Description:

Frederic Remington Cryptic ALS Mentioning His Patron Teddy Roosevelt

A 1p autograph letter signed by important Western artist Frederic Remington (1861-1909), as "Frederic Remington" at lower right. N.d. Written at 301 Webster Avenue, the address of Remington's residence and art studio in New Rochelle, New York. On a single leaf of cream paper. Unevenly toned along the right side, and with expected paper folds. Minor mounting traces verso, else very good to near fine. 6" x 7.875." Accompanied by a souvenir stamp block of four commemorative 10-cent U.S. stamps featuring Remington's image, part of the Famous Americans series first issued on September 30, 1940. Provenance: Ex-Noel Goldblatt (ca. 1926-2003) of the famous Goldblatt's Department Store, to a prominent Los Angeles, California collector.

Remington wrote an unknown correspondent in full, with original spelling and punctuation:

"301 Webster Ave
New R--- N.Y.

My dear G --

I will call on you some day I am such a slow fellow in business that I dont know how to get a boy a job but I am coming to drink at your shrine and between us we will win - I can play the bass-drum to beat hell but I am bad on the picalo

Oh I guess its Roosevelt but 'the people hate Alger' and they generally register without much discrimination -

I will call -

Y ---

Frederic Remington."

Remington's letter is so couched in inside language and baffling metaphors that, without alternate context, it is impossible to make out a clear meaning. We can speculate about the end of the letter, however.

Remington wrote: "Oh I guess its Roosevelt but 'the people hate Alger.'" Remington was almost certainly referring to his patron, American politician Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919). Remington had illustrated Roosevelt's ranching articles in the late 1880s. In 1898, Remington was hired by the "New York Journal" as a war correspondent covering the Spanish-American War. Remington's 1898 oil on canvas "The Charge of the Rough Riders" glorified Colonel Roosevelt's courageous assault up Kettle Hill at the Battle of San Juan. If Remington was indeed talking about Teddy Roosevelt, then he may also have been referring to U.S. Secretary of War Russell A. Alger (1836-1907). Alger's mismanagement of logistics during the Spanish-American War became legendary, and the public may have very well hated him.

Frederic Remington built a "czar-size" art studio measuring 20' x 40' x 20' off of his Gothic Revival mansion at 301 Webster Avenue in New Rochelle, New York in 1896. Skylights provided ample light, and the studio was capacious enough to accommodate Remington's Western costumes, props, and other artifacts.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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