?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500
KENT, ROCKWELL. Original illustration for an unrealized business logo. With 2 related letters (1 Autographed, 1 Typed). Illustration is pen and ink with wash, 79x63 mm; 3 1/4x2 1/2 inches on 6 1/2x5 1/2-inch sheet. Letters are each 8vo, with vertical and horizontal folds, on Kent's Ausable Forks letterhead, signed and dated; original envelopes included. Ausable Forks, NY, 1938-39
original kent illustration with insightful explanation of its design. Design for "Bittner & Galland. Slipcases for Fine Books." Accompanied by an Autograph Letter Signed to business owner Harry Galland of 5 Maiden Lane, New York City. He suggests a reduction size of the design but enlarging the letters for proper readability and states: "I had thought of making a design that could serve you as a trade mark to stamp on your work. But I decided that that would have necessitated such simplicity of design as might not properly dignify your letter-head." 4 April, 1938 A follow-up Typed Letter Signed by Kent to Galland, dated 8 March, 1939 apologizes for the design (which he by then called a bookplate) came many months too late when Galland's business had already gone under. He states that, since he was to be paid in trade which was now impossible, he would take the opportunity to sell the design to another person who was interested in it. If Galland started another business, he would be happy to offer it to him again. A nice trio of items that offers a keen look into the business and creative sense of the great illustrator.
