SORRENTO

12, 1p. On bifolium. In black ink over pencil. Very good, on lighly-aged paper. Presumably a representation of the Roman wall fountain which could be seen when looking down from Crawford's bedroom at the Villa. The present item consists of a pen drawing, roughy 18 x 9 cm., covering the left hand side of a letterhead (the printed address being in the top right-hand corner). The drawing is detailed and attractive, in a late nineteenth-century style, showing a four-line inscription in Ancient Greek on a tablet set into the wall above the drinking fountain.

'The Story of San Michele' is one of the most popular works of the twentieth century, and this delightful correspondence bears ample testimony to the extraordinary allure of its author. The eight letters are entirely legible, in fair condition on aged paper. They total 3 pp in folio, and 8 pp in 4to. The sequence is tentative, none of the letters giving the year. The numerous errors, in large part due to Munthe's growing blindness, are largely unnoticed in the following transcripts. Letter One (2 pp, 4to). 'Rome Villa Svezia Via Aldrovandi 27 Feb 8 [1930]'.

12mo: 2 pp. Eleven lines of text. Very good. Having just received it from London, Rodd is sending Crawford the book he could not get in Rome which he wanted to send him as a birthday present. 'It is written by a great friend of mine who knows better than any one the history of the first voyages to America and the discovery of the Great Southern Sea. I think you will like it.' In an envelope, on aged paper, with postmarks and Italian postage stamp. Addressed to 'Harold Crawford, Villa Crawford, St Agnello di Sorrento'.