Four Autograph Manuscripts. Author copy-books of original writings.

AUCTION 80 | Thursday, March 28th, 2019 at 1:00 PM

The Valmadonna Trust Library: Further Selections from the Historic Collection. * Hebrew Printing in America. * Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 93

AGUILLAR, GRACE

Four Autograph Manuscripts. Author copy-books of original writings.

The contents of the four manuscripts are: <<*>> “Sabbatto Thoughts No 4” with the subtitle “Scripture Female Biography.” This section is called “Eve” and is an early version of the first section of her “The Women of Israel, Or, Characters and Sketches from the Holy Scriptures.” The manuscript is significantly different. The numbering in the title and the way it is dated suggest that Aguilar circulated this as a handwritten periodical of sorts. In this form it has never been published and her Sabbatto Thoughts has not been noted by historians before. Initialed at end with date: 15th Dec. Brighton.” Unbound, pp. 36. <<*>> “An Exposition of Zanobi — In a Letter to a Friend.” An essay which was published in the New Monthly Belle Assemblée (April 1844, pp. 214-17), with a copy of a letter from Lord Bulwer Lytton (1831-91) with the heading “An Answer to Foregoing.” Original wrappers, pp. 35. <<*>> “The Val Des Rivages A Tale of the French Jews.” Published in Heath's Book Of Beauty (London, 1846). Unbound, pp. 54. <<*>> “The Picture.” Unpublished. Unbound, pp. 7.

(England): 1840’s

Est: $3,000 - $5,000

Grace Aguilar (1816-1847) did not live long, but her literary impact was far-reaching. As a young lady of unusual talents, her writings found an early champion in Isaac Leeser, who published her in early issues of his Occident. Meanwhile, she found acclaim in her native England, where her words could be read frequently in the Jewish Chronicle. Her short pieces and novels won her a broad audience with the general public. Among other themes, Aguilar wrote on Jewish women — a quite new literary topic. The quality and depth of her writing was a particular inspiration to young women. After her passing, an admirer submitted an Impromptu Elegiac Acrostic (on her name) to the Jewish Chronicle, two lines of which read: “About her bright but mild religion shone/ Casting a genial warmth through apathetic frost.” (JC, Oct. 22, 1847, p. 283.) For the time and place this was high praise indeed. The Occident sounded a note of more American emotion: Aguilar’s death “will send a thrill of pain through the hearts of nearly all our readers.” (Occ. 5:47, November 1847, p. 47).