Anna Gilman Hill 40 Years Of Gardening 1938+ 1917 GREY GARDENS Archive Ephemera For Sale

DESCRIPTION

Offered here is an exceptional archive-style collection centered around Anna Gilman Hill’s Forty Years of Gardening, published by Frederick A. Stokes Company, New York, in 1938.

This is not simply a copy of the book. Preserved with the volume is a remarkable group of vintage correspondence, photographs and garden-related ephemera associated with Anna Gilman Hill and her family/residences, including material directly referencing Grey Gardens.

Anna Gilman Hill and her husband, Robert Carmer Hill, were early owners of the East Hampton estate that became known as Grey Gardens. Anna was an accomplished gardener and writer whose work at Grey Gardens forms part of the property’s early history.

INCLUDED WITH THIS LOT:

• 1938 hardcover copy of Forty Years of Gardening by Anna Gilman Hill, retaining its illustrated dust jacket.

• An extraordinary 1917 Christmas greeting printed “Christmas Greetings from ‘Grey Gardens’ 1917,” featuring an early photographic garden view.

• Vintage handwritten correspondence preserved with the book.

• A lengthy handwritten letter dated November 25, 1920, written from Fern Lodge.

• Handwritten correspondence dated April 20, 1949, addressed to “Mrs. Hill.”

• A vintage photographic garden postcard mailed in 1935 and addressed to:

Mrs. Robt. C. Hill

Palisades

Rockland Co.

New York

• Multiple additional vintage photographs depicting gardens, flowers, landscape features and/or residences.

• Additional associated papers and correspondence as pictured.

The combination of the book and accompanying material provides an unusual glimpse into the gardening and personal world surrounding Anna Gilman Hill.

Of particular interest is the 1917 Grey Gardens Christmas greeting, which predates the property’s later association with Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale (“Big Edie”) and Edith Bouvier Beale (“Little Edie”).

The ephemera was preserved together with this copy of Forty Years of Gardening and is being offered together as one collection.

IMPORTANT PROVENANCE / ATTRIBUTION NOTE

The photographs, correspondence and ephemera are being sold exactly as found with the book and as shown in the photographs.

Where an item contains an identifiable name, address, date or reference, that information has been described. No representation is made that every unsigned handwritten item was personally written by Anna Gilman Hill, nor that every unidentified garden photograph depicts Grey Gardens unless specifically identified on the item itself.

The 1917 piece itself is printed “Christmas Greetings from ‘Grey Gardens’ 1917.”

The 1935 photographic postcard is addressed to Mrs. Robt. C. Hill, Palisades, Rockland Co., New York.

Please examine all listing photographs carefully; they form an important part of the description and document the material included in this collection.

CONDITION

Antique/vintage condition throughout.

The book shows age-appropriate wear. The original dust jacket exhibits edge wear, small losses/tears and general signs of age.

Letters, photographs, cards and other ephemera show expected age toning, folds, handling wear, edge wear and/or other signs of age and storage.

The collection has intentionally been left together rather than separating the individual pieces.

Please review all photographs for exact condition.

COLLECTING INTEREST

An unusual collection with crossover appeal to collectors of:

• Grey Gardens history

• Anna Gilman Hill

• East Hampton / Long Island history

• Historic American gardens

• Garden and landscape history

• Antique gardening books

• Manuscripts and correspondence

• Vintage photography

• Historic ephemera

A rare opportunity to acquire a group of period material preserved alongside Anna Gilman Hill’s own gardening book rather than an isolated copy of the published volume.

SALE FORMAT

Sold as one complete lot. The book, correspondence, photographs, Grey Gardens greeting and associated ephemera pictured are included.

Please contact me with any questions or requests for additional detailed photographs before purchasing.