Skip to main content

This auction has ended. View lot details

You may also be interested in

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

Lot 30

FROM THE UGLY DUCKING.
ANDERSEN, HANS CHRISTIAN. 1805-1875.
Autograph Quotation Signed ("Hans Christian Andersen") in Danish, written in roman script, from The Ugly Duckling,

21 – 29 April 2025, 12:00 EDT
Online, New York

Sold for US$5,376 inc. premium

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Books & Manuscripts specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Ask about this lot

FROM THE UGLY DUCKING.

ANDERSEN, HANS CHRISTIAN. 1805-1875. Autograph Quotation Signed ("Hans Christian Andersen") in Danish, written in roman script, from The Ugly Duckling, 162 x 102, ink on a single leaf, Roman script, n.d., likely 1870s, old fold, minor staining to edges; with manuscript English translation, custom red morocco box, gilt.
Provenance: Sold Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen, October 12, 2019, lot 6069.

RARE AUTOGRAPH QUOTATION FROM THE UGLY DUCKLING, "Det gjør ikke noget at være født i Andegaarden, naar man kun har ligget i et Svaneæg. Eventyret den grimme Ælling af Hans Christian Andersen." [In English: "Being born in a duck yard does not matter, if only you are hatched from a swan's egg./ The fairy tale about The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen."]

With the publication of "The Ugly Duckling" in 1843, Andersen finally achieved critical accolades and fame, both in Denmark and in Europe. The obvious parallels to his own life became part of his story, and as his fame grew those parallels were woven into the stories of his life. The motto as expressed above became a motto for Andersen's own life, born into poverty and isolation, he had proved his worth and transformed himself into a beautiful swan. Autograph quotations from his most famous work are very rare.

Additional information

Bid now on these items

ADVERTISING POSTERfor 'The Suffragette' newspaper, [c.1913-1914]

ARCHITECTURE - STUART (JAMES) AND NICHOLAS REVETT The Antiquities of Athens, 4 vol. bound in 2, 1825-1830

ILLUMINATED ADDRESS – CLARA CODD Illuminated printed address signed by Emmeline Pankhurst, [1909]

ARMENIAN - HISTORY, THEOLOGY AND PRINTING. Group of books/a map in Armenian, c.1825-1901 (12)

MUSIC & RECORDINGS – ETHEL SMYTH Collection of printed music, song sheets and records, [c.1911-1912]

BANK NOTES - MANUFACTURING BRADBURY (HENRY) On the Security and Manufacture of Bank Notes, FIRST EDITION, Bradbury and Evans, 1856