[Philip Hofer, book collector and curator at the Houghton Library, Harvard University.] Autograph Letter Signed and Typed Note Signed to Stephen Harrison, regarding his collection of drawings by Edward Lear

Author: 
Philip Hofer (1898-1984), book collector and founder of the Department of Printing and Graphic Arts in the Houghton Library of Harvard University [Stephen Harrison; Edward Lear]
Publication details: 
Both on letterheads of The Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Autograph letter dated 19 October 1966. Typed note dated 28 November 1966.
£100.00
SKU: 21074

See Hofer's obituary in the New York Times, 12 October 1984, in which it is stated that 'Mr. Hofer, who was secretary of the Fogg Museum at Harvard for 12 years, was a recognized book collector focusing on 18th-century German, Iberian and Italian publications. Mr. Hofer put together an Italian book collection considered the finest outside Italy. | Konrad Oberhuber, professor of fine arts at Harvard, said of Mr. Hofer: ''He was one of the most farsighted collectors that Harvard ever had. [...]”'. Two airmail letters, both in good condition. Both addressed to Harrison at 15 Bryanston Square, London. Each 1p., 8vo. ONE. ALS. 19 October 1966. He explains that he has been commissioned by the Oxford and Harvard University Presses 'to do a book on Edward Lear as a Landscape Draughtsman'. The book will 'contain a short chapter on the present whereabouts of Lear drawings, the ownership of which has changed greatly in the last years'. He has been informed by David Markham that Harrison has 'a fairly substantial number of them', and asks to know 'how many'. He explains that he is 'not dealing with oil paintings (except casually) but with watercolors, ink and pencil sketches'. He concludes with an appeal for information about 'any other considerable collectors of Lear of your acquaintance'. TWO: TNS. 28 November 1966. He thanks him for 'the information concerning the nineteen Lear drawings' in Harrison's collection. 'This for now is exactly what I need, but I will inquire for further details from you if the occasion arises.' Hofer's book appeared in 1967.