Lot 186: BANNERMAN, HELEN.

BANNERMAN, HELEN. ARCHIVE OF MATERIAL RELATING TO LITTLE BLACK SAMBO , COMPRISING: i) The Story of Little Black Sambo. Grant Richards, 1899 , 32mo, second edition, coloured illustrations, original green stipeed cloth, upper hinge splitting, new rear free endpaper ii) Three autograph letters signed by Alice Bond (acting for Helen Bannerman) to Grant Richards, 20 June – 9 August 1899, discussing the author and the genesis of the story ("Mrs Bannerman is in the habit of telling her two little girls stories which she illustrates in little paintings... Little Black Sambo just came into her head during a journey evolved by the motion of the train..."), asking about copyright and the naming of the author ("...I am not sure if she would wish her real name put on the title-page..." and, later, "...she would prefer not to have the name of Bannerman printed on the title-page..."), 12 pages, some soiling, folds iii) Autograph draft for letter by Helen Bannerman to Rita H. Lee, [c. 1941], noting "I have been immensely gratified and amused to think of L.B.S. as being of negro origin. I wish my vanity would allow me to boast that this is so but I can't..." together with other details of the genesis of the story, 1 page on reverse of typed letter by Rita H. Lee, folds iv) Transcription by Helen Bannerman of Christina Rossetti's 'Up Hill', 1 page, pencil--together with additional works by Helen Bannerman (5 vol.), a parody (1 vol.), a biography (1 vol. comprising a presentation copy inscribed by the author), a critical work (1 vol in Japanese with typescript translation), a book formerly from the author's library (1 vol.) and a presentation copy of a paper by her husband (1 vol.). For further details please contact the book department