$896
A group of four letters and one address book from the collection of artist Alberto Vargas. The first is a six-page signed draft letter from Vargas to a Mr. Ewins dated September 14, 1947, and written on Varga Girl stationery regarding Esquire magazine and its claim of the Varga Girl name. Esquire had a healthy relationship with Vargas until it received a legal challenge from the United States Post Office, in part because of the cartoons drawn by Vargas. Esquire subsequently stopped carrying the cartoons in the magazine. The legal wrangling between Vargas and Esquire caused Vargas to struggle financially until Hugh Hefner began using Vargas work in his Playboy magazine in the 1960s. The second is a letter from Hefner written to Vargas on Playboy stationery dated April 12, 1960, requesting a drawing and a photograph. The third is also a letter from Hefner on Playboy stationery dated December 7, 1960. In part: "The reaction to your work in the magazine has been very positive and all of us here feel extremely good about it. I think it is going to be a long and very mutually happy relationship." Accompanied by a note from Nancy in Hefner's office stating that Vargas rate, per painting, had been increased to $550. The fourth is a signed notice dated May 15, 1951, stating that Alberto Vargas has registered the names "Vargas' Models" and "Vargas' Follies" for printed publication. A black six-ring imitation leather address book contains typed and handwritten entries, includin Read more…
Auctioneer:
Juliens Auctions
Date:
2012-11-09
