John Lennon Typescript, Greek Independence, and Robert de Montequiou: The Week in Rare Books
John Lennon interview typescript
This weekly auction result is provided by Spencer W Stuart, an independent collections advisor specializing in rare books and manuscripts as well as fine photography and prints. He is also the author of Contemporary Issues in Rare Books & Manuscript Collecting and host of the monthly webinar Collecting Insights.
These are the three lots that stuck out this week because of either uniqueness or exceeding expectations:
Edited transcript of John Lennon Interview discussing Paul, Linda, Yoko, Brian Epstein and Allen Klein
Typescript signed transcription of Robert Schonfeld and Peter McCabe's interview with Lennon and Ono from August 31, 1971, which appeared in the September 1984 issue of Penthouse magazine and which provided source material for Schonfeld and McCabe's books, Apple to the Core (1972) and John Lennon: For the Record (1984). Signed after the typed text where a comment refers to a circled passage about Linda McCartney: "[F]or [C]hrist['s] sake don't use this!" Sold at Swann Galleries for $19,050 following an estimate of $6,000 - $9,000.
Greek Independence
Letter on Greek independence, written by general and politician Maximilien-Sébastien Foy (1775-1825), Paris, June 25, 1825, to Colonel Fabvier who was fighting on the side of the Greeks against the Turks: "We follow you with anxiety. It is a beautiful and noble destiny to be associated with the efforts of a nation fighting for its independence. I sometimes envy your fate and wish I were with you in the country on which all eyes are focused, because that is where all the hopes of the friends of humanity rest." Sold for €3,800 at Ader following an estimate of €300-€400.
Letters to Symbolist Robert de Montequiou
A dozen letters including from Maurice Barrès (thanking him with a quatrain), Gustave Jacquet (letter illustrated with a watercolor), and Maurice de Rothschild (about the death of his aunt Adolphe and his marriage). Sold for €4,000 at Ader following an estimate of €400-€500.
