Lot 37
Audubon, Lucy. Autograph
Letter Signed ("Lucy Audubon"). Two pages, recto and verso and
intertext, quarto, Louisville, January March 1832. Addressed on verso of the
second page to Mrs. Gifford, Duffield Bank, near Derby, England. A full
transcript is included. Transmittal folds, wax seal stain faint through all
pages, 1½" paper loss at right edge of page two probably from removal of
wax seal. Rare. Very good to fine.
Exceptional content in this letter to
Lucy's cousin with details of the travels and work of the Audubons in the form
of an extract from John Audubon's January 18, 1832 letter to his wife, written
in St. Augustine, and praise from a Philadelphia newspaper. Audubon writes:
"...Since I wrote to you last, I have discovered, shot and drawn a new
Ibis, and have named it Tantalus Firs Cus...I have
discovered three new species of heath...also a beautiful new Kalinia and
several extraordinary parasitical plants..." Mrs. Audubon writes "...I
do not know exactly when I shall see my husband, he is making a great sacrifice
of comfort, money, and time from his family to improve and prosecute his Birds
of America..." The Philadelphia Gazette article lauds Audubon's efforts and
the success of his books.
Estimated Value $700-800.
Lot 38
Borglum, John Gutzon de la
Mothe (1867-1941) American sculptor notable for creating the monument at
Mount Rushmore. After receiving his training at France's École des Beaux-Arts,
Borglum, the son of a woodcutter, returned to America and gained his first
commission: that of the statue of Abraham Lincoln now standing in the rotunda
of the Capitol building. Borglum was then asked to create a National Memorial
in South Dakota featuring the likeness of four American presidents in colossal
proportion. In fact, each head was to measure 60 feet high. Unfortunately, the
artist died before the project was completed. His son, however, stepped in to
complete the monument.
Document Signed ("Gutzon Borglum"). Four
pages, quarto, Mount Rushmore, September 26, 1934. On pale yellow onionskin.
Being a contract granting retail rights for souvenir items from Mount Rushmore
to H.C. Farnham and Floyd Mellen of Omaha. Witnessed by Lincoln Borglum and
three others. Also a Document Signed ("Gutzon Borglum"). One page,
quarto, Mount Rushmore, October 3, 1934. On "Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Commission" letterhead. To Mr. Farnham. Both documents have transmittal folds,
paper clip stains and nicks and chips to the edges but are, overall, in very
good condition.
A wonderful group dealing with some of the concrete
issues involved in marketing and popularizing the soon-to-be completed National
Monument. The unmistakable faces from Mount Rushmore would be featured as
bookends, portraits, busts, and in other formats created by Mr. Borglum. Images
of the souvenirs would be provided to Farnam and Mellen for advertising
purposes, as would copies of articles and interviews which "may have been
written about Mount Rushmore." The items would be supplied "in plaster and in
forms hereinbefore stated in a total quantity of not less than ten thousand..."
The second document, an addendum to the first, allows for extension of the one
year contract "provided 50,000 casts have been sold. Otherwise some new
agreement must be entered upon." It is important to remember that the opening
of Mount Rushmore had been anticipated for some time: the press and newsreels
kept the American public abreast of progress on the Monument and this
commercial agreement would help to protect Borglum's interests.
Estimated
Value $1,750-2,500.
Lot 39
Bourke-White, Margaret.
Check Signed ("Margaret Bourke-White"). Partially printed,
accomplished in typescript. New York, April 29, 1935. Drawn on the Bourke-White
Studio account at the Chase National Bank and made payable to Aetna Printing
Company in the amount of $15.20. Punch cancellation does not affect signature,
stamp cancelled verso, minor toning. Fine.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 40
Calder, Alexander / Archive
(1898-1976). Abstract artist widely known for his colorful, and fanciful
mobiles. Hailing from a long line of artists, a young Calder decided to break
family tradition and pursue engineering. He quickly found his way back to the
family trade, and began working as a commercial artist. As inspired by the
circus, Calder was the first artist to actually make sculpture move, hence his
creations were named "mobiles." Not limited to drawing or sculpting, Calder
also produced toys, jewelry, tapestries and countless other creations.
Amazing archive of 18 letters written by Calder ("Sandy") to his
friend Oscar Nitzschke. In French. Dates in the early 1960s, some mailed from
France, others in the United States (most notably Painter Hill Road in Roxbury
CT). Many transmittal envelopes included (one illustrated with Calder red, blue
and yellow). Conditions vary, many of the envelopes have come unglued but the
letters remain in good to very good condition. Translations included.
Topics of these wonderful letters include the Metropolitan Museum of
Art, Calder's health, painting and travel. An example "Dear Oscar, First of
all, I told myself 'Well, the Museum of Modern Art bought himself or herself A
good artist!' but finally I saw your name, that you had carefully only half
erased. It is very nice. And I thank you! Louisa and I are just getting back
from spending 3 days in Roche Jaune -- where the weather was very nice...And
there we saw Riton and Andre and Albert and Riton told us that you were
'painting' -- Bravo!!! While I am thinking about it -- do you know Leonard
Scheer I saw him two years ago and he wrote to me recently...We would love to
see you here, and I think you would like the setting...If you ever have
pictures of your work I would love to have some. Here, I have a workshop and a
barn and I am working rather hard...Tomorrow it is the trial of Diego Masson --
accused of having helped the FLN!..." Truly, an intimate look at a great
artist.
Estimated Value $3,500-4,500.
Lot 41
Christy, Howard Chandler
(1873-1952) American illustrator and portraitist, famous for his "Christy
Girls" and World War I posters.
Illustration signed and dedicated
("Howard Chandler Christy"). One page, 7¾ x 8¾", n.p., 1929.
Pencil on cream paper (probably trimmed from letterhead) mounted on paperboard.
Minor smudging, otherwise fine.
A very nice, obviously unique piece from
one of the most recognized illustrators of the 20th century. One of Christy's
girls (with a lovely bob) watches over the inscription to Miss Ida Corey
"with best wishes".
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 42
Church, Frederic Edwin
(1826-1900) American Romantic landscape painter who was one of the foremost
members of the Hudson River school. He was a student of Thomas Cole.
Autograph Note Signed with Original Artwork ("Church"). One
page, 4¾ x 6¾", Carnegie, November 9, 1911. To "Dear
Doctor". Tipped into larger sheet, 9¼ x 8". Minor toning of larger
sheet, with one of its corners missing. Fine.
A very informal piece from
this master of the grand vista. "Saw Jim W. to night, he will give me
sitting soon. Send up size of sheet." Above the text is a sketch of two
bears, one sketching another. Presumably this is meant to be Church and "Jim
W." during the sitting mentioned in the note.
Estimated Value $275-350.
Lot 43
Hassam, Childe
(1859-1935) Foremost American Impressionist painter and master etcher.
Signature ("Childe Hassam"). One page, large octavo, Long
Island, May 18, 1930. On "East Hampton / Long Island" stationery. One
horizontal fold, chipped upper right corner, otherwise fine.
Estimated
Value $75-100.
Lot 44
Kent, Rockwell
(1882-1971) American artist, author and activist. A successful artist and
printmaker, Kent also wrote extensively about his experiences in Alaska,
Greenland and in the waters near Tierra del Fuego. Kent's reputation as one of
the foremost American Modernist artists suffered in the 1940s and 1950s as a
result of his left-wing politics and he was blacklisted by McCarthy.
Signed Photograph ("Rockwell Kent"). Sepia toned, 4 x 6", n.p.,
n.d. Kent signs at the lower white margin of the photo. Kent's name stamped on
verso, one ½"tear at left edge, faint residue at top right corner. Very
good condition.
Kent stands poised on the deck of a ship, hand in
pocket, face to the sun. Given the snow around him and the heavy clothes, Kent
is likely on one of his trips to Alaska, Greenland or Tierra del Fuego. A
wonderful picture capturing the artist where he wished to be, on an adventure.
Estimated Value $250-300.
Lot 45
Kent, Rockwell. Typed
Letter Signed ("Rockwell"). One page, small quarto, AuSable Forks, New
York, August 21, 1968. On Kent's stationery. To Fannie Strauss. Accompanied by
original transmittal envelope. Mailing fold, otherwise fine.
Thanking
Mrs. Strauss for her birthday wishes on his 86th birthday: "...I may perhaps
attribute my still being alive to thank you to the happiness your memory of me
brought..." Kent's long and varied career and desire for experience and
knowledge brought him into the lives of many and he was actively involved in
art and politics until his death.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 46
McManus, George
(1884-1954) One of the most prolific of the early cartoonists, McManus is
remembered today for his prototypical married couple, Jiggs and Maggie. The
rags-to-riches pair fought it out in the funny papers, setting the tone for
many later incarnations of the battle of the sexes.
Signature and
illustration ("Geo McManus"). One page, 3 x 4", n.p., 1939. Black ink on
white card stock. An original illustration of Jiggs himself, along with
McManus' name and the date. One minor abrasion hidden in the name (visible on
close examination), otherwise fine condition.
Estimated Value $75-125.
Lot 47
Motherwell, Robert [Modern
Artists In America]. Signed Book ("Robert Motherwell"). New York:
Wittenborn Schultz, Inc., 1951, 198 pages, 7¾ x 10¾". Motherwell
signs in blue ink on the title page. Some chipping along binding, and wear at
edges. Overall, in fine condition, signature is bold and
clear.
Extensively illustrated with black and white photographs
throughout, this book was, according to the front paste-down, "the first
biennial to document modern art in the United States". Motherwell discusses
American art from Jackson Pollock, Richard Diebenkorn and Elmer Bischof, but
clearly, the book is not limited to American artists as there are references to
Van Gogh, Paul Klee, Picasso, Matisse, and many others. Interestingly,
Motherwell himself designed the front cover, and with the addition of his
signature to the title page, this book truly becomes a collectible.
Estimated Value $375-475.
Lot 48
Parrish, Maxfield.
Autograph Note Signed ("Maxfield Parrish"). One page, recto and
verso, 5½ x 3½", Windsor, Vermont, July 1, 1930. Black ink on
cream card stock. To Miss Ida Corey. Note recto, signed on verso. Very fine
condition.
A charming note: "You said the most beautiful things & I
wish they were true. May be you have got me mixed up with another, but no
matter. Water colors are quite beyond me, and I have never done any, for all my
oil painting may look like them..."
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 49
Peale, Rembrandt
(1778-1860). Artist, noted for his portraits of George Washington and
Napoleon.
Autograph Letter Signed ("Rem Peale"). One page,
quarto, New York, November 29, 1835. In brown ink. To Prosper M. Wetmore,
Regent of the University of New York. Three horizontal and two vertical folds,
an abrasion measuring ½" at upper left starting from the edge,
reinforcing strip verso along left edge, stains verso, and the paper is thin in
one spot at lower left corner. In good condition overall.
Peale had
written a book to be used by schools and families as a manual for drawing.
Here, he implores Wetmore to review his book in hopes that the Regent might
adopt the work as a suitable text for the University: "Permit me to solicit
your examination of the second Edition of my Graphics, considerably improved. I
am induced to hope that this mode of teaching Writing, by which the Student
becomes possessed of the Art of Drawing, will be adopted for the public benefit
by the Regents of the University."
Estimated Value $1,500-1,700.
Lot 50
Pissaro, Camille
(1830-1903) French Impressionist, one of the masters of the movement. A
teacher and friend to Gauguin and Cassatt, he was a favorite of his fellow
artists and the only artist represented in all eight Impressionist exhibits . A
devoted husband and father.
Autograph Letter Signed ("C.
Pissaro"). In French. Two pages, large octavo, [Paris], May 14, 1897. To
his wife: "Ma chere femme". Transmittal fold, ink smeared by author,
remnants of penmanship exercise on the bottom of the second page, minor soil,
otherwise fine.
Addressed to a London home, Pissaro reports on a
doctor's visit for one of their children and mentions his work "...I wrote
to Portier to ask him to conclude the painting deal at 800 francs..."
(Pissaro is probably referring to Auguste Portier, the noted art dealer). It
was in 1897 that Pissaro created his urban landscape series of the Boulevard
Montmartre and he may be referring to one of these works.
Estimated Value
$1,500-1,750.
Lot 51
Gibson, Charles Dana and
Flagg, James Montgomery. Lot of two signatures. 1. ("CD Gibson") One
page, large quarto, Maine, n.d. On "Seven Hundred Acre Island / Dark Harbor /
Maine" letterhead. Inscribed "With all good wishes". Three horizontal
and one vertical crease, minor soil and abrasion at corners, one small area of
abrasion above inscription. Very good condition. 2). ("James Montgomery
Flagg"). One page, 8½ x 3¼", n.p., May 23, 1930. Three
vertical folds, soil at top corners, collector's description visible from verso
along bottom edge (easily matted out). Very good condition.
Bold
signatures from two of America's most famous illustrators.
Estimated Value
$125-150.
Lot 52
Turn of the Century
Autographs. Signatures. An eclectic assortment of signatures likely
collected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, heavily weighted towards
British artists and American silent screen stars. Thirty-three signatures on
letters, cut from notes, and in other forms are mounted on loose black album
pages and include Sir George Gilbert Scott, Samuel Prout, James Whitcomb
Riley, John Brett, William Frith, Rod La Rocque, Edith Storey, Charles
Kempe, and convicted murderess Florence Maybrick. Conditions vary
widely, inspection is recommended.
A treasure trove for the autograph
scholar, there are several signatures we are unable to decipher which offer the
opportunity for research.
Estimated Value $750-1,000.