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Lot 381
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Washington Irving Archive of Manuscript Fragments from "Christopher Columbus" Ex-Forbes
Washington Irving Archive of Manuscript Fragments from "Christopher Columbus" Ex-Forbes
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Description:

Washington Irving
n.p., ca. 1829
Washington Irving Archive of Manuscript Fragments from "Christopher Columbus" Ex-Forbes
Archive
Washington Irving (1783-1859) was an American writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. One of his most well-known works is his history of Italian explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus (1451-1506). The here offered collection features three pages of autograph manuscript fragments from Irving's draft of "The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus", with the limitation page for "The Author's Autograph Edition of Irving's Works", numbered in red ink "359" of 500 sets. Ex-Collection of Steve Forbes.

Comprising:

1.) Autograph Manuscript, 1p, 6.5" x 8.5", no place, circa 1829, unsigned, with several holograph corrections, a fragment in 27 lines from the draft of Book V, Chapter VIII of his "The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus", paginated "6" at top right, possibly removed from the 1895 manuscript edition of his collected works. Nine crossed-through words at verso. Flattened folds with minor separation at right edge. Uneven top edge. Toning and discoloration. Stain at center left with a few scattered ink smudges. Evidence of previous mounting at verso. In very good condition. Accompanied by an attractive 7.25" x 9.75" engraving of Washington Irving after a painting by Alonzo Chappel, published by Johnson, Wilson & Co., New York, 1873, bearing Irving's facsimile signature.

In part: "In the mean time, without waiting for the sanction of the court of Rome, the utmost exertions were made by the Sovereigns to fit out a second expedition. To endure regularity and dispatch the affairs relation to the new world, they were placed under the superintendence of Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, Archdeacon of Saville, who afterwards rose to be successively Bishop of Badajoz, Palencia and Burgos...He was a man of family and influence..."

Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca (1451-1524) was a Spanish archbishop, a courtier and bureaucrat, whose position as royal chaplain to Queen Isabella enabled him to become a powerful counsellor to Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic Monarchs. He later served as the president of the Council of the Indies, when it was founded in 1521. He managed the administration of a number of significant Spanish expeditions including voyages by Christopher Columbus and Magellan's circumnavigation of the earth.

2.) Autograph Manuscript, 1p, 4.5" x 7.25", no place, circa 1895, unsigned, with several holograph corrections, a fragment in 23 lines from the draft of Book XVI, Chapter III of his "The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus", paginated "465" at top right, likely removed from the 1895 manuscript edition of his collected works. Mounted at corners to a slightly larger sheet. Small tear at top right. Minor soiling. In near fine condition. Includes preceding page with printed text which reads: "The following sheet contains a page of the Original Manuscript of Washington Irving. / G.P. Putnam's Sons / January, 1895."

In full: "Many of the Indians were alarmed at the solemnity of this prediction, others treated it with derision; all, however awaited with solicitude the coming of the night. When they beheld a black shadow stealing over the moon and a mysterious gloom gradually covering the whole face of nature, they were seized with the utmost consternation. Hurrying with provisions to the ships, and throwing themselves at the feet of Columbus, the implored him to intercede with his god to withhold the threatened calamities, assuring him that thenceforth they would bring him whatever he required. Columbus retired to his cabin under pretense of communing with the Deity, the forests and shores all the while resounding with the howlings of the savages. He returned shortly and informed the natives that the Deity had deigned to pardon them on condition of their fulfilling their promises, in sign of which he would withdraw the darkness from the moon."

3.) Autograph Manuscript, 1p, 4.5" x 7.25", no place, circa 1895, unsigned, with several holograph corrections, a fragment in 23 lines from the draft of Chapter VII of his abridged edition of "The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus", paginated "69" at top right, likely removed from the 1895 manuscript edition of his collected works. Mounted at corners to a slightly larger sheet. Pencil notations from previous collector at verso. Small tear at top and bottom left corners. Stain at top right. In near fine condition. Includes preceding page with printed text which reads: "The following sheet contains a page of the Original Manuscript of Washington Irving. / G.P. Putnam's Sons / January, 1895."

In full: "...an able and erudite man, above the narrow bigotry of bookish lore and could appreciate the value of wisdom, even when uttered by unlearned lips. He seconded Columbus with all his powers and influence, and by their united efforts they brought over several of the most intelligent men of the assembly. Still there was a preponderating mass of inert bigotry and learned pride in the erudite body, which refused to yield to the demonstrations of an obscure foreigner with fortune, or connections or any academic honours. After this celebrated examination of Columbus, the board held occasional conferences, but without coming to any decision; Fernando de Talavera, to whom the matter was officially entrusted, had too little esteem for it and was too much occupied by the stir and bustle of public consensus to press it to a conclusion: departure with the court from Cordova early in the..."

Hernando de Talavera (c.1430-1507) was a Spanish clergyman and councilor to Queen Isabel of Castile. He began his career as a monk of the Order of Saint Jerome, was appointed the queen's confessor and with her support and patronage, became the Archbishop of Granada. Talavera also served on the royal council and was relied upon to undertake important assignments for the Crown. In 1486, he facilitated an introduction between Christopher Columbus and Isabel, after which the queen instructed Talavera to establish a commission to consider the feasibility of the Columbus proposal.

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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  • Provenance: From the collection of Steve Forbes.
  • Dimensions: 8" x 10"
  • Medium: Archive

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Bid Increments
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$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