History In Ink®  Historical Autographs


1431525

Norman Rockwell

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To Rockwell, autograph collecting is a "most interesting" hobby

Norman Perceval Rockwell, 18941978.  American painter and illustrator.  Typed Letter Signed, Norman Rockwell, one page, 5½" x 6½", Arlington, Vermont, February 20, 1946.

Responding to a collector, Rockwell expresses his opinion that autograph collecting is a "most interesting" hobby.  In full:  “I am sending with this letter one of my autograph [sic] as you requested to add to your collection.  /  It is well for people to have a hobby and it would seem to me that yours is most interesting.  /  With all kind wishes, I am –  /  Sincerely . . . ."

Rockwell was one of Americaʼs premier artists of the 20th Century.  He was best known for his covers illustrations of everyday life for The Saturday Evening Post, which he created for more than 40 years.  He also painted illustrations for the Boy Scouts of America, including covers for its publication Boysʼ Life. 

In 1943, during the dark days of World War II, and inspired by President Franklin D. Rooseveltʼs 1941 State of the Union address outlining the "Four Freedoms" that people "everywhere in the world" should enjoy, Rockwell created his own Four Freedoms series of paintings—Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear.  The paintings were published on consecutive weeks in The Saturday Evening Post and toured as part of an exhibition sponsored jointly by the Post and the United States Treasury Department.  The resulting sales of war bonds raised over $132 million to support the American war effort.

Rockwell and his wife, Mary, moved to Arlington, Vermont, where he wrote this letter, in 1939.  Arlington is a small town on the Batten Kill River in Southwest Vermont, with a population of about 2,300 people at the 2010 census.  It was in Arlington that Rockwellʼs art began to reflect small-town life.  The Rockwells lived in Arlington until they moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where Mary could receive medical treatment, in 1953.

This letter has one normal mailing fold, which runs along the top of the second paragraph, well away from Rockwellʼs pristine black ink signature.  The letter has a few tiny thin spots in the paper, which are hardly noticeable, at the top just above the date line.  It is in fine to very fine condition.

Unframed.  Click here for information about custom framing this piece.

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