Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen) (Danish, 1885-1962) Peter Beard's Personal Copy of "Out of Africa", 1952 Duodecimo 7-1/4 x 4-3/4 x 1 inches (18.4 x 12.1 x 2.5 cm) New York: Modern Library-Random House. PROVENACE: Peter Beard; Gifted to Audra Allen. Without this book, the Peter Beard we know today might never have existed. That's how profoundly "Out of Africa" influenced him. After reading the book by Isak Dinesen, also known as Karen Blixen, Beard took his first trip to Africa at the age of 17, bringing along a Voigtländer camera gifted by his grandmother. Inside the book's cover, he wrote the date June 1, 1956, when he was 18. His passion for photography developed alongside his deep love for the African wilderness, though his fascination with nature had been present since childhood. Beard revisited "Out of Africa" on his second journey to Africa aboard the Queen Mary and, upon his return in December 1961, was determined to meet Karen Blixen in Copenhagen. Blixen had returned to Denmark after her farm's bankruptcy, the death of her lover Denys Finch-Hatton in a plane crash, and contracting syphilis from her debt-ridden husband. Beard returned the following year to photograph her. Impressed by him, Blixen helped Beard acquire around 45 acres near Nairobi, adjacent to her former coffee plantation, which he called Hog Ranch due to the roaming warthogs. Blixen's depiction of the African wilderness—its vastness and tragic sense of impermanence—had a profound effect on Beard's work as a wildlife photographer and conservationist. In her writing, Blixen often mourned the loss of Africa's traditional ways and natural beauty due to modern encroachment. Likewise, Beard's photographs and diaries captured the dwindling wildlife in Africa, documenting the impacts of poaching, overpopulation, and habitat destruction. Wherever Beard lived, he was known to prop up a photograph of Blixen as a tribute to her lasting influence on his life. Faded Green Cover-no dust jacket Inside Front Left Cover written: Peter H. Beard Queen Mary A 17 Below Black and White Portrait of Kamante taken by Peter Beard-signed by Kamante Inside Front Right Page Peter Beard handwriting: Peter H. Beard 6/1/56 Below: Black and White Photo taken by Denys Finch Hatton of Cape Buffalo (bottom left photo Denys Finch Hatton wrote Cape Buffalo, bottom right of photo signed by Denys Finch Hatton Note: Denys Finch Hatton was was a British aristocratic big-game hunter and the lover of Baroness Karen Blixen. Beneath Denys Finch Hatton's Cape buffalo Photo is a Calling Card of Baroness Karen Blixen Page Two: Peter Beard has made small drawings and in his hand : "He who liveth well prayeth well for man and bird and beast" D.F.H's grave Peter has incorrectly quoted the Epitaph on Denys Finch Hatton's grave. Below a Black and White Photo of Denys Finch Hatton standing between two Bull Elephant Ivory Tusks Below photo in Blue Ink is the signature of Edward Duke of Windsor Opposing Page is the signature Isak Dinesen with a black and white bird feather taped by Peter Beard- Top Right of Pages writing by Peter Beard: Rungstedlund Dec.3, 1961 Note: Rungstedlund is Karen Blixen/lsak Dinesen's Horne in Denmark Below in Isak Dinesen's Hand: Je respnderay! Page Three Photo of Isak Dinesen with writing in bottom left: 1921 Underneath photo it is signed Baroness Karen Blixen Abdillahi Opposite Page large portrait of Karen Blixen by Peter Beard Page Five: Black and White Portrait of Isak Dinesen holding a cigarette taken by Peter Beard Page Six: Peter has glued in a quoted in his writing added to it:' To ride, to shoot straight, to tell the truth." Below in Karen Blixen's Writing: Navigare nemeses set, vivre non nemeses (one of my sisters mottos) Please Note: the translation into English is: Navigation is necessary, living is not necessary. The sentence is supposed to be said by Pompeius to his sailors when they had to transport grain from Sicily to Rome in the stormy sea Bottom of pages a glued paper cut from a newspaper by Peter Beard: Nightly at 11 pm and 1:15am REVUE' POURQUOI PAS!' MINIMUM PER PERSON Extra-illustrated with photographs taken by Peter Beard, Denys Finch Hatton and others, a feather, and Baroness Karen Blixen's calling card. The entire book is heavily marked with drawings, photos, underlining, handwritten notes by Peter Beard and Isak Dinesen. A portion of the proceeds from this Auction will be donated to Aprile's Memorial French Bulldogs Special Needs Support Services. Aprile's Memorial French Bulldogs Special Needs Support Services, Inc. is organized exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and the New York Not-for-Profit Corporation Law. EIN: 99-1580540 This charity is devoted to the prevention of Special Needs and Handicapped Dogs, with a special focus on French Bulldogs from being abandoned, surrendered to shelters and rescues and from being euthanized because of their vulnerabilities. Through the charity's Stop And Think Educational Outreach Program and its Support Services Program they are improving upon the quality of life of dogs with special needs, providing support to the people who care for them and saving them from being euthanized. Aprile's Memorial French Bulldogs Special Needs Support Services is named after Audra Allen's sister, Aprile, who passed away unexpectedly. Throughout her lifetime, Aprile was actively involved in animal rescue. 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