Alberto Vargas Signed Letter and Playing Card.... (Total: 2 Items)

Click the image to load the highest resolution version.

Sold on Oct 4, 2008 for:

Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

Get one of these:

Share this lot

Track Item Printable Auction Results

Sell One of These

Description

Auction Info

Guides & Info

Description

Alberto Vargas Signed Letter and Playing Card. Peruvian-born illustrator Alberto Vargas is best remembered for his colorful pin-up girl renderings that decorated the noses of many a WWII-era bomber. Included is a Two of Hearts card from a Vargas-themed deck signed by the artist in black ink, along with a two-page typed letter on Vargas' personal stationery, dated August 25, 1947, with some excellent content. It reads in part: "We are quite gratified that the copyright lawyers seem to be of the same opinion as we, namely, that this is is only a decoy-move by that lowly individual in order to harass me in my work... As for the copyright of pics., I remember I discussed this with you when the rat put out 14 or 15 Varga-Girls...without my signature, this being the basis for the second suit we slapped on Esq[quire magazine]." A legal dispute with said publication over the use of the name "Varga" resulted in a judgment against Vargas, and he struggled financially until Playboy magazine began to use his work as "Vargas Girls" in the '60s. The letter shows some mild wear and toning; otherwise, both items are in Very Fine condition, and accompanied by a b&w 8" x 10" photo of Vargas at work.