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![STEINBECK AND THE ACTS OF KING ARTHUR DEDICATION. Autograph Letter Signed ("John") to his sister Mary sending her a copy of the dedication page to his Acts of King Arthur, 2 pp recto and verso, legal folio, on yellow foolscap, [New York, March 1, 1958], with additional typed carbon of the dedication in middle English image 1](/_next/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg2.bonhams.com%2Fimage%3Fsrc%3DImages%2Flive%2F2023-09%2F13%2F25339857-110-2.jpg&w=2400&q=75)
![STEINBECK AND THE ACTS OF KING ARTHUR DEDICATION. Autograph Letter Signed ("John") to his sister Mary sending her a copy of the dedication page to his Acts of King Arthur, 2 pp recto and verso, legal folio, on yellow foolscap, [New York, March 1, 1958], with additional typed carbon of the dedication in middle English image 2](/_next/image.jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg2.bonhams.com%2Fimage%3Fsrc%3DImages%2Flive%2F2023-09%2F13%2F25339857-110-1.jpg&w=2400&q=75)
Lot 83
STEINBECK AND THE ACTS OF KING ARTHUR DEDICATION. Autograph Letter Signed ("John") to his sister Mary sending her a copy of the dedication page to his Acts of King Arthur, 2 pp recto and verso, legal folio, on yellow foolscap, [New York, March 1, 1958], with additional typed carbon of the dedication in middle English
25 October 2023, 14:00 EDT
New YorkSold for US$2,048 inc. premium
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STEINBECK AND THE ACTS OF KING ARTHUR DEDICATION.
Autograph Letter Signed ("John") to his sister Mary sending her a copy of the dedication page to his Acts of King Arthur, 2 pp recto and verso, legal folio, on yellow foolscap, [New York, March 1, 1958], with additional typed carbon of the dedication in middle English and original transmittal envelope, leaves lightly creased and toned, envelope creased and soiled with rough edges.
"I WROTE THE OPENING PARAGRAPH OF THE MALORY BOOK—CALL IT A DEDICATION IF YOU LIKE."
Steinbeck writes Mary after Elaine has come home from a fairly serious operation (a hysterectomy, according to lot XXX) that will require weeks of recovery. He sends news of the boys: "The boys are still gold bricking—not Tom so much as Catbird. He is really willy-nilly. Gwyn has completely lost control and apparently is drunk a good part of the time. This report comes from the school. Seems she telephones in a condition which can only be called stinking. It's kind of a rough time for this. But I'll handle it as things come up."
Steinbeck continues by describing the dedication he's written to Mary: "I wrote the opening paragraph of the Malory book—call it a dedication if you like. There may be some tiny word changes but this is essentially how it will appear—and incidentally it will be the only part of the book—barring possibly footnotes—written in middle English. I hope you approve. Heaven knows it is long overdue. You can buckle on your spurs now. / This work is so absorbing that I resent anything that takes me from it."
The typescript reads:
"WHEN AS CHYLDE NINE WYNTRE OF AGE I TOKE SIEGE AT ROUNDE TABLE MONGST ORGULUS AND WORSHYPPFUL AND DOUGHTIEST KNYGHTS OF KING ARTHUR'S COMPANY—GRATE LACKE WAS OF SQUYERS OR NOBLE BIRTH AND HARDYNESS TO BEAR SCHYLDE AND LAUNCE, TO BOCKLE HARNYSS, TO SALUE PROWYSS AND SUCCOURE FALLEN.
THAN YT CHAUNCED THAT SQYRE-LYKE DUTIS FELL ON MY SYSTIR SIX WYNTRE OF AGE THAT FOR JANTYL HARDYNES HAD NO FELLAWE LYVYNG. / SOMTYMES IT HAPS IN SADDNESSE AND PYTIE THAT WHO FAYTHFULL SERVYS YS NOT FAITHFUL SEEN—MY FAYRE AND SYKER SYSTER-SQUYRE DURES STYLE UNDUBBED.
WHEREFORE THYS DAYE I MAK AMENDYS TO MY POWER. I MAYKE HIR KNIGHT AND GIFF HER LONDIS.
AND FRO THY SHOWER SHE SHAL BE HIGHT—SIR MARY STEINBECK OF THE VALE SALYNIS.
GOD GYVE HIR WORSHYPP SAUNZ JAUPARDYE."
"I WROTE THE OPENING PARAGRAPH OF THE MALORY BOOK—CALL IT A DEDICATION IF YOU LIKE."
Steinbeck writes Mary after Elaine has come home from a fairly serious operation (a hysterectomy, according to lot XXX) that will require weeks of recovery. He sends news of the boys: "The boys are still gold bricking—not Tom so much as Catbird. He is really willy-nilly. Gwyn has completely lost control and apparently is drunk a good part of the time. This report comes from the school. Seems she telephones in a condition which can only be called stinking. It's kind of a rough time for this. But I'll handle it as things come up."
Steinbeck continues by describing the dedication he's written to Mary: "I wrote the opening paragraph of the Malory book—call it a dedication if you like. There may be some tiny word changes but this is essentially how it will appear—and incidentally it will be the only part of the book—barring possibly footnotes—written in middle English. I hope you approve. Heaven knows it is long overdue. You can buckle on your spurs now. / This work is so absorbing that I resent anything that takes me from it."
The typescript reads:
"WHEN AS CHYLDE NINE WYNTRE OF AGE I TOKE SIEGE AT ROUNDE TABLE MONGST ORGULUS AND WORSHYPPFUL AND DOUGHTIEST KNYGHTS OF KING ARTHUR'S COMPANY—GRATE LACKE WAS OF SQUYERS OR NOBLE BIRTH AND HARDYNESS TO BEAR SCHYLDE AND LAUNCE, TO BOCKLE HARNYSS, TO SALUE PROWYSS AND SUCCOURE FALLEN.
THAN YT CHAUNCED THAT SQYRE-LYKE DUTIS FELL ON MY SYSTIR SIX WYNTRE OF AGE THAT FOR JANTYL HARDYNES HAD NO FELLAWE LYVYNG. / SOMTYMES IT HAPS IN SADDNESSE AND PYTIE THAT WHO FAYTHFULL SERVYS YS NOT FAITHFUL SEEN—MY FAYRE AND SYKER SYSTER-SQUYRE DURES STYLE UNDUBBED.
WHEREFORE THYS DAYE I MAK AMENDYS TO MY POWER. I MAYKE HIR KNIGHT AND GIFF HER LONDIS.
AND FRO THY SHOWER SHE SHAL BE HIGHT—SIR MARY STEINBECK OF THE VALE SALYNIS.
GOD GYVE HIR WORSHYPP SAUNZ JAUPARDYE."