Knight, Hilary

AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED, TO EUGENE WINICK [TOGETHER WITH] ORIGINAL POSTER: NEW YORK IS BOOK COUNTRY [INSCRIBED]

[New York: S.i,], 1993. A lengthy letter from Knight to Eugene H. Winick (1936-2020) literary agent and longtime president of the McIntosh & Otis agency, discussing in great detail the artwork Knight created for the 1993 New York Is Book Country poster, which featured his beloved character Eloise. "Simon & Schuster press man Ken Giest (now departed) called me some months ago to see if I would do the poster...I agreed (many important book illustrators have done them over the past 15 years)..and it is a tremendous honor to be asked...Besides the prestige of being asked to do this work is the fact that "Eloise" needs some promotion." He discusses a dramatic drop in royalties related to the popular book series, attributing it both to "the general slowdown in the business itself," as well as negligence on the part of the publisher, who did "no promotion no advertising - let both the 30th + 35th anniversary of E's publication go unnoticed. This along with Kay's refusal to do anything - led me to feel that it was a perfect opportunity to present "E" in a positive and fresh way that would be seen by a broad range of people - plus the fact that it was a benefit for the N.Y. Public Library - and that I was not being paid." He goes on to express his concerns about copyright, whether or not to include Kay Thompson and Simon & Schuster, and proceeds from store sales of the poster. An insightful letter relating to Thompson's most iconic character. Item #4574

Autograph letter on two leaves of Knight's watermarked stationary (measuring 6 5/16" x 9.25"), with his name and address printed along upper and lower margin; 49 lines (378 words), and signed "Sincerely, H." Discrete staple holes at upper margin, else Fine. Accompanied by a detached cover of the August 16, 1993 issue of Publishers Weekly, which has a full-page ad featuring Knight's finished artwork for the New York Is Book Country poster on verso. Together with a copy of the original New York Is Book Country poster (measuring 17 5/8" x 25 3/8"), inscribed by Knight in the lower right corner: "For everyone at Kid Stamps! From Hilary Knight." Some trivial wear along left edge, else Fine.

Price: $1,250.00