Gentle Reader, due to an extensive travel itinerary and a very full social calendar, posting may prove to be more erratic and spotty than usual until the new year, as I will be away off and on from my beloved view of the hills and my Kehlsteinhaus here, perched as it were above the city, and I don't want you to worry.  Although I fully intend to keep you current on everything important in present as well as past times, I must confess that when mobile I resort to pen and Moleskin.

In the spirit of the holidays, I note with pleasure that I have just received the Sotheby's Paris catalogue for the sale of Livres et Manuscrits for 29 November 2007, and my attention was drawn by the sender to lot 217, an autograph letter signed by Matisse to Felix Feneon with a sketch by the artist (estimate 8000 to 12000 euros) just in case you are still Christmas shopping.  

And you will not want to miss the sale of Fine Books and Manuscripts in New York on 11 December, which features the Mark and Carolyn Blackburn [no, NOT Caroline Blackwood] Collection of Tahitian History.

Travel safe, be grateful, be kind, and know that we will meet again in the Fullness of Time.