[Four Autograph Letters, Signed (Three as "Monty," one as "Cap. Kidd"), one with Original Pencil Drawing]

Washington, Providence, Montauk, etc., One undated; 5 August 1940; and two envelopes postmarked 25 April 1941 and 29 April 1943.. Thirteen pages, on six quarto and octavo lettersheets (one folded to quarter panels). Three in ink, one in pencil. Folded for mailing, otherwise fine, accompanied by two envelopes addressed in his hand, hastily torn open at one end. Four substantial, boisterous, opinionated and occasionally inebriated letters from Flagg to Willis Birchman (addressed variously as "Kid," "Country Gentlemen," "Dear Temperamental Meringue," and "Will Bill") who became one of Flagg's frequent correspondents as a consequence of Birchman having featured Flagg in his 1937 book, FACES & FACTS BY AND ABOUT 26 CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS. One letter, 4pp. in ink on letterhead of the Providence Biltmore, consists of an account of a rather Cutty Sark driven meeting with "Cecil" (likely film star Cecil Humphreys, with whom he had a long association). Another letter, 4pp., written on letterhead of Montauk Manor, at Montauk Beach, is in pencil and opens with an attractive pencil drawing of a beach scene, with cars parked and facing out over the ocean; it relates chiefly to the circumstances of his stay at Montauk and is signed "Cap. Kidd." Another letter, 4pp, in ink, on letterhead of the Hotel Raleigh, relates to events surrounding a vague series of meetings in Washington DC, involving representatives of the Australian and British governments, stops at embassies, a meeting with Sumner Welles, etc. The last letter, dated simply Friday, 2pp. in ink, is somewhat diffuse, but mentions a pending trip to Washington and meetings there, perhaps anticipating the stay mentioned in the letter above. Flagg (1877 - 1960) was, in his time, one of the most prolific and popular of American artists and illustrators. His best known work was one of the most widely distributed recruitment posters for the US military: the iconic image of Uncle Sam, captioned "I Want YOU for U.S. Army" (Inventory #: WRCLIT75412)