April 8th Autographs, Manuscripts, Books & Photography
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/8/2021
African-American librarian, who as the personal assistant to J.P. Morgan, and later his estate, from 1905 to 1948, personally helped amass one of the world's greatest libraries of books, rare manuscripts, and art. Greene was an expert in illuminated manuscripts. Note: Belle da Costa Greene was born Belle Marian Greener, the daughter of the first black man to graduate Harvard. Her father Greener was considered a Black visionary on a par with Frederick Douglass and was clearly well-regarded by Republican Party managers, whom he served in the 1884 presidential election campaign, as an orator to Black audiences and sometimes spy on Democratic opponents. Greene changed her name, obliterated her true background, invented a Portuguese ancestry, and successfully "passed" for white in turn-of-the-century New York Society. Very fascinating lady and was a prominent socialite of the period. her autograph is quite rare and it is believed that she had burned all her personal correspondence prior to her death. With One of a Kind Collectibles LOA
Belle da Costa Greene rare (J.P. Morgan Related)
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