettered, by Stikeman & Co., New York; quarter morocco folding case.
A complete short story of horror and mystery, inspired by Stevenson's reading of Icelandic sagas. An old woman arrives in Iceland with two trunks of fine clothes and fabulous jewels. Staying in the house of a younger woman, the old woman dies. The young woman, obsessed by these treasures, ignores the dying request of the old woman, and keeps everything, bringing death and destruction on her family as the old woman returns from the dead seeking justice.
Stevenson had originally intended to publish "The Waif Woman" in Island Nights' Entertainment (1893); but it was not included owing to his wife's objections to it as not in keeping with the remainder of the stories for the book, which were South Sea tales. "The Waif Woman" was first published in the December 1914 number of Scribner's Magazine; it was issued in book form by Chatto & Windus in 1916. Fiction manuscripts by Stevenson are of great rarity, and this is the only one to appear at auction since it was first offered at Christie's in 1994; prior to that the last manuscript story to appear at auction was in 1956.
Condition: Binding with some wear and slight cracks to upper joint. Minor paperclip stain at head of first leaf; occasional minor soiling or pale spotting.
Provenance: Christie's New York, 7 October 1994; purchased from Heritage Book Shop, Inc., Los Angeles. From the William A. Strutz Library.
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Auction Info
2024 June 27 Important English and American Literature: The William A. Strutz Library, Part I, Rare Books Signature® Auction #6295 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2024
27th
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
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