[Rarebooks] FS: Fine Personal Rockwell Kent Autograph Letter to Daughter: "I gave up claiming my family for Christmas Day"

[Charles Agvent]

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KENT,  Rockwell. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS) TO  HIS  DAUGHTER.
New  York: 8 Dec. 1938. Superb and touching one-page letter in  Kent's
minuscule  hand  to  his  25-year-old daughter  Clara  expressing  his
disappointment  that  she will not be spending Christmas with him.  In
full:  "It was about 12 years ago when, out of consideration for  your
mother,  I  gave up claiming my family for Christmas Day and  set  New
Years  Day  as our day for Christmas celebration. That this  gave  you
children  two  Christmases we hoped was doubly nice for you; and  that
it  gave  us  Christmas--though a week later--with my  children  was a
happiness  that we planned for and looked forward to. Only the absence
far  from  home of Frances [his second wife whom he would  divorce  in
1939]  or me or both of us has made a New Years' pass uncelebrated  as
the  family  Christmas. All this you know. And that, knowing  it,  you
pass  up  your  father's  Christmas for a New Year at  a  friend's  is
something  that I will not forget nor easily forgive. That Frances  is
deeply  hurt  at  your 'previous engagement' when after two  years  of
enforced  absence  she  is  at last home again  and  eager  to  make a
Christmas  for  us  all, is something I have read in her face  as  she
read  your  letter. That is all I know about it. I will now  wish  you
both  a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." SIGNED  "Affectionately
Father."  The mixture of sadness and restrained anger is quite evident
in  this scarce and very personal autograph letter by one of the  most
famous  American artists of the twentieth century. The bulk of  Kent's
papers  were donated to the Smithsonian. Normal creases from  folding,
about Fine.                                                   $1500.00
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CHARLES AGVENT
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Mertztown, PA  19539-8750
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