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Next Auction, Wednesday, March 30, 2011
CHARLES E. BARBER $200.00
21959-1
American engraver, his principal work was as an engraver of coin dies, including the Barber Half, Barber dimes, Liberty head nickel, and many other coins and medals.Good content A.L.S. "Chas. E. [Barber], on Mint of the United States letterhead, Philadelphia, Nov. 24, 1891 to H. H. Zearing. In part: "...I suppose you know there is no machine that will give a finished work, the reduction in [?] case statuette or die requiring considerable labor to finish. I therefore take it for granted you wish me to furnish the die finished, reduced from your mold. The cost of a pair of dies such as you desire will be about $200.00....[I] would prefer having the model if you have it, say three or four inches larger than medal required...". Heavy dampstain damage has caused the loss or partial loss of about 15 words of text, as well as Barber's last name, the balance of the letter bears slight wear and soiling. Particularly interesting is the fact that it appears Barber has undertaken work beyond his official duties at the Mint, likely in violation of his position.
HANDFORD, MARTIN $50.00
17602-1
(? - ?) American cartoonist, the creator of Where's Waldo. Fine original hand-drawn sketch of his famous Waldo executed at the top of a "International Year of the Child" commemorative first day cover dated 1979, signed and inscribed to Dennis beneath the image. Fine.
GOULD, CHESTER $70.00
22027-1
(1900 - 1985) American cartoonist who was first to introduce crime and violence to the comics with his creation of "Dick Tracy".Signed illustrated first day cover honoring America's bicentennial, canceled in Washington on July 4, 1971, nicely signed in red ink with his artist's signature. Fine.
FRANCIS L. CHANTREY $90.00
38103-1
(1782 - 1841) British sculptor whose works include a statue of Washington at the Boston State House, Wellington at the London Exchange, and Stamford Raffles at Westminster Abbey. Lot of two A.L.S.'s, 2pp. total, 8vo., [n.p., n.d.], friendly content concerning apologies for not maintaining contact ("...my d _ D old Jarvis omitted to send you the note...") and making arrangements to meet. Each letter bears a marginal or corner chip with no loss of text, some toning, still overall very good.
GIBSON, CHARLES DANA $20.00
46603-1
(1867 - 1944) American illustration artist who created the "Gibson Girl" for Colliers magazine. Later, he bought Life magazine and worked as the magazine's editor until the 1930's.huge signature measuring nearly 8", executed in bold pen on a sheet. Heavy tape remnants at middle fold and left edge, overall just good.
FILDES, SAMUEL LUKE $160.00
38860-1
(1843 - 1918) British artist, most remembered for his work called The Doctor. Based on the death of his son, the painting shows a concerned physician watching a dying child. It became one of the best-selling engravings of the Victorian era.A.L.S. 2pp. 8vo., London, Nov. 18, 1916, in part: "...I send you a little sketch of your stall and I hope you have some luck with it. It is of no artistic merit; but I value it..." Fildes mentions how the sketch was associated with his correspondent's father, who had since passed away. Very good.
PAUL MANSHIP $700.00
47597-1
A superlative grouping of material by Manship, includes five T.L.S.'s, an original pencil sketch, a signed photo of one of his statues, and a grouping of retained copies of letters to him as well as several catalogs of his works. The letters, each 1p. 4to. , New York, 1938, are all written to Max Safron in St. Louis and concern Manship's potential design and creation of an equestrian statue of Gen. John Pershing. They read, in part: "[Apr. 22]...[Portrait artist] Leopold Seyffert has suggested to me that I write you...proposing me to do an equestrian statue of General Pershing. I am naturally very much interested...Do you suggest that I come to St. Louis to see you...[Apr. 29]...I am glad to send you some photographs of my work...to have you show them to the Committee of the Soldiers Memorial...examples of my work may be seen in the St. Louis Museum...[Oct. 3]...I have just returned from Europe...I should be glad to see you when you come to New York...[Oct. 25]...I will get hold of Seyffert -- I want to see his painting of the General. I will make some sketches of an equestrian statueof General Pershing...impossible to intelligently solve the problem without exactly understanding the setting for the statue...it would be interesting for me to make a portrait study of General Pershing to be used in connection with this work. I have met the General, and I think that he remembers me in a friendly way...[Nov. 1]...I have received...photographs showing the St. Louis Memorial Plaza...It would be practically impossible to make a proper model of this statue between now and Armistice Day...a collection of photographs of great equestrian could be got together to demonstrate what has been done...to commemorate otherGenerals...[they] cost in the neighborhood of $75,000 to $100,000, the latter sum taking care of the contruction of the foundations and pedestal...I would rather be commissioned only to furnish the bronze statue...three years is a proper time to allow..." More fine content. Also included are eleven 7" x 9" or larger photos of various statues by Manship, one showing the Soldier's Monument at the American Cemetary at Thiancourt, France, so noted by Manship on the verso and signed by him twice, with a photo of a shield-bearing warrior bearing a pencil sketch of a statue on verso, with two other simpler sketches, two catalogs of Manship's works, and copies of letters from Safron to Manship. Overall very good. We have been unable to determine whether Manship ever completed the project -- the last letter from Safron to Manship is dated Dec. 8, 1938. EBAY 400
ALEXANDER GARDNER $1,400.00
31984-1
(1821 - 1882) American photographer employed by Mathew Brady to undertake studio work, and later produced what are considered to be the finest, most striking CIVIL WAR War battlefield views of the period, bringing the horror of the war home to the North. Gardner later would become official photographer for the Union Pacific Railroad.Very rare manuscript d.s. "Alex Gardner", 1p. oblong narrow 8vo., Washington, Feb. 27, 1880, a bank check drawn on the account of The Masonic Mutual relief Association account at Riggs & Co., making a $7.75 payment to J. J. Chapman. Signed by Gardner as Secretary, and by John E. Herrellas President. Cut cancel with no paper loss and not affecting signature, else very fine. Gardner was a lifelong Mason, and a Master Mason since 1854. In 1866 he and seven brother Mason organized this charity to benefit widows and orphans of deceased Master Masons. Gardner is very rare in any form!
ROQUEPLAN, CAMILLE $75.00
20239-1
(1800-1855) French painter, A pupil of Gros and Alexandre-Denis Abel de Pujol, he painted landscapes, historical subjects and genre scenes, in oil and watercolour, and also produced lithographs.Partly-printed document, 1p. 8vo., Paris, April 1833, a printed invitation of a party, begging that "Frederique Brown and his brother" come to a soiree on "Thursday, April 25....". Boldly filled out, unsigned. Very good.
VILLIERS, FREDERIC $50.00
38924-1
French artist and photographer with extensive front-line experience, also credited with taking the first successful motion pictures of warfare.A.L.S. 1p. 8vo., San Francisco, Jan. 29, 1895 mantioning his pleasure that his lecture was well received. Fine.
51583-1_01.jpg MARC CHAGALL $345.00
51583-1
(1887 - 1985) French artist whose naive style incorporating subjects of Russian and Jewish life made him one of the foremost artists of this century. Oversize S.P. 11" x 14" color, showing Chagall standing, ca. 1970s, in front of his United Nations mural with Annabelle Wiener, Director of Volunteers for World Federation of United Nations Association, an organization for which Chagall designed a stamp. Boldly signed and fine.
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT $7,500.00
60608-35
(1867-1959) American architect, one of the most influential of all time, he was the creator of so-called organic architecture utilizing novel shapes and incorporating his buildings into their settings. A superb, architecturally important piece, being an original signed hand-drawn architectural drawing (not confirmed but possibly drawn by Wright himself) measuring 34" x 20" (sight), and showing three elevations for a house designed drawn by Wright, this plan is titled "Sheet No. 3 House for Mr. & Mrs. Eric Pratt Galesburg Country Homes". Finely drawn in pencil with red details, it is signed at bottom right by Wright: "F LL Wr Mar. 20 49". In 1936, Wright developed a series of cost-controlled homes dubbed "Usonian". Prompted by the economic depression of the time and modeled on his earlier Prairie Style, the Usonians were designed simply, and without an attic or basement. The one-story domiciles were modularly constructed with concrete blocks and designed to be configured in a number of ways. The Eric Pratt House was an example of this design aesthetic, which Wright later referred to "Usonian Automatic". Located near Kalamazoo, MI, it was completed in 1951, and is considered a fine example of the form. Matted and set into a wooden frame that shows some damage. Fine condition, not examined out of frame, certainly worthy of re-framing. EBAY 7000
PETER MAX $100.00
48974-1
(b. 1937) American pop artist known for his psychedelic posters promoting rock bands and events of the 1960's. Nice poster, 24" x 36", in Russian for a Leningrad show featuring Max's "American Flag" done in 1986, inscribed "For Allison Love Peter Max 1997", printed on vintage gloss 100-pound stock. Very good.
BOB KANE $250.00
60130-6
(1916 - 1998) American artist and cartoonist who created the masked crime-fighting character "Batman", later adapted to various TV and movie franchises. Batman debuted in 1939 in Detective Comics. Set of three hand-drawn cartoon cels, each about 11" x 20", one signed in block letters "Bob Kane", apparently used by Kane as part of a presentation for a proposed animated cartoon "The Boys and Ghouls Theater". Kane presents eleven characters, including the heroes "Nick O'Tyme" and "Dumb Dora", and players "Igor the Hippie Ghoul", "Dr. Madcap", "Wilda the Witch", "Vince the Vampire", "Frank N. Stein", "Granny the Ghost", and so on. Some very light soiling, else very good, matted and framed. We believe these cels were the progenitors of Kane's animated series "Cool McCool" that ran on NBC from Sept. 10, 1966 to Aug. 30, 1969. Cool McCool featured the adventures of a hip, trench-coated spy, who - as on the contemporary TV show Get Smart - defeated villains despite being comically inept. Villains included names identical to those in our cels: Greta Ghoul and Dr. Madcap!
ALBERTO VARGAS $360.00
60878-1
(1896 - 1982) American artist, a painter of pin-ups and erotica, famous for his inconic ca. 1940s images of girls for Esquire Magazine. Fine content A.L.S. on a sheet of lined notepaper, 1p. 4to., [n.p.], Oct. 21, 1978, to "Smithy & Paula", in part: "...It's been quite a while since you last heard from me but you have no idea the vast amount of sweat and work and anticipation it entails when you are about to 'give birth' to a 'Book' with the Story of your of Life and Work! So! Nov. 10 '78 is the date...For a start, in this small tube I am sending you with pride and pleasure, a year-end calendar that the Pub. Co. 'Crown' has put out...That girl staring at you is part of the loose cover of the Book, which is cloth-bound and makes me swell with pardonable pride. I can just see the sapphire-blue eyes of my gentle Ana gleaming in a rosy cloud in anticipation of reading what I have to say of our trials and tribulations!...I am beginning to raise up my sleeves to go to work on the mass of unfinished work I accumulated in the last 40 years...Luckily my eyesight and my hands are still in perfect order...at my age 82...My solution: I stay clear from arguments, recriminations and anything else that tend to...disturb my mind...". Fine.
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