Description:

Leslie Stephen, Virginia Woolf's Father, Archive of Handwritten Letters

Leslie Stephen (1832-1904). A collection of four pieces of correspondence dated 1877-1888, written from Kensington in London to various recipients. The lot includes, in chronological order:

1.) Autograph Letter Signed, "L. Stephen", 2pp, on bifold stationery with embossed "The Cornhill Magazine / Smith Elder & Co." letterhead, 4.5" x 7", Kensington, October 18, 1877. To Mr Sully, thanking him for the paper and inviting him for lunch and a walk afterwards. Expected mailing fold. Cellophane adhered vertically along left edge. Foxing, toning and soiling. A few light ink smudges. Ghosting of ink to signature page, not affecting legibility of letter. In very good condition. 

2.) Autograph Letter Signed, "Leslie Stephen", 1p, on "Hyde Park Gate South SW" letterhead, 4.5" x 7", Kensington, June 9, 1878. Expected mailing fold. Mounting residue at verso. Toning and soiling. In very good condition.

To an unknown recipient, in full: "My dear sir: / I hope to be at the dinner of the Metaphysical Society on Monday." 

3.) Autograph Letter Signed, "L. Stephen", 1p, on stationery with embossed "The Cornhill Magazine / Smith Elder & Co." letterhead, 4.5" x 7", Kensington, March 1, 1880. Expected mailing folds. Pencil notation at bottom. Minor toning. In fine condition.

To an unknown recipient, in part: "I fear that I may have to keep you working a little & I fear also that the while will be a little long."

4.) Autograph Letter Signed, "L. Stephen", 1p, on embossed black-bordered stationery, 4.5" x 7", Kensington, April 26, 1888. Expected mailing fold. Small slit at top left. Scattered foxing and minor toning. Light creasing and corner wear. In near fine condition.

To an unknown recipient, in full: "Dear Sir: / I am obliged by your cards for the Annual Meeting of the Library Society; although it is, I fear, improbable that I shall be able to make use of them."

Sir Leslie Stephen was an English author, critic, historian, biographer, mountaineer, and an early humanist activist. He was also the father of Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell. He was an honorary fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and received the honorary degree Doctor of Letters from the University of Cambridge and from the University of Oxford. While at Cambridge, he became an Anglican clergyman. In 1865, having renounced his religious beliefs, and after a visit to the United States two years earlier, he settled in London and became a journalist, eventually editing The Cornhill Magazine in 1871 where R. L. Stevenson, Thomas Hardy, W. E. Norris, Henry James, and James Payn figured among his contributors. Stephen also served as the first editor of the Dictionary of National Biography (1885-91). He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1902.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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