War-dated TLS signed “Cornell,” one page, 6 x 9, Hotel Marseilles (New York) letterhead, July 25, 1940. Letter to “Swanie,” his literary agent H. N. Swanson, in full: “I have signed a contract with Simon and Schuster for late Fall publication of THE BRIDE WORE BLACK. I had been hoping to hear from you, but no doubt you were out of the office. Even though they get a 25 per-cent cut of the picture rights, this will no doubt be a selling-point in the book's favor. How is it coming?” Woolrich adds his initials to his handwritten postscript: “Did you receive ‘Girl Who Married Royalty’ & saleable? C.W.” In fine condition.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.