Rare books from Schulson Autographs

Lawrence is best known as "Lawrence of Arabia," a leader of the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire (1917-18) which he described in "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1926)." Typed Letter Signed, 4to, on stamped "R.A.F. Mount Batten, Plymouth," stationery, Nov. 7, 1930 and signed as "T. E. Shaw. " He used the last name of Shaw from 1927 in acknowledgment of his friendship with playwright George Bernard Shaw. Lawrence writes to the doctor of George Bernard Shaw's wife, Charlotte. Her doctor, William Cooper, took care of Lawrence's broken wrist. In this upbeat letter with a literary reference to American author Henry James, Lawrence gives an update on Charlotte as well as his own injured wrist. At the end, he asks for the cost of the bill which he supposes Charlotte would have paid had she not become indisposed from an accident. In part, "and then the fun began.... I was going to write just after the occasion; only I was detracted suddenly by the accident to Mrs. Shaw...she is not so long or quite… Read More

WILLIAM FAULKNER, Film Contract Signed for his first story-to-screen adaptation, "Turnabout," two 4to pp, New York, March 23, 1959. Faulkner's signed contract transferred distribution rights for the film based on Faulkner's story, "Turnabout" to the Loew's Corporation. "By an assignment dated September 26, 1932, I conveyed to William B. Hawks all rights of every kind... in my story... TURNABOUT, published in the March 5, 1932 issue of the Saturday Evening Post and registered for copyright... On November 4, 1932, William B. Hawks conveyed all... rights... to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer... your predecessor.... In my assignment... it was provided [that I]... secure... renewals of all copyrights...The copyright of March 1, 1932... was renewed in my name on March 4, 1959....Accordingly, I now assign and confirm to you... the same rights in the work entitled TURNABOUT...." Signed in full on the signature line, "William Faulkner.". The film referenced in our document is titled, "Today We Live," released in 1933 by… Read More

Edison has fully signed this early photograph by Falk ( New York City), "Thomas A. Edison." The dimensions are 4.5 x 6.5 inches. Along the card's right edge and on verso, at top margin minor remains of former mounting show, very slight soiling on upper background and slight bowing to mount. Framed with museum quality glass and mat for an elegant presentation measuring 10x13 inches. Beautifully signed. Autograph

Faulkner 's long and detailed interest in sailing is reflected in this unusual and rare letter written about 1948, shortly before he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. He likely wrote from Oxford, Mississippi. Faulkner discusses the changes he wants for his small sloop and illustrates how he wanted to refit the sails. After offering his own ideas, he asks for advice from his corespondent, Eric James Devine. Faulkner sketches the "New Sail" he wants for his boat and explains that, "a Navy bloke" his Marine fighter pilot nephew knows will, "make me a suit of sails out of airplane linen, a little lighter than the present canvas. They wont [sic] cost me anything...then I shall take the old jib and try to rig some kind of skysail, maybe turn it upside down, a balloon spkr, something like that. What do you think will happen...Sketch me a rig on paper, will you? My own idea herewith...." He labels two parts of his drawing in pencil. Faulkner suggests a gift of a pipe to Devine in the last paragraph… Read More

In a remarkable letter painter and teacher Jean Ingres illustrates how window light shines on the human figure. "...although the daylight comes from the right side of the painting, the daylight coming from the left side should not be dismissed. If this is the case, all the charm of the brush work will be lost...." To clarify, the artist sketches a figure as seen from the back with one foot resting on a step. Signed, "Ingres. Written in French, on one 8vo sheet, undated. The letter is significant because it reveals the working artist considering the affect of light on a human subject. He draws two lines of light as they might contact the figure. Ingres would occasionally use pen and ink to sketch first ideas, but in this instance, it would seem that he used the pen to write the letter and illustrated his meaning with the drawing. The text suggests he may have been giving advice to another artist or student rather than sketching a preliminary drawing for his own work. Condition: Docketing in upper… Read More

Chagall Original Pen and Ink Drawing SIGNED and Inscribed in French to Horace Richter, art gallery owner, Tel Aviv, 1951. Chagall has drawn a fanciful artist's palette, 7 x 9 inches. On the palette with lines suggesting brushes he writes, "Vence 1951." Chagall SIGNED in full to the left of the palette, "Marc Chagall" and inscribed above to his friend Horace Richter. Horace Richter (1918-2006) was an art gallery owner in Tel Aviv as well as an art collector. 1951, the date of Chagall's dedication to Richter, suggests both attended the Venice Biennial because of past participation in the art event. Chagall was at the Venice Biennial of 1948. He exhibited there and won the graphics prize for his color lithographs. Chagall was in Israel in 1951, his second visit, a long time after his first visit in 1931. In the Spring of 1951 he visited, at the invitation of President Salman Shazar, and attended openings of his solo exhibitions in Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv. In June of 1951 Chagall went to Tel Aviv… Read More

A pair of stylized and detailed ensembles: an 18th century fantasy gown and hair style, signed in full, ca 1915; a winter outfit with fur trimmed jacket and long decorative skirt, ca 1911. The fantasy costume drawing measures 10 3/8 x 8 7/8 inches. Condition: two marginal tears not affecting drawing and light foxing near the breaks. Tipped onto a mat and framed. Frame measures 15 x 17 inches. The winter outfit is drawn on cream toned art paper and is lighter than shown in the accompanying image. The drawing measures 11 x 8.5, and the frame measures 12 x 16 inches. Barbier, considered one of the great illustrators of the early 20th century, led a group of artists from the Beaux Arts School known for their flamboyance as much as their art. Barbier designed jewelry, glass and wallpapers in addition to his costume and set designed for theater, ballet and the Follies Bergére. His stylized design has become iconic. Autograph

James Whale, sketched and signed two costume drawings for actors playing Frederick Douglass and Susan, 4to, 1920. He wrote notes on the Frederick Douglas character sketch: "'Wallace Evennett as 'Frederic[sic] Douglass" and below, "It is all right." Between the notes, Whale signed and dated, "J. Whale 1920." The second sketch from the same production identifies the character as "Susan" with dialogue below. "Now look 'ere you Mr. Douglass!!!" And again between the notes he has signed and dated, "J. Whale 1920." The sketches are rendered in artists pencil and water color and measure 8 x 10 inches. Wallace Evennett (1887-1973) was a British actor. Before Whale directed horror films, notably "Frankenstein," the "Invisible Man," and "Bride of Frankenstein," he designed sets and costumes for the theater. He is particularly recognized for the theatrical elements in his horror classics. Material signed by Whale is rare in any form. Condition: each page is sunned but otherwise in fine condition. Autograph

George Grosz Autograph Letter Signed with original art. The artist turns a friendly letter into a colorful sketch of a watercolor pencil crossed with a paintbrush. Mixing German and English and red, blue, green, and purple, he tells his friend, "you are one of the few people who do not bore me. Everybody just talks stupidly 'intellectual' picked up from their TV commentations...you in any case old boy (hands on the trouser seam) [standing at attention] you old boy, THANKS, also in Eva's name for the lovely (sadly ever scarcer) evening. War OKAY...Not too long. Time is running out...." He signs, "George." Eva refers to Grosz's wife. Below his signature, Grosz draws the brush with purple bristles crossing the watercolor pencil facing the opposite direction. The crossed brush and pencil may be a reference to crossed swords suggesting that the pen and brush are also deadly weapons. Near his signature, Grosz added a small collage element, initialed in purple with an arrow following "G.G." The initialed… Read More

CLAUDE MONET AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED on painting outdoors in the Creuse Valley, in French, 4 pages on one folded 8vo sheet, Fresselines, April 24, 1889. Monet writes to Gustave Geffroy, his friend and art dealer. Monet expresses disappointment in himself despite Geffroy's trust. In French, 4 pages on one folded 8vo sheet, Fresselines, April 24, 1889. Monet writes about changeable weather, light and plants in our exceptional SIGNED letter about painting outside, or "en plein air." To his friend and art dealer Gustave Geffroy, Monet expresses disappointment in himself despite Geffroy's trust. Monet writes that he fears, "all my efforts will come to nothing...." He complains of bad luck with weather, "never three days of good weather in a row, so that I am forced to make changes continually because everything grows and turns green. I wanted so much to paint the Creuse as we had seen it...I have become a part of nature and yet I cannot capture it...I want to do things right and that it's getting to be… Read More

Kent rendered this double sketch of Sisimiut Greenland, known by its Danish colonial name of Holsteinsborg when Kent created his drawings . Each sketch bears Kent's circular estate stamp in the lower right. The drawings are included in "Greenland Journal," his 1962 book chronicling his year long stay in Greenland. Autograph

Ansel Adams Archive. Three Typed Letters Signed, 1957 and 1968. Adams refers to photographers Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Stiechen and his Family of Man exhibit at MOMA in the second letter and Stieglitz. Edward Weston, Minor White and himself in the third letter. He gives advice on a film developing process in the first and second letters. Each letter is on different personalized printed address stationery and all are addressed to Steurat Oring who was photography student at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) at the time. April 11, 1957, San Francisco, 1 page, 4to. "Now, about your Pyrocatechin Project...I do not have any Zone-system data on this developer which could be of use... especially with the modern films. It is a 'tanning' developer and you might have serious trouble with it used on the new thin-emulsion films...." He offers five suggestions, asks to know how his suggestions turn out and signs in full with black crayon, "Ansel Adams." In is own hand he adds,"and 'normal' developing… Read More

To the head of the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art, Leslie William Miller (1848-1031), Eakins proposes an exhibit. "Thinking it might be of interest to young composers to see all the working drawings for a composite picture, I send you those of my my compositions now on exhibition at the Philadelphia Academy of the Fine Arts, a portrait of Mrs. Frishmuth ['Antiquated Music' Portrait of Sarah Sagehorn Frishmuth shown seated with her collection of musical instruments 1900], who gave the University of Pennsylvania (Archeological Dep't) its superb collection of musical instruments. The first sketch and general perspective are for convenience made one sixth the size of the picture that is they are to be viewed at one sixth from the eye of the finished picture. To save time in calculating proportions, I have as some cases used a table of logarithms...." He signs, "Thomas Eakins." The letter presents Eakins as both a portrait painter and an art educator. Condition: Creasing along mail… Read More

 Homer drew this  sketch of a Confederate officer in pen and ink on lined paper, The officer is presented in full uniform, pistol attached to his belt with a belt buckle initialed, "CSA.. He appears to be set against a background of smoke from which emerge bayonets. Homer signed in full with place and date, "WInslow Homer, New York, March 4, 1869." Ironically, or perhaps intentionally, Homer drew his sketch on the day of General Ulysses S. Grant's inauguration as U. S. President. The page measures 4 x 7 inches with the drawing including signature measuring about 5 inches.  During the American Civil War, Homer painted scenes depicting battles and camp life. After the war, he turned to the realistic paintings he is most associated with.  Homer has been regarded as the greatest of the American water colorists, especially of seascapes and landscapes. Autograph

The Birth Control News was a monthly newsletter produced by Marie Stopes advocating for safe contraception for married women. Stopes was formally trained in the sciences earning a doctorate in paleobotany in 1904. In 1918, she founded the Society for Constructive Birth Control, and 1921, she opened the first clinic for birth control in Britain known as , "the Mothers' Clinic for Constructive Birth Control." Contraception became acceptable to the Church of England in 1930, for married couples only. Stopes supported eugenics, and like her American counterpart, Margaret Sanger, has been criticized for her perspective. The first issue of the Birth Control News came out in 1922. The nine issues offered here are: March- September, 1932; November, December 1932; January and March 1933. The publisher was John Bale, Sons & Danielsson, Ltd. In a publication Bale wrote and published about the birth control movement in England, he noted that in 1930, Stopes edited and published, "The Birth Control News." on… Read More