Description:

Sendak Maurice
Maurice Sendak 2x Important signed archive regarding collecting, Lothar Meggendorfer, and "shed a new light on the subject of American book illustration"

Small archive relating to children's illustrator Maurice Sendak (1928-2012). Items include a 3pp ALS on Maurice Sendak letterhead 2x signed by Sendak, and 3 typed letters from antique children's book collector Herbert Hosmer addressed to Sendak between 1979-1980. In very good to near fine condition, especially Sendak's ALS. Expected light paper folds, occasional ink smudges, and a few minor wrinkles throughout.

 

1) 3pp ALS on olive green "Maurice Sendak" letterhead inscribed overall and 2x signed by Sendak, the first time as "Maurice Sendak" on the bottom of page 2, and the second time as "Sendak" on the top of page 3. Each sheet measures 5.125" x 7". On March 12, 1971, Sendak wrote a letter of recommendation for his friend Herbert Hosmer, in which he praised Hosmer's collection of children's Americana, and advocated for its future fundraising and exhibition.

 

"Herbert Hosmer's collection of toys, toy books and everything related to the world of children is superb. More than that - from my personal experience of private collections - it is unsurpassed. The wealth of material concerning turn of the century American children's books (a matter very little investigated) is quite extraordinary and to my mind shed a whole new light on the subject of American book illustration. There is no question in my mind that the Hosmer Collection should be supported - studied and made known to as many interested people as possible. Mr. Hosmer is that rare bird - a collector with exquisite taste. His collection is of great importance and everything that can be done to further his collection - strengthen it + build it into a foundation for present + future studies - should be done - and soon.

 

Maurice Sendak".

 

The third page, entitled "Meggendorfers in Sendak Collection - 1970", includes a list of Sendak's personally owned children's books illustrated by German cartoonist Lothar Meggendorfer (1847-1925). Titles included "Always Funny", "Near and Far", "New Animals", "International Circus", and others. Two of Hosmer's letters to Sendak (see May 1, 1979 TL and May 8, 1980 TL) discuss Meggendorfer books and toys in Hosmer's collection. Meggendorfer illustrated pop-up books and board games in turn-of-the-century Germany.

 

2) On May 1, 1979, Herbert Hosmer wrote Sendak a 2pp TL on "John Green Chandler Memorial (Little Book House Museum)" letterhead. In this rambling and enthusiastic letter, Hosmer described his work at the American Antiquarian Society, exhibition plans for the Little Book House and the Pop-Up Book Shop, latest acquisitions, and desire to see Sendak before summer's end. Hosmer had grand ideas of stocking his book shop with "a few other special juveniles like those by wonderful M. Sendak!!!!!"

 

Hosmer described his current obsession with Meggendorfer: ("Presently I'm gun-ho on the Meggendorfer material again [not that I ever was not gun ho] … "), and lamented that he could not locate one of his best hand-stenciled, bilingual copies of Meggendorfer's "Live Pictures." Hosmer wrote: "I'd like to plan a Meggendorfer exhibit for summer - have some great material - I'll send my up-dated list one day soon - you send your's [sic] - I'll Show You Mine - if You'll Show me Your's!!!!"

 

3) Herbert Hosmer addressed a 2pp TL by to Sendak on "Toy Cupboard Theater" letterhead on October 14, 1980. "It was so exciting to find you on the cover of the Sunday - Times - Magazine Section - as handsome as ever - and the article and illustrations inside the magazine were superb," Hosmer wrote, "so many things are happening for you!!!! Wonderful!!!"

 

4) On May 8, 1980, Herbert Hosmer wrote a 1p TL to Sendak on plain watermarked paper. "The Worcester Public Library will put on (perhaps the term is 'mount' I suppose) a quite extensive exhibition of my Mennendorfer (OUR?) material," Hosmer wrote. "Can't wait to have you see all these things first hand and to share them with you ….. This is to whet your appetite if I can still whet it - I hope so!"

 

As shown in these letters, Sendak and Hosmer were close friends who shared common interests. In fact, one of the letters suggests that Hosmer first introduced Sendak to the work of nineteenth-century German illustrators like Meggendorfer: "you did first (?) fall in love with pop-up and movable books here - well at least Meggendorfer!!!!" This growing familiarity with and appreciation of early illustrations influenced Sendak's work. Sendak even referenced his friend in an illustration from In the Night Kitchen (1970), where an illustration of cake ingredients features a box of sugar called "Hosmer's Free Running Sugar … Product of South Lancaster."

 

Herbert H. Hosmer, Jr. (1913-1995) was a lifelong toy collector of antique paper cut-outs, moveable toys, games, doll houses, and children's books. He exhibited his collectibles at his home and at the Little Book House Museum (also known as the John Greene Chandler Memorial) in South Lancaster, Massachusetts. Hosmer also operated the Toy Cupboard Puppet Theater from  July 1941 until his death, interpreting fairytales with his own hand-crafted marionettes. Hosmer also wrote extensively about collecting, especially about Victorian doll houses.

 

Maurice Sendak was an award-winning children's book illustrator and author. Always interested in design, Sendak began his career by illustrating comic books and designing toy company shop windows. Where The Wild Things Are (1963) was followed by In the Night Kitchen (1970) and Outside Over There (1983). Sendak also created, wrote, and produced animated children's television programs.

 

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