Unsigned handwritten manuscript by Rudyard Kipling, one page, 7 x 8.25, no date but circa late 1890s. A page from Kipling's draft of the story 'Slaves of the Lamp,' published in Cosmopolis: A Literary Review in 1897 and collected in Stalky & Co. in 1899. In part: "and had seen much more than Gigadibs. The half understood verses lived and eat with him as the bedropped pages attested. McTuck was a phenomenally neat boy and they warred over their respective libraries. He was far away from all that world, drifting at large in some heavenly contraption called a gondola when McTuck beat on his head with the pilchard spoon, and he snarled. 'Beetle, you are oppressed, insulted, bullied…by that beast, King! You hear?' 'Oh shut up. I can write some more poetry about him if I am.'" Annotated in the lower right corner: "The above in the handwriting of Mr. Rudyard Kipling, and is part of his M.S. of Stalky & Co. It was given to me by the author's father (Mr. J. Lockwood Kipling), 29/3/1900." In fine condition, with intersecting folds and a small portrait of Kipling affixed to the lower left corner.
Part of a series of Kipling's classic school stories, Stalky & Co. follows the exploits of three adolescent boys at a British boarding school. In 1940, George Orwell wrote that Stalky & Co. had 'had an immense influence on boys' literature. This is a particularly interesting draft, as it differs substantially from the version as published.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$75.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
