Art and Architecture Autographs and Memorabilia Gift Ideas

HENRI de TOULOUSE-LAUTREC Signed handwritten 1893 letter in French to Gustave Geffroy, with whom he would co-author a book the following year ALS: "T-Lautrec" in French, 1 page, 4¼x5¼. Monday. No place, no date. On verso of sheet imprinted "Service Telegraphique/Telegram", postmarked Paris, 1893 October 23. To Gustave Geffroy, Paris. In full: "Forgive me for being late to meet you, but I would like to speak with you tomorrow Tuesday at 6. I will come to see you at The Justice. I hope I have not lost the opportunity meet with you." Congenitally stunted French painter and printmaker HENRI de TOULOUSE-LAUTREC (1864-1901) is renowned for his posters, lithographs and book illustrations of Parisian nightlife in the "belle époque" of the 1890s. His early painting, "The Laundress", sold for $22.4 million in 2005. Gustave Geffroy (1855-1926) was an art critic who wrote for Clemenceau's "La Justice". He was the subject of artist Paul Cezanne's painting The Unfinished Portrait of Geffroy (1896) which hangs in the Louvre today. read more...

CAMILLE PISSARRO The painter signs a richly detailed, 4-page handwritten letter to his wife Julie (1892), discussing business and family affairs, and expressing frustration at mail delays Autograph Letter signed: "C. Pissarro", 4 pages (front and verso), 4½x7. Eragny (France), 1892 December 27. To"My dear Julie". In French, translated in full: "One cannot rely on the punctuality of the mail these days; would you believe that your letter to Lise only arrived here yesterday, thus too late to be communicated in time; I hope that you were nevertheless on time at your aunt's. Something else even more extraordinary, I received yesterday the letter that you sent to Lucien on Saturday, the imbeciles at the Hotel who know my name, even though Lucien is staying with them, still sent the letter to me; I thought it would be useless to send it back because it would have come back to me, and besides it was too late. The 2 p.m. train just came by, nobody. Lucien wrote that he would perhaps miss it and would be on the 3:45. I enclose herewith a letter from Mrs. Mirbeau that must be answered. read more...

JEAN CHARLOT Painter Jean Charlot wrote a letter on the back of this post card to the director of the Fine Arts Gallery in San Diego, California in 1933 about shipping large works. Post card signed "Jean Charlot". 1 page, 5½x3¼ post card. Postmarked Carmel, California, Aug. 30, 1933. Addressed to Reginald Poland, Director of the Fine Arts Gallery, San Diego, California. 1¢ blank post card. In full: "Dear Mr Polan, I understood the show was to be had through the Stendahl galleries not knowing exactly what arrangements were made it is difficult to answer. However, I did not bring any larger pictures with me. The Shipping from N. Y. would be quite expensive - and I would endeavor to paint them only if there was a reasonable possibility of sale - the show is going to be in San Francisco at the Ansel Adams galleries from the 18 to the 30th of September - after what then it could be shipped to you if agreeable. If you want to know the expenses of shipping pictures from New York, do write to my dealer, John Becher - 520 Madison Avenue - A number of canvases approx. 30x40 are available. Sincerely". Charlot (1898-1979) was a French painter known for frescoes with a strong Mayan influence. read more...

RAOUL DUFY ALS: "Raoul Dufy", 1p, 6x73/4. In French, not translated. No place, no date, Tuesday. To Fleuret Reval. In part: "Thank you for sending me Paul Morisse's letter...I'd rather see him, because if he ever likes my drawings, I'd like to give his people some reproduction instructions so that they don't damage the drawings...." The French painter abandoned early Impressionism for Fauvism. His bright, colorful paintings did much to popularize the movement. Fine condition. read more...

JAMES MONTGOMERY FLAGG Signed color watercolor on linen by Flagg of a clown and an aristocratic-looking bellhop with a monocle, captioned "'Most Extraord'n'ry' was last year's fake show. But- wait till you see 1898's!" This is a rare piece from early in Flagg's career, dated almost 20 years before the publication of his "I Want You for U.S. Army", featuring Uncle Sam, in 1917! Original art signed "J. M . Flagg". Color, 19½x24¾. Watercolor on linen. Captioned around clown: "'Most Extraord'n'ry'/was last year's/fake show./But-/wait till you see/1898's!" with "This is some buddy" written at his feet. The date on this poster is almost two full decades before Flagg published his iconic "I Want You for U.S. Army" recruiting poster in 1917. It's a rare piece from early in his career, when he was better known for painting big-busted women in magazines. When the U.S. entered WWI, Flagg (1877-1960, born in Pelham Manor, New York) created the now-famous "I Want You for U.S. Army" recruiting poster, which featured an Uncle Sam based on his likeness. read more...

SUPERMAN ARTISTS: JACK ADLER, CURT SWAN and MIKE ESPOSITO Comprises: (1) Color Proof, unsigned. Color, 7x10¼. Hand colored guide for "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen", DC Comics #116, December 1968. Titled: "The Gorilla Reporter". Ink notation, "Fix", with arrow (unknown hand) redirects the point of origin of a dialogue balloon. With Certificate of Authenticity explaining that "These are unique one of a kind original paintings that were used to show the printer what exact color shades would be needed to print the final comic cover. The Adler collection features hundreds of these, most hand colored by Mr. Adler, with others colored by the original artist. Most of these were done in water color and contain some printer color codes that were used to set the finished colors." Slightly creased. Fine condition. (2) Printed Art, unsigned. Color, 7x10¼. Approval Cover for the same comic book. With Certificate of Authenticity explaining an approval cover. In part: "An approval cover is a limited printing of the comic book cover that was given to a D.C. Comics executive prior to the printing of the comic. read more...

ANDY WARHOL Andy Warhol signs a French color printed image of his 1963 painting of Academy Award-winning actress and international beauty, Elizabeth Taylor. Printed Image signed: "Andy Warhol". Color, 4x6. French printing of his 1963 painting of Academy Award-winning actress and international beauty, Elizabeth Taylor. Andy Warhol, a former commercial artist, first attracted attention with his exhibitions of pop art subjects from everyday life (Campbell's Soup Can, 1965; Green Coca-Cola Bottles, 1962). Considered the "Father of Pop Art", he was also noted for his famous portraits of celebrities, executed in a "silk screen" style. 2 stray ink marks at left of the "A". Fine condition. read more...

ANDREW WYETH His reply to a warm letter, signed on letterhead of his famous home, The Mill Autograph Letter signed: "A. Wyeth", 1 page, 7½x10½. No place, but postmarked Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, 1964 November 27. To "Dear Mrs. Platt", in full: "My warmest thanks to you for writing such a warm letter. All the family will enjoy it." Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009, born in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania) found the subject matter for his paintings in the two regions in which he lives: Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania (winter) and Cushing, Maine (summer). Wyeth's work provides almost photographic depictions of lonely rural life. His best-known painting, Christina's World, depicts a neighbor, polio-stricken Christina Olson, gazing from a field at her large home on a hill. In 1958, Andrew and his wife Betsy Wyeth purchased and restored The Mill, a cluster of 18th century buildings in his home town of Chadds Ford. Andrew Wyeth was the son of N. C. Wyeth and the father of Jamie Wyeth, both important artists in their own right. Multiple mailing folds. Fine condition. read more...

DISNEY STUDIO ARTIST: JAMES ALGAR Pencil drawing done by the Disney animator featuring Goofy in a fireman's outfit Original Art Unsigned. Pencil drawing one page 12x9½. Circa 1936.  Numbered “136”. Because of the advent of computer-created cartoons, original sketches, such as this one, which were used to make cells are no longer used in creating cartoons. James Algar (1912-1998) was one of the three animators who created Snow White's animal friends for Disney's first cartoon feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. In 1937, Algar directed a cartoon short, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, which became the basis for Fantasia. He later directed many of Disney's nature films and eventually became a producer. Algar was named a Disney Legend in 1998, 64 years after he was first named an animator. Lightly creased. Stray ink mark at upper right background. 5 file holes (2 with paper reinforcements around them) at lower margin. Otherwise, fine condition. Framed in the Gallery of History style: 32¾x19¾. read more...