Beschreibung:

GRAMAN (JENIA)Archive of illustrations, typescripts, artwork and other papers from artist, translator and dancer Jenia Graman (1909-2003), comprising:
i) Album containing 23 original illustrations for her unpublished children's story A Changed Child, signed ("Jenia"), including the cover design, "Lady Gwendolynne shows her Preparations", "Hide and seek at a Children's party", "The Court Poet recites his Verses", "Princess Yolanda in a Furious Rage", "Jock the Poacher is terrified in the Churchyard" and "Dr Campanellus, Nurse Marta and Sophia fly to a Warm Country", ink and coloured pencil on tracing paper, mounted, 255 x 167mm.; together with her typescript of 'A Changed Child: An old Story retold and illustrated by Jenia Graman', beginning '..."No my good woman", said the butler...' and ending '...And with that, the balloon rose and disappeared into the night...', with amendments in biro, together with several [some incomplete] copies and synopses for publishers, c.175 pages, 298 x 210mm.;
ii) Album of 36 charming illustrations for Christmas and other greetings cards, most signed ("Jenia"), depicting angels, folk scenes, nativities and animals, mounted, gouache and watercolour on coloured papers, 245 x 184mm. and smaller; with c.20 calligraphic trials for "Jenia Script", pencil and ink on lined tracing paper, with 3 draft calligraphic pieces, 500 x 380mm., [1970's]; and large quantity of portraits and landscape scenes, including plants and architecture in Capri (c.39), Yugoslavia (19), Greece (c.14), Tunisia (c.18), Bulgaria and Uzbekistan (6), Odessa (6) and Hong Kong (4), pen, watercolour and pastel, on watercolour, coloured and tracing papers, 275 x 385mm. and smaller;
iii) Papers relating to her translation of Lipakha of Kamtshatka including 7 striking original illustrations in gouache and collage, 220 x 250mm.; group of line drawings and designs for Russian and other Folk Costumes; and other miscellaneous material including photocopies of two articles entitled 'They died young', legal and personal papers, photographs and cabinet cards of family members (including two signed cabinet cards of the German pianist Télémaque Lambrino, a friend of her mother) and an album of photographs of her 'dancing years', with a small quantity of printed material;
iv) Twenty copies of Kurban Said's Ali and Nino, in various languages including German, French, Italian, Dutch, Finnish and Turkish, including: FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY signed by the author ("To Brian/ now that he likes the book/ from/ Jenia"), Random House, 1971 – FIRST ENGLISH EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY ("With Almath's/ good wishes/ – and thanks/ for my tiny part/ in helping with/ 'sticky' English/ idioms")
Footnotes'AND WITH THAT THE BALLOON ROSE & DISAPPEARED INTO THE NIGHT'.
The present archive represents the wide-ranging career of Russian-born Jenia Graman, perhaps best known for her translation of Kurban Said's romance set in Azerbaijan, Ali and Nino, first published in English in 1970, several copies of which are included in the lot. She had worked as a dancer in musicals in Nazi Germany and emigrated to Britain in the 1950's, becoming naturalised in 1960. She worked as a successful commercial artist – her style reflecting both Russian folk tradition and modern design. Much of the material here relates to her reimagining of one of her favourite books from childhood: '...I read the story of "A Changed Child" when I was a child, in a book belonging to a friend's grandmother... it had such an impression on me, that I remembered it all these years... I think the phantastic story... could well be a success...'. The book, however, and its whimsical illustrations remained unpublished.
Provenance: Jenia Graman (1909-2003); acquired by the present owner from the estate of her executors.Additional informationAuction informationBuyers Premium and ChargesFor all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:Buyer's Premium Rates
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and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.Buyers' ObligationsALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.Payment NoticesFor payment information please refer to the sale catalog.Shipping NoticesFor information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licences please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.Related DepartmentsBooks & ManuscriptsAuction ViewingsLondon, Knightsbridge18 June 2023, 11:00 - 15:00 BST19 June 2023, 09:00 - 17:00 BST20 June 2023, 09:00 - 17:00 BST21 June 2023, 09:00 - 10:00 BSTConditions of SaleView Conditions of Sale