ALS signed “F. S. Church,” two pages on two adjoining sheets, 5 x 6.5, January 26, 1918. The artist sends friendly greetings to Mrs. Dudley Tenney and drops a not-so-subtle hint. In full: “I just met ‘Dad’ in the street. I was out taking my second walk in three weeks. My old friend Mr. Rheumatism has got hold of me, but I think he is a-going. Do you ever make any of that delicious oat meal bread any more? It’s so hard to get any thing to eat that is anti-rheumatic. If you do make it please steal a loaf from the Doctor and Dad and let me have one. And the first blue bird I see on some apple blossoms I will send you.” After signing, he adds a postscript: “P.S. I have left the country for good and NY is my home now.” On the first page, Church added a satirical self-portrait of himself as a bear on crutches scowling at two birds in a tree; on the second page, he drew a plump bluebird on a branch. Happily, Church wrote the letter on the outer panels of the conjoined sheet so that both pages can be displayed at the same time without separation. Accompanied by the original envelope panel addressed in Church’s hand, now expertly inlaid into a slightly larger sheet. In fine condition, with a shade of even, very mild toning. R&R COA.
