NORMAN ROCKWELL - ORIGINAL ART ON TYPED LETTER SIGNED 03/10/1970 - HFSID 283415

NORMAN ROCKWELL
Saturday Evening Post illustrator Norman Rockwell drew an original blue ink picture of a dog on this typed letter, which he signed in 1970. Interestingly, this letter, on his personalized stationery, is an apology that he can't send the recipient a sketch or drawing! With original mailing envelope.
Original art on typed letter signed "Norman/Rockwell" in blue ink.1 page, 6x7¾, on Rockwell's personalized stationery. With 4¾x1½ blue ink drawing near bottom edge. March 10, 1970. In full: "Dear Lachie MacLachlan: Thank you for your letter and for all the nice things you said about my paintings. I am really sorry but I just don't have any sketches or drawings that I could send you, so I am returning your check. Again, than you for your interest in writing to me. Cordially,". Lightly toned and creased. Paper clip impressions near top and bottom edges, which touch drawing but not signature. Light ink smudges in body of letter. Rust stain near bottom edge. Lightly discolored on verso (no show-through). Folded in half and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition. Accompanied by: Unsignedenvelope from Rockwell's personalized stationery. 6¼x4. Postmarked Stockbridge, Massachusetts, March 11, 1970. Addressed Mr. Lachie MacLachlan, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. One 6-cent color American flag stamp affixed. Envelope is open and empty. Lightly toned, stained and creased. Rust stain near bottom right corner. Paper loss under flap and adhesive residue from flap on verso (no show-through). Otherwise in fine condition. Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) is an American artist and illustrator best known for his realistic and humorous scenes of small town life in America. He painted over 300 covers for the Saturday Evening Post  from 1916 to 1965 after beginning his career at age 18 as an illustrator for Boy's Life. His art, drawn with attention to detail, had an air of simplicity and sentimentality. Rockwell's popularity grew because his art seemed to be, for everyday Americans, a mirror-image of real life. His subjects ranged from American presidents to Mark Twain characters to the man who delivered his mail. Rockwell's work was also published in several other magazines and on numerous calendars, and his paintings portraying "The Four Freedoms" were distributed as morale-builders and to promote the sale of Victory Bonds during World War II. Rockwell published his autobiography, Norman Rockwell, My Adventures as an Illustrator, in 1960.