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  2025-01-25 09:00:00 2025-01-25 09:00:00 America/New_York Case Antiques Case Antiques : 2025 Winter Fine Art & Antiques (Day 1) https://auction.caseantiques.com/auctions/case-antiques/2025-winter-fine-art-antiques-day-1-16081
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Lot 657

3 Upton Sinclair Signed Letters plus Articles

Estimate: $300 - $350
Starting Bid
$150

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$3,000 $200
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,000
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000

Autographs: Three (3) signed letters from author Upton Sinclair (1878-1968) to his first cousin Lelia Barnett, plus articles written by Sinclair. 1st Item: Typewritten letter on personal stationery, dated February 15, 1938, referencing his newly released book "The Flivver King", signed "Upton". Enclosed with the letter are also pages from Sinclair's February 26, 1938 article from the magazine Liberty, "A Plan of Life for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor", in which he gives suggestions on his (distant) cousin Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII's future; plus a copy of "When is a Book Not a Book?", a 1937 letter to the editor of the New York Herald-Tribune Books. 2nd Item: August 26, 1942 typewritten letter on personal stationery regarding a recent move to a new home, and a reference to "Wide is the Gate", Sinclair's fourth Lanny Budd novel published in 1943. Signed "Upton" lower right. 3rd Item: October 20, 1944 typewritten letter on personal stationery to Lelia, signed lower right "Love as ever! Upton".  Also included is an unsigned, typewritten article titled "Enemy in the Mouth", Sinclair's request for a benefactor to come forward to publish what eventually became "The Cup of Fury" (1956), his non-fiction work about alcoholism. 

The letters are addressed to Lelia Sinclair (Montague) Gordon Barnett (1871-1959), Upton's first cousin through their grandfather Arthur Sinclair (1810-1865). Lelia was also a first cousin (once removed) to Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor.  Lelia married General George Barnett (1859-1930), highly decorated Commandant of the US Marine Corps. Both are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. These letters have descended in her family to the present consignor. 

Condition

Letters in very good condition with slight toning, folds and chipping. Liberty Magazine article separated at folds. 

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