A Humorous Bret Harte Letter, Mocking His Wifes Obsessive Behavior: Mrs. Harte, Who Has An Unpleasant Way Of Going Through My Luggage Like A Customs House Officer, Turned To Me With Chilling Deliberation And Said Frank, What Have You Done With The Brush And Comb You Took With You? I Pointed Triumphantly To The Bureau Where They Lay

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Seller: Stuart Lutz Historic Documents, Inc., South Orange, NJ, U.S.A.Stuart Lutz Historic Documents, Inc.

2-star seller

AbeBooks seller since January 25, 2018

Association member: ABAAESAPADAILAB

Condition: Used

£ 468.27

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Item description from seller

BRET HARTE (1836-1902). An American author and Western short story writer, he is best remembered for The Luck Of Roaring Camp and The Outcasts Of Poker Flat.ALS. 4pg. 5 x 8. No date. No place. An autograph letter signed Bret Harte to Mr. Bowles concerning Mrs. Harte: My dear Bowles, We are ruined in the estimation of at least two women, and I fear the damning evidence of our guilt, remains in Springfield. You are probably more hardened than I, being older, but I am entirely crushed. Do you remember that fatal morning when Miss Sallie left me in your charge, and directed you explicitly to look after my things, and supervise generally the transfer of my effects from my room to your carriage? I now that I so understood it, and discharged myself of all responsibility, and thereafter devoted myself to aesthetics and the picturesque Miss Sedgewick, with all the abandonment of a poetic nature unfettered by luggage and untrammeled by forms. But when I got home last night, Mrs. Harte, who has an unpleasant way of going through my luggage like a customs house officer, turned to me with chilling deliberation and said Frank, what have you done with the brush and comb you took with you? I pointed triumphantly to the bureau where they lay. Mrs. Harte looked at me a moment, and then said with great naivete you insensate idiot I mean the nursery brush and comb, which with your usual stupidity you put away as your own. Never mind, its the last time you shall every pack your valise alone. Now, Bowles, what have you done with Mrs. Hartes childrens brush and comb? Dont equivocate Bowles! Out with it! How have you fulfilled your trust to your daughter? Why do you still withhold from these innocent children those valueless but necessary articles? Is it right, Bowles? Is this conduct worthy of the first journalist in New England? On second thought, dont return them. Dont above all let Miss Sallie know I left them. Find them and drop them carefully into the Connecticut River where after many days they may return to e. There is a duster missing, also a copy of Henri Murgers Vie De Boheme a thick squat novel. Please dont return them. But bury them where you find them. Mrs. H. wont know Ive lost the, cause Ms. Sallie mustnt. Be gentle and considerate, Bowles. Your careless friend Bret Harte PS Mrs. H says I had an overcoat with me. Did I? Samuel Bowles was an American journalist, and he was the editor of Massachusettss Springfield Republican. The letter is written on two separate sheets of paper; there are professional tape restorations to strengthen the folds. The ink is dark. A fine and humorous Harte letter.…

Seller Inventory # 4487

Bibliographic details

Title
A Humorous Bret Harte Letter, Mocking His Wifes Obsessive Behavior: Mrs. Harte, Who Has An Unpleasant Way Of Going Through My Luggage Like A Customs House Officer, Turned To Me With Chilling Deliberation And Said Frank, What Have You Done With The Brush And Comb You Took With You? I Pointed Triumphantly To The Bureau Where They Lay
Author
BRET HARTE
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Stuart Lutz Historic Documents, Inc.

South Orange, NJ, U.S.A.

2-star seller

AbeBooks seller since January 25, 2018

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Store description

Stuart Lutz Historic Documents, Inc. buys and sells historic letters, documents, manuscripts and archives. My specialties include Presidents, Revolutionary War and Civil War figures, Declaration of Independence Signers, famous authors, important business leaders, notable scientists, aviators, notable women and African-Americans, and other "household famous names." I also enjoy handling the letters and archives of ordinary people whose writings have extraordinary or unusual content, such as an eyewitness description of the Pearl Harbor attack. I am a member of all major trade organizations, including the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA), the Professional Autograph Dealers Association (PADA), the Appraisers Association of America, the Manuscript Society and the Ephemera Society. I am located in South Orange, New Jersey, and I travel to many book and manuscript shows every year. I am one of the very few members of the Appraisers Association of America certified to appraise historic documents, manuscripts and letters. I am USPAP qualified to perform appraisals for estate, donation and insurance purposes; please contact me for a confidential discussion of your appraisal needs. I am an author myself, having published The Last Leaf: Voices of History's Last-Known Survivors (Prometheus Books, 2010) that contains 39 interviews with the last survivor of, or final eyewitness to, important historical events. Chapters include interviews with the last three Civil War widows, the final living pitcher to surrender a home run to Babe Ruth, Houdini's last stagehand, and the final American doughboy. Lastly, I can frequently be seen authenticating and appraising on the History Channel hit show Pawn Stars.…

Specialty

Historic documents, manuscripts and archives, letters

Association member

  • Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America
  • The Ephemera Society of America
  • Professional Autograph Dealers Association
  • International League of Antiquarian Booksellers
Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.

Seller's business information

Stuart Lutz Historic Documents, Inc

784 Morris Turnpike, PMB #161
Short Hills, NJ U.S.A. 07078