In this bound essay, Julia Ward Howe describes in detail how she came to write one of the more inspirational songs of the Civil War period, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, after travelling near the battle lines in Washington in November, 1861. Two telephone bidders pushed the bidding to $22,500 (£15,515).
Sold for $5000 (£3450) was an inscribed copy of Oscar Wilde’s Intentions... of 1891.
Faulkner and the Battle Hymn
US: WILLIAM Faulkner’s books have been selling very well in recent times, and a January 25 sale held by Pacific Auction Galleries saw bids of $1300 (£895) for a first trade edition of The Hamlet, 1940, in a very bright jacket, and $2500 (£1725) for a copy of one of his earlier works, Mosquitoes of 1927, again in a jacket. However, while modern firsts overall certainly did well at this sale, the day’s top lot was a 19th century manuscript of American historical interest.
