Group lot of items related to Norman Rockwell’s ‘Grandfather Wheeling Baby,’ which was commissioned as an advertisement for the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company in 1962. The lot includes two ALSs from Rockwell, both signed “Sincerely, Norman,” one page, 6 x 8, personal letterhead, circa August 1963, both addressed to John B. Rogers, the son of the ‘grandfather’ model, who is attempting to obtain more material from the project. The first letter: “Here is only [only] photo I can find of your father. Bill Scorill took the photos and has the negatives. He has been kinda upset lately but if you want to maybe he make up some larger prints for you. I knew your father only a little but I respected him and was fond of him.” Rockwell has included the original glossy 3.25 x 8.5 model photo of the ‘grandfather.’ The second letter: “This is my second letter today. I just received these from Mass. Mutual. They regret they cannot let you have the original, so they send these.” Included is a clipping of the referenced advertisement. Also part of the lot is a 14 x 11 print of ‘Grandfather Wheeling Baby,’ which is signed in the lower right in ballpoint, “Sincerely, Norman Rockwell,” and two original hand-addressed mailing envelopes, one postmarked August 26, 1963, with Rockwell adding his signature to both in the return address field, “Norman Rockwell, Stockbridge.” In overall fine condition. Accompanied by an unsigned ‘Grandfather Wheeling Baby' print, a Fall/Winter 1995 catalog from the Norman Rockwell Museum, and a Christmas card from the Rockwells.
