AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS) by the Author of FRANKENSTEIN
Rome: 6 April [1843]. Letter. A three-page AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED "Mary Shelley" written in Italian on one sheet of an 8" x 5" piece of paper folded to 4" x 5," dated 6 April [1843]. A rough translation:
"Esteemed Sir. Thank you so much for your card -- and your kindness. I feel ashamed thinking about all the inconvenience that you are experiencing due to that annoying matter [strikethrough] of Tozzetti, but I am pleased that he is not obtaining all he was looking for. He deserved nothing. Thank you for the letter -- maybe others will come for us either sent to your address or simply to Florence. Would you graciously send someone to the post office to ask for our letters and send them here. My debt I would come and pay. I hope it is not too big to be a burden on my conscience, and I will find a way to repay it. [strikethrough] I hope that the weather has improved and that Nerina feels better. I would really love to see you and Nerina again. And who knows if I won't see both in England, but first it is easy that we will meet in Florence. Goodbye dear sir. Please consider me your servant and friend. M Shelley."
The recipient, Tuscan nobleman Bartolomeo Cini, was married to Nerina King, daughter of Irish writer Margaret King who was a favored pupil of Mary's mother, Mary Wollstonecraft. Mary Shelley was in correspondence with him in regard to getting his assistance to retrieve letters by her husband, Percy, that were sent to King. Shelley's 1840s travels through Europe with her son Percy and his friends formed the basis of her travelogue, RAMBLES IN GERMANY AND ITALY, IN 1840, 1842, AND 1843. Mild crease from mailing. Near Fine. Item #020641
Price: $8,500.00