Elizabeth von Arnim collection by VON ARNIM, Elizabeth (née Mary Annette Beauchamp), [1866-1941] - 1937

Various: Various, 1937. No binding & hard cover. The collection has 10 items dating from 1870 to 1937, specifically, 2 books, 4 letters, 2 post cards, 1 photo, 1 carte de visite, and 1 label with an address. The collection pertains to both von Arnim and her second husband, John Francis Stanley Russell, the 2nd Earl Russell (known as Frank Russell).

Born in Sydney, Australia, Elizabeth von Arnim was an English novelist, a writer of semi-autobiographical memoirs, and a cousin of the writer Katherine Mansfield. In 1891 she married a German aristocrat, Count Henning August von Arnim Schlagenthin (1851-1910). The couple had five children together. Her literary career blossomed when she wrote Elizabeth and Her Garden in 1898. After her husband's death, she lived in England, Switzerland, France, and the United States. She was a mistress of H.G. Wells between 1910 and 1913 and married Frank Russell, the brother of Bertrand Russell, in 1916. A pre-cursor to Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, her novel, Vera, is based on her disastrous second marriage to Frank Russell, a tragic, psychological depiction of spousal abuse. Bertrand Russell warned his children never to marry a novelist.

2 Books, [1 with Autographed Letter Signed (ALS)]:

• The Caravaners. London: Smith Elder & Co., 1909. [4], 350, [2] pp. Green cloth. Afxed to the front pastedown is an ALS to W.B.E. Ranken (a British artist and Edwardian aesthete), 1 June 1928, re trying to find a free day to seeing each other, going to Switzerland, had a marvelous Whitsuntide holiday, with envelope in von Amim's hand. A photo print of von Amim (Weekly Magazine published in 1919) is on the front free endpaper.

• Vera. New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1921. First American ed. [6], 319, [1] pp. Terra cotta colored cloth with titles brightly in gilt to cover and spine. Original cream-colored dust jacket lettered in green, but a large swath along the bottom third of the front, spine, and rear panels is missing. Publisher's $1.75 issue price intact to unclipped front ap. Uncommon in any kind of dust jacket.

3 ALS Letters:

• 2 ALS from von Amim to Miss Tute (a matron at Eton), 17 September and 7 October 1917, on Telegraph House (the house of Frank Russell located in the West Sussex countryside) letterhead, re her son "H.B." (Henning Bernd, born in London in October 1902): "I look forward to seeing you again when I come to Eton, after my long absence in America. I feel quite heroic at having deed the submarines & successfully dodged them!".

• ALS addressed "Dear Madam", declining a request, n.d., signed "the author of ‘Elizabeth & her German Garden .

5 Ephemera:

• Post card from von Arnim to Mrs. Freshel (Maud Russell Lorraine Freshel: American socialite, animal rights and vegetarianism activist, and designer of the Wisteria and Pond Lily Tiffany Lamps), 19 September 1937, thanking her for "the vegetarian love letter'

• Post card written by Frank Russell, 27 August 1888, to Wm. Salthouse, requesting prices and lists of oils and varnishes.

• B&w photo of Ann Harding and Ralph Forbes, Enchanted April, film, 1935, RKO Radio Pictures.

• CDV of John Russell, Viscount Amberley (son of Lord John Russell and the father of Frank Russell and Bertrand Russell). Carte de visite (image somewhat faded), John Watkins, Photographer to the Queen, circa 1870.

• Label (5 lines), outlined in black, signed by Amberley and addressed by him to Messrs. Hurst & Blackett Publishers, 1862.

On Consignment with LDRB.