Sales catalogue: Sotheby's

Date:
March 1930
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/20/839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue: Sotheby's. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    133/144 page 119
    Che Property of G. Menuberg Frankau, Esq. (GREAT NEPHEW OF JOSEPH NEUBERG). 854 CARLYLE (THOMAS) A MAGNIFICENT SERIES OF 246 SIGNED AUTOGRAPH LETTERS and Notes to his friend and helper Joseph Neuberg, covering the whole period of the composition of “ Frederick the Great” (1839 to 1867). and illustrating in detail Carlyle’s method of work and reflections on the undertaking, on his contemporaries and their work and on current politics, giving as well an intimate picture of his daily life. The letters have been made use of by Mr. D. A. Wilson in his elaborate study of Carlyle now in course of publica- tion, and many important passages from them will be found in that work, but it is safe to say that at least five-sixths of this material has never been printed. A series of letters so completely illustrating the composition of a major literary work can hardly ever have been offered for sale. The majority of the letters are accompanied by their _ original stamped envelopes, and are on 8vo or smaller paper unless otherwise described. The “notes” here catalogued differ only in length from the letters and are all written and signed by Carlyle. ‘lhe whole collection is in excellent condition. (1) A.L.s. 3 pp. 8vo, Chelsea, 21 Dec., 1839, written soon after his first introduction by R. W. Emerson to Neuberg ; (quoted in D. A. Wilson, Carlyle, ITI, 76) (2) A. L.s. 4 pp. 8vo, Chelsea, 23 Nov., 1848; references to Sartor Resartus and to contemporary politics, with two signed Notes, dated Chelsea, 13 May, 1849, and Wed. Night (June, 1849) : (3) (3) Three A. L. s., London, 28 June, 2 pp.; Chelsea, 29 June, and Keclefechan, 17 Sept., 1849, 4 pp. 8vo, referring to his tour in Ireland and Scotland (3) (4) Two A. L.s. and Note, Chelsea, 10 Nov. and 24 Dec., 1850 the letters 4 pp. each Describing what would be required of such a volunteer secretary as Neuberg had offered to become, with comments on the latter’s visit to Bonn. ‘A man in all countries has to wait at the pool; to look out assiduously for opportunities and capabilities; snatching them up as they arise and diligently paving for himself a way thro’ the abyss by them. For it is an ever fluctuating madly boiling abyss, except so far as we can control and subdue it, to one and all of us.” (3)
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