Title: A Correspondence between the Artist & Illustrator Samuel Chamberlain and Executive Editor Fridolf Johnson, Regarding an Article in American Artist Magazine. The Correspondence Includes Typed Letters Signed by Chamberlain and Original Photographs.
Description: September 1964 through August 1967. [1964]. [1964]. September 1964 through August 1967. [1964]. [1964]. Very good. - A correspondence between Samuel Chamberlain and Fridolf Johnson consisting of 4 Typed Letters Signed by Samuel Chamberlain, three of which are written on his personal 11 inch high by 8-1/2 inch wide stationery with the artist's name and address attractively printed in rust brown at the top, and the fourth on 7 inch high by 5-3/8 inch wide stationery with only the artist's address printed at the top. Another letter typed by Chamberlain is unsigned. The correspondence also includes an Autograph Letter Signed by the artist's wife on the 7 inch high by 5-3/8 inch wide stationery, and 7 retained carbon copies of Fridolf Johnson's letters on yellow paper. Also included is Fridolf's Boston Yacht Club bill and 7 original photographs by Chamberlain of boats and yachts at harbor.
In the retained copy of an initial letter dated Sept. 14, 1964, Fridolf Johnson writes to Chamberlain that "Mr. Norman Kent, our editor, has been interested for some time in getting together an article on you and your work to appear in a future issue of AMERICAN ARTIST.. We are planning on a 6-page feature story to be illustrated with perhaps fifteen examples of your work.." Chamberlain replies the very next day in a typed letter signed, dated Sepember 15, 1964, that he is very honored and that the days which Fridolf has suggested for an interview are quite convenient. He goes on to write that "Marblehead has no acceptable hotels, but through a good friend of ours, Mr. Devereux Chesterton, I can reserve a room for you and Mrs. Johnson at the Boston Yacht Club, which is only a short walk from our house.." Fridolf Johnson replies on September 21st. Included in the archive is Fridolf's bill for his room at the Boston Yacht Club. On October 6, 1964, Fridolf writes to inform Chamberlain that the article will be delayed by a month so that he can do it justice and proclaims that "Heidi and I are still talking about our visit to Marblehead". In appreciation, Fridolf has apparently included his little chapbooks as a gift: "The Mermaid Press sends you a few of its more ambitious productions. 'Wonder of Wonders' is my latest, and I hope it will be the first of a long series of chapbooks on Mermaids". In a typed letter signed dated October 23, Chamberlain replies that "We were absolutely charmed by those little books, especially 'Nasty Nancy'. I showed it to my little neighbor, Anne, aged nine, and she was totally enthralled.. My good wife is also talking about that beautiful foie gras from Alsace which arrived in the mail this morning.." As Fridolf had borrowed some of the artist's etchings and photographs for the article, Chamberlain goes on to let him know that it's fine for him to keep those until the article goes to print. On October 24th, Chamberlain's wife, Narcissa, writes to Heidi Johnson (Fridolf's wife) thanking her for the pate de foie gras and expresses her appreciation for the little Mermaid Press books, concluding "What a fine eye and hand your husband has". On December 4th, Fridolf informs Chamberlain that "At last I finished the article.. When the copy arrives, I'd appreciate your sending me any important corrections that I could insert in the galleys.." and on December 7th "Here is a carbon of the typescript.." Pleased with the copy, Chamberlain replies on December 9th: "Thank you so much for your letter and for the enclosed manuscript, which I think is perfectly splendid.. As you request, I am also including the engraver's proofs with caption material indicated on each." On January 25th, 1965 Fridolf writes that he is sending back the prints and expresses his hope to visit Marblehead again. Chamberlain was apparently quite pleased with the article, writing on February 7th that "I have heard from several old friends, former students, and even war-time sidekicks, as a result of your story. Everyone seemed to be vastly pleased, and I am grateful to you once again for your kindness.." In August of 1967, the New York Times also published an article on Samuel Chamberlain. Fridolf writes to Chamberlain on that same day to congratulate him and also encloses a circular letter explaining his current projects and hopes that he can review Chamberlain's soon to be published book. Thankful for Fridolf's kind words, Chamberlain replies on August 23rd: "In contrast to you, I feel very much a drone up here in Marblehead! My book on Fifty Years in the Graphic Arts is due to appear in April 1968, if all goes well, and I will make sure you receive a review copy. It choked with pictures, over 400 of them!"
Accompanying the letters are 7 glossy black & white photographs, each measuring 4-1/4 inches high by 6 inches wide. Identified as by Samuel Chamberlain in an unknown hand on the verso, the photographs depict scenes of ships and yachts at harbor, although one, shot from behind the prow of a boat, depicts several artists painting on canvases at the edge of the beach.
The graphic artist & illustrator Samuel Vance Chamberlain (1895-1975) was born in Iowa and raised in Washington State. His studies were interrupted by the first World War while he was attending architectural school at MIT and, not unlike Hemingway, he joined the American Field Service driving ambulances in France, taking the opportunity to sketch buildings in his spare time and learning skills in lithography and etching. He met his wife Narcissa on his return trip as she had also volunteered in Europe during the war. They returned to Europe to travel and while living in Paris in the 1920s, they socialized with famous expatriates, including Gertrude Stein & Alice B. Toklas, Louis Bromfield and Alexander Calder. He published his portfolios "Sketches of Northern Spanish Architecture" and "Domestic Architecture of Rural France" and, with Louis Skidmore, his book "Tudor Homes of England". They moved back to the US in the mid-1930s, settling in Marblehead, Massachusetts. He worked for several publications and taught at MIT before enlisting in the Army Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War where he served as a reconnaissance photographer. In the 40s and 50s, in addition to illustrating and publishing travel books, he also worked on fashion illustrations and illustrated cookbooks. He was highly respected during his lifetime and was the recipient of numerous awards. [Paraphrased from Tamara Gaydos biography of the artist for the Peabody Essex Museum].
An illustrator and artist as well as a fine pressman, Fridolf Johnson was an editor of American Artist Magazine until his retirement in the 1970's. He compiled and edited the Knopf book "Rockwell Kent: An Anthology of His Work" and the significant reference work "A Treasury of Bookplates From the Renaissance to the Present". Very good .
Keywords: ART; ILLUSTRATED; GRAPHIC ARTIST; TYPED LETTERS SIGNED; CORRESPONDENCE; ARCHIVE; SAMUEL VANCE CHAMBERLAIN; FRIDOLF JOHNSON; HEIDI JOHNSON; NARCISSA CHAMBERLAIN; AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED; RETAINED CARBONS; ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS; TWENTIETH CENTURY; 20TH CENTU
- Book number: 34584
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