Great Literary Treasures to be Auctioned by Heritage!

Dallas, TX: Rare book and manuscript collectors are in for a treat this Spring, when Heritage opens its upcoming auction of great literary treasures.

"This is a fascinating area of collecting," said Sandra Palomino, Consignment Director for Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries, "especially those pieces that give us an insight into some of history's greatest authors. Particularly important about these pieces is that they are mostly all fresh to the market. The vast majority of these pieces have never been offered publicly prior to this auction, which should make for a very exciting event."

"In our upcoming auction, we're featuring two wonderful pieces by iconic author John Steinbeck. Best known as the author of such classic works of literature as Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck made the nation aware of the plight of those living in the 'Dust Bowl' during the Depression of the 1930s. A socially conscious writer, Steinbeck was often the center of controversy. Nowhere is that more evident than in the two pieces offered here."

"The first," Palomino said, "is a four-page unpublished, and, at the time, unpublishable, short story, signed and inscribed by the author, which he gave to a friend as a gift. In order to preserve the integrity of its unpublished state, we cannot disclose a transcript, but can say that the story tells of a peculiar incident that occurs in an elementary school. What is peculiar is not the incident but that Steinbeck would choose to focus on such a moment. However, it is true to Steinbeck's style of capturing with simplicity and economy of word, the fascination children have with their bodily functions. Although today, the story would not be deemed 'unpublishable,' in the context of the 1950's it is completely understandable why even such a literary giant as Steinbeck could not find a publisher for it."

"Another, even more personal piece, is a rather odd letter written by Steinbeck to his friend, Murray Louis," said Palomino. "Dated December 4, 1957, the letter expresses Steinbeck's frustrations with the many pressures put on him due to his literary status and his desire for a simpler, more care-free existence. Steinbeck pulls no punches in describing his life, his relationships, and his opinions of those around him. It's a rare glimpse inside the mind of a great author."

"Another intriguing artifact is a long letter by Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde," Palomino continued. "This eleven-page missive, dated January 30, 1892 - just two years before Stevenson's death from a cerebral hemorrhage - and illustrated with drawings done by the author, describes his life at his estate at Vailima - which means 'Five Rivers' - in the Samoan Islands. Dictated to his stepdaughter, Isobel Strong, it's a funny and playful account of his daily routine, and a fascinating look at the life of an important author."

"Two more fascinating letters come from the hand of Ernest Hemingway," Palomino said. "The first, the final two pages of a four page handwritten letter signed 'Papa,' contains excellent content regarding hunting and fishing, activities that were important to Hemingway and that he wrote about extensively. The second Hemingway document is a draft contract in which the author approves the dramatization of his novel, A Farewell to Arms. The novel was adapted to the stage by Laurence Stallings in 1930, and became an Academy Award winning film, starring Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes, in 1932. The document is inscribed and signed by Hemingway."

"One of the true highlights of this auction is a wonderful letter from Jack Kerouac, fully describing the effect that alcohol had had on his life and his relationships," Palomino continued. "Kerouac achieved fame as a hard-drinking, hard-writing leader of the Beat Generation, and this letter shows us a little of the price that his fame and his position demanded of him."

"Of course, we're also offering several important signed editions," said Palomino, "including a signed first edition with dust jacket of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, an inscribed first edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald's All the Sad Young Men, as well as an association copy of Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby signed by the author's mother. There's also an inscribed copy of To Kill A Mockingbird, signed by Harper Lee and an advanced reading copy of this great novel, with an autograph note signed by Lee."

"All in all," Palomino said, "this is an outstanding auction that's sure to attract bidding attention from far and wide. I'd encourage anyone interested to visit our website at www.HA.com, where they can see full-color, enlargeable images of each lot, read our complete and thorough catalog descriptions, and even place their bids online from the comfort and convenience of their home or office."

Heritage Auction Galleries will hold their auction of rare books and manuscripts on April 16 & 17, 2007 at their headquarters in Dallas, TX.

Signed and Inscribed John Steinbeck Unpublished (and "Unpublishable") Short Story:
ESTIMATE: $8,000 - $10,000

John Steinbeck Autograph Letter Signed Sending Misanthropic Christmas Greetings:
ESTIMATE: $2,500 - $4,000

Magnificent Robert Louis Stevenson Typed Manuscript Accompanied by Seven Original Drawings by the Author:
ESTIMATE: $7,000 - $9,000

Ernest Hemingway Handwritten Partial Letter about Hunting:
ESTIMATE: $4,000 - $6,000

Ernest Hemingway Approves Dramatization of A Farewell to Arms:
ESTIMATE: $8,000 - $10,000

Arthur Miller Signed: Death of a Salesman:
ESTIMATE: $6,000 - $7,000

Amazing Jack Kerouac Autograph Letter Signed:
ESTIMATE: $5,000 - $10,000

F. Scott Fitzgerald Inscribed: All the Sad Young Men:
ESTIMATE: $15,000 - $30,000

F. Scott Fitzgerald Association Copy: The Great Gatsby:
ESTIMATE: $10,000 - $25,000

Harper Lee: Beautiful Inscribed First Edition of To Kill a Mockingbird:
ESTIMATE: $12,000 - $16,000

Rare To Kill A Mockingbird Advance Reading Copy With Harper Lee Autograph Note Signed:
ESTIMATE: $15,000 - $30,000

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of political memorabilia, Americana, and related collectibles are invited to visit www.HA.com/Sell. Or simply email Sandra Palomino at SandraP@HA.com.

To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Customer Service at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 150, or visit www.HA.com/Catalog to order by email.