Description:

THE MERCHANDISING OF MOUNT RUSHMORE
GUTZON BORGLUM (1871 - 1941) American sculptor and artists responsible for the sculpting of Mount Rushmore, as well as the commencement of the Confederate memorial at Stone Mountain. Fine lot of two items pertaining to Borglum''s efforts to profit from his sculpting of Mount Rushmore into the heads of four presidents. Included is a D.S., 4pp. 4to., [Mount Rushmore], Sep. 26, 1934, an original signed carbon of a typed contract between Borglum and merchandiser Henry Farnum, witnessed by Borglum''s son LINCOLN BORGLUM (who completed some of the work on Mt. Rushmore), in which the parties agree to sell cast images of the carved mountain and heads of the presidents. Borglum allows Farnum: "...the four portraits now being carved...reproduced as book ends, full portraits and fragments, any where within the United States and Canada...total quantity of not less than 10,000...said sculptor will have ready for delivery...the foregoing heads colored and ready for market...". Other terms address breakage, prices (75 cents for "fragments", busts $1.00, book ends $2.00), payment to Borglum, etc. Also present is a fine content T.L.S. signed "Gutzon GUTZON BORGLUM (1871 - 1941) American sculptor and artists responsible for the sculpting of Mount Rushmore, as well as the commencement of the Confederate memorial at Stone Mountain. Fine lot of two items pertaining to Borglum''s efforts to profit from his sculpting of Mount Rushmore into the heads of four presidents. Included is a D.S., 4pp. 4to., [Mount Rushmore], Sep. 26, 1934, an original signed carbon of a typed contract between Borglum and merchandiser Henry Farnum, witnessed by Borglum''s son LINCOLN BORGLUM (who completed some of the work on Mt. Rushmore), in which the parties agree to sell cast images of the carved mountain and heads of the presidents. Borglum allows Farnum: "...the four portraits now being carved...reproduced as book ends, full portraits and fragments, anywhere within the United States and Canada...total quantity of not less than 10,000...said sculptor will have ready for delivery...the foregoing heads colored and ready for market...". Other terms address breakage, prices (75 cents for "fragments", busts $1.00, book ends $2.00), payment to Borglum, etc. Also present is a fine content T.L.S. signed "Gutzon Borglum" three times on "Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission" letterhead, 1p. 4to., Mount Rushmore, Oct. 3, 1934 to Farnum amending the contract "...provided 50,000 (fifty thousand) casts have been sold. Otherwise some new agreement must be entered upon...for the small heads or fragments the sum of thirty-five (35) cents each, and for the book ends one dollar ($1.00)...". Other parties to the contract have signed each paragraph as well. Very good. Few are aware that besides his fee for his work, Borglum made a pretty penny through royalties and the sale of such souvenirs. Contract bears a few marginal chips, letter is near fine.

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May 10, 2017 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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