So that's where it went!

As noted back in 2011, Melville's "travel desk" was auctioned for $34,160 to an unnamed buyer. Now we know where it went.

An article in yesterday's New York Times, Sendak’s Estate: Debating Where the Things Go, mentions in passing some of the objects in Mr. Sendak's collection: works by Blake, Rembrandt, and Goya, as well as some Melville first editions and his traveling writing desk!

For more on the Sendak-Melville connection, see this post (and the comment).

Maurice Sendak on Melville

As a tribute to Maurice Sendak, Fresh Air yesterday broadcast portions of several past interviews. Melvillians will know Mr. Sendak's cover art for both volume one and volume two of Hershel Parker's essential biography. (Mr. Parker has posted a collection of personal photos of Maurice Sendak on his blog.)

Mr. Sendak expressed a warm appreciation for interviewer Terry Gross, and it is a joy and a sorrow to listen to the entire 45-minute broadcast. For Melville-centric us, there is a nugget at 26:25.