MICHAEL HEATH - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 07/10/1973 - HFSID 80274

MICHAEL HEATH
Famed British cartoonist sends fan letter of "thanks" signs his name in black ink
Autograph letter signed: "Michael Heath" in black ink. 1 page, letter clipped by line and affixed to 5¼x8½ piece of white paper. July 10, 1973. In full: "Dear Victor Croxford - Thank you for your most interesting letter. I enclose autograph & drawing also an original. Thank you again for asking. Yours,". British cartoonist Michael Heath (b. 1935) is the son of a "hack illustrator of children's comics" George Heath, who worked as an illustrator for Amalgamated Press, and an illustrator mother who drew for Picturegoer and Woman's Own. When he graduated high school he attended the Brighton Art College form 1952 to 1953, but disliked it so much he left before finishing the course; Heath sold his first drawing in 1954 for only four guineas. In 1957 Heath began contributing to the Spectator, started contributing to Punch in 1958, and began what would be a long association with Private Eye, where he wrote the series "Great Bores of Today" and "Heath's Private View". He was voted CCGB's Pocket Cartoonist of the Year in 1977, and Granada TV's What the Papers Say Cartoonist of the Year in 1979. Heath signed a contract with the Evening Standard in 1977 and stayed till 1986, while also contributing to Man About Town, Men Only, Sunday Times, and Evening News. He was named Cartoon Editor of the Spectator in 1991, and was considered a senior figure among British cartoonists, and received the Member of the British Empire medal in 2001. Very irregularly cut. Ink notes in unknown hand in top and right margins. Corners and edges worn and creased. Otherwise, fine condition.