Original pen and ink drawing for a bookplate 9.5x6.2 cm (3¾x2½") along with a printed example of the plate, mounted side by side on the inside cover of a specially prepared folder, both drawing and printed plate with a protective plastic (shrinkwrap type) covering, not adhered to plates. Accompanied by a typed letter, signed, from Rockwell Kent to Mrs. Hazel Harwell, presenting the gift of the bookplate and asking for the favor of having an electrotype plate made so he could include the plate in his second volume of bookplate designs. A carbon copy of Mrs. Harwell's response is included. Housed in a 6¼x5" custom cloth folder.
In the letter, on Kent's personal stationery, dated December 1, 1935, Kent writes: "Dear Hazel: Here, if you like it, is the bookplate of the two amorous giraffes - made unexpectedly soon because it was such a pleasure. I have left them, respectively, of undetermined sex, leaving to be forever a source of quarrel between you as to which is which. It is a Christmas present to you, but one for which I ask a little favor in return: that is, that you send me an electrotype of the cut, so that when I bring out, as I intend to, a second book of bookplate designs, I may include this one. Faithfully yours, Rockwell." True to his letter, the bookplate appears on page 24 of his "Later Bookplates and Marks of Rockwell Kent." (New York, 1937. No. 75 of 1250 copies, signed by Kent at the colophon), the Harwell's copy of which, with their Kent designed bookplate affixed to the front endpaper, accompanies this lot.
Condition:
Light spotting at edges of plates; letters creased, Kent's letter splitting at folds; custom case with the spine detached and the two boards detached from each other, book with light wear, related clippings pasted to rear endpapers; very good.