Description:

Virginia Woolf 1914 ALS to Brother-In-Law: "It seemed divine country"

ALS, 1p, measuring 6" x 8", dated December 13, [1914], Richmond, England. An autographed letter from Virginia Woolf (1882-1941), signed "V. W.", during her time at 17 The Green in Richmond to her brother-in-law Clive Bell. Within, hoping not to bore him with her demands, Woolf requests that Bell suggest suitable lodgings in Marlborough, where she and her husband desired to spend Christmas. The week prior, between December 5th & 8th, fellow Bloomsbury member Lytton Strachey lent the Woolfs his Marlborough cottage for the weekend, near where they would ultimately spend Christmas that year. Docketing present in pencil at top right and left corners; light toning throughout, with expected letter folds and creases. Fine condition with intriguing personal connections.

In full:

"My Dear Clive,
(You will be bored by these perpetual demands)- We rather think of spending a week at Marlborough at Christmas if possible in lodging- I seem to remember that you once told me of some in the high street, or other pleasant part. If you could put the name on a post card, we shd. be grateful as lodgings are much better than inns. It seemed divine country."

Considered one of the most important modernist writers of the 20th century, Virginia Woolf pioneered the use of "stream of consciousness" writing, namely through such novels as Mrs. Dalloway (1925) and extended essays like A Room of One's Own (1929). The timing of this letter comes at an interesting point in Virginia's life, marking the Woolf's impending move to Hogarth House (for which their publishing company was named) as well as the publication of her first novel, The Voyage Out just three months later in March 1915. While at the same time struggling with bouts of depression followed by several suicide attempts, it comes as little surprise why the writer may have wanted to find solace in the English countryside during the holiday season.

Clive Bell (1881-1964) was an English art critic notably associated with the study of formalism who became an acquaintance of the Bloomsbury Group through his marriage to Virginia's sister, Vanessa Stephen, in 1907.

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.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE! 

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

September 6, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000