165 / 194
“SPHINX OF ICE . . . ISTHE CONTINUATION OF
THE ADVENTURES OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM”
264
●
VERNE, JULES. Autograph Letter Signed, to “Dear Sir,” in French, listing his
works recently completed or in prospect, including
An Antarctic Mystery
. 1 page, 12mo, with
integral blank; faint toning at folds.
Amiens, 18 June 1897
[800/1,200]
“
. . . I have in the course of publication in the Magazine of Education, of which the 1st volume
is going to appear, a novel, titled the Sphinx of Ice, and which is perhaps of a nature to interest
to the Americans, since it is the continuation of the Adventures of Arthur Gordon Pym of their
great poet Edgar Poe. . . . I have dedicated it to my friends of America. I have in preparation a
novel in 2 volumes, that will have . . . all the territory of the United States, a novel that will
not be published before two years. Finally I have a few other volumes that are completed, all
returning to the style of the ExtraordinaryVoyages. . . .”
“IWILL MODIFYWHATYOU INDICATE INTHE CHARACTER OF GODFREY”
263
●
VERNE, JULES. Autograph Letter Signed, to publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel (“My
dear Hetzel”), in French, agreeing to make plot changes to his story,
Godfrey Morgan: A
Californian Mystery
(1882). 2 pages, 12mo, with integral blank; moderate scattered foxing,
printed biography mounted to terminal page.
Copenhagen, 26 June [circa 1882]
[1,000/1,500]
“
. . . [W]e’re raising anchor to leave Copenhagen. I only have time to write you a few lines. . . .
[Y]ou tell me of the School of the Robinsons. I will modify what you indicate in the character
of Godfrey at his debut on the isle. It is understood or rather, I will displace the sentiment of
conscience, for it is expressed later, when he sees that he must not and cannot count on anyone
but himself. I am thinking also of my novella, but I gave myself a complete rest of a month . . . .
“
. . . I’ll . . . shake your hand firmly, at the moment of departing again to begin the return voy-
age, which will last I don’t know how
long.Weare at the mercy of the wind and the waves!”
264