To his literary agent in London - photo 1
To his literary agent in London - photo 2

To his literary agent in London

Lot 118
15.06.2023 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
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$ 13 860
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
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ID 967640
Lot 118 | To his literary agent in London
Estimate value
$ 10 000 – 15 000
To his literary agent in London

Herman Melville, 31 March 1847

MELVILLE, Herman (1819-1891). Autograph letter signed ("Herman Melville") to John Romeyn Brodhead, New York, 31 March 1847.



Three pages, bifolium, 248 x 199mm (rear leaf laid in).



"The precise pecuniary value of most unpublished works is so uncertain."



Herman Melville writes to his literary agent in London concerning his two most successful titles, Typee and Omoo. With the death of his older brother Gansevoort in May 1846, Herman Melville was left without an agent in England. Fortuitously, John Romeyn Brodhead (1814-73), Gansevoort's boyhood friend, was appointed to succeed him as Secretary of the U.S. Legation in London. At the beginning of 1847, Brodhead took on Gansevoort's role as Melville's literary representative as well. "Your letter... of the 3rd of March enclosing copies of notes between Mr. [John] Murray [his London publisher] and yourself and informing me of the sale of Omoo [Melville's second book, following Typee] was duly received. You authorize me to draw on you for £144-3-4 as the proceeds of the sale [of Omoo]. I have accordingly... The precise pecuniary value of most unpublished works is so uncertain & hard to be estimated (especially, under the circumstance, with respect to my new work) that I hardly (between you and me) know how liberal to consider Mr. Murray's offer [for Omoo] which you accepted after due consideration. At any rate, I have a high opinion of his general liberality in these matters; - and My Dear Sir, you may believe me, when I assure you, that I have no doubt you have done all that you could do... The book [the American edition of Omoo issued by Harper & Bros.] will be out here about the 10th or 12th of April. You may naturally suppose that I have much curiosity to see how Omoo will be received by the sagacious Critics of the English press... may I beg of you the favor, to have an eye occasionally, upon the Reviews, & to cause to be collected & sent me, in their original form, whatever notices may appear of the book... In a letter, which I am just about to address to Mr. Murray I am going to request him to put up a package for me of several copies of his edition of the book... Once more, permit me, My Dear Mr. Brodhead to tender you my hearty thanks for your friendly agency in my behalf- & to express the hope that I may hear from you whenever your diplomatic engagements admit of epistolary recreation." Published in Horth, Correspondence, 84-86. Provenance: H. Bradley Martin (his sale, Sotheby's, New York, 30-31 January 1990, lot 2167 (part)) – Christie's, New York, 17 May 1996, lot 98.

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