Archive of 17 letters between illustrator Al Hirschfeld and noted actors and directors requesting publication permission of their caricatures, 1981-1985

New York: Al Hirschfeld, 1985. Archive of 17 letters between illustrator Al Hirschfeld and noted actors, including Orson Welles, Elizabeth Taylor, James Earl Jones, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Angela Lansbury, Peter Ustinov, Yul Brynner, Jerry Orbach, Carol Channing, Raul Julia, Richard Kiley, Chita Rivera, Juim Dale, and Gwen Verdon, requesting permission from Hirshfeld for the publication of his caricatures of them for use in a calendar and various stationery and customized household items. Many of the letters with brief affectionate handwritten notes by Hirshfeld in the margins, and all dated between 1981-1985.

All letters on Hirschfeld's (truncated) personal letterhead, and all excepting the return letters from Marlene Dietrich, Raul Julia, and Carol Channing are signed by both Hirschfeld and the receipient.

Marlene Dietrich's return letter is a personal TLS to Hirschfeld rather than a confirmation of permission, graciously declining the request "for obvious reasons." A charming confluence of Broadway's greatest caricaturist and some of the finest actors of the twentieth century.

The letters to Carol Channing and Raul Julia are signed by Hirschfeld and the two actors' assistants (in their absence).

The remaining 14 letters, all signed by both Hirschfeld and the recipient, are from: Orson Welles, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Langella, James Earl Jones, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Angela Landsbury, Peter Ustinov, Yul Brynner, Jerry Orbach, Richard Kiley, Chita Rivera, Jim Dale, and Gwen Verdon.

Letters 8.5 x 11 inches, each with two horizontal creases from mailing. Near Fine. (Inventory #: 162879)