Rare original Dispatch from Disney’s magazine, Volume One, Number One, 5.5 x 8, from 1943. The front cover bears a color image of Donald Duck hitting Adolf Hitler in the eye with a tomato, and the back cover features seven small color images of Disney characters used in military company logos. Inscribed in an unknown hand on the inside front cover “To Dick Blundell,” and signed in fountain pen, “Walt,” and also signed in ink and artist’s pencil on the inside front and back cover by 40 other Disney employees including: Ralph Wright, Paul Allen, Hal Adelouise, Dick Kinney, Bowd, Ed Aardalo, Tom Oreb, Fred Kopietz, Al Bertino, John Lounsbery, Les Clark, L. Miller, Bill del la Tone, Ed Dunn, C. Philippi, Hugh Hennesy, Rusty-Jones, Clyde Geronimi, Harry Reeves, Jack King, Ward Kimball, John Sibley, Nick Nichols, Hal King, Ted Berman, Bob Gesteland, Bill Berg, Al Stetter, and Judge Whitaker. There are also several partial signatures along bottom edge, indicating the cover was probably signed before being bound to the publication.
This publication was distributed to Disney employees who were serving in the war effort. The first section includes an introduction by Walt, an article on the power of animation to educate by Major Alexander P. de Seversky (author of Victory Through Air Power), a cartoon feature by Roy Williams, and newsy info on Disney artists T. Hee, Freddie Moore, Frank Thomas and Woolie Reitherman. The Dispatch also contains an article from Oliver Wallace describing how he was inspired to write ‘Der Fuhrer's Face,’ some doodles by Roy Williams on life as an Air Raid Warden, a feature on the Disney Studio exercise coach Carl Johnson, news on the South American tour, and detailed information on the Disney wartime training films.
Accompanied by a one-page TLS to Blundell, signed “Walt,” 7.25 x 10.5, personal letterhead, dated April 12, 1943. Disney sends the magazine to Blundell who was serving in the armed forces at the time. In part: “With so many of our gang scattered all over the world, we thought they might be interested in knowing what we are doing here and what’s going on while they are away.
We cooked up this little magazine and we hope it will do the job of letting everyone know what’s happening back home.
Several of the gang have put their John Henry’s on the cover of the magazine, which is just their way of saying ‘hello’ and ‘good wishes.’”
In fine condition, with covers detached from staples at hinge, areas of toning to both covers, and a bit of mild toning and spotting to inside covers. Letter has some scattered creases and some scattered light toning and damp staining along right edge.
This Dispatch from Disney newsletter was part of the studio’s wartime effort and an attempt to bolster the morale of its employees who were in the armed forces. The publication included letters from both Walt and Roy Disney, descriptions of film projects, satirical sketches of Axis leaders, animator profiles, and “Pin-Ups for Service Men.” The signatures represent not only those penned by some of the greatest animators of the 20th century but a casual example by Disney, himself. The only such example we’ve seen! Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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