William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) - photo 1
William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) - photo 2

William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)

Lot 194
15.12.2023 11:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 756
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1108994
Lot 194 | William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)
Estimate value
£ 1 800 – 2 500
William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)
Autograph letter signed (‘W B Yeats’) to [D. J.] O’Donoghue, 3 Blenheim Road, Bedford Park, 17 April 1891
Three pages, 113 x 178mm, bifolium, a few words cancelled. Provenance: James Gilvarry; his sale, Christie's New York, 7 February 1986, lot 541

On The Wanderings of Oisin: ‘The contents of the book will be in a great part Irish in matter – old legends and such like, mixed with a good many poems on general subjects’. Yeats opens with an apology: ‘I did not write before as it was not possible to answer your questions without seeing Keegan Paul, who I was to have seen some days ago, however he has been out of town until yesterday, when I saw him’. He refers to the publication of a collection of poetry – ‘Nothing very definite is yet decided. 3/6 as far as I can see, will be the price. Things are still somewhat hazy. Keegan Paul will most likely be my publisher – even that you see is not certain’ – before discussing some of the practicalities: ‘I have had some subscription forms printed. I send some. The 3/6 will not be asked for ‘til the book is out-a month or six weeks hence, if all goes right’. Concluding, he demurs: ‘I hope to see more of your Southwark Club but am somewhat occupied this present evening’.

O’Donoghue, a librarian of University College, Dublin, was the compiler of a dictionary of Irish poets. Yeats’ first collection of poetry, The Wanderings of Oisin, was delayed and only finally published in January 1889, by which time its price had been raised to 5 shillings.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.12.2023 12:00 – 17:00
10.12.2023 12:00 – 17:00
11.12.2023 09:00 – 20:00
12.12.2023 09:00 – 17:00
13.12.2023 09:00 – 17:00
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.