Australian Artist Tom Roberts Correspondence
1927 & 1929. Handwritten letter (with envelope) and postcard, both signed by Roberts, accompanied with his 1931 obituary on newspaper cutting, 25.6 x 19.9cm (letter) and 9.8 x 14cm (card). Slight foxing, old folds. The letter and postcard, which are addressed separately to two sisters living at “Payneswicke”, Elsternwick, Victoria, are from Australian artist Tom Roberts (1856–1931), who was residing at “Talisman”, Kallista, Victoria. The one-page letter, dated “Aug 11, [19]29”, is addressed to Miss Beatrice Brown with Roberts thanking her for her correspondence and wishing her luck with her show, stating he is “not likely to be in town soon enough to come out to see the work.” He invites her to come and see him soon and asks after her three sisters. The postcard, dated “July 15 [19]27”, is addressed to Miss Kitty Brown, and is concerned with Roberts purchasing four books at a price he is not happy with. His note concludes with a little smiling face (early emoji) with his signature. Tom Roberts may have met the Brown sisters through Australian Dr Vera Scantlebury, who was working in London hospitals at the same time as Roberts during WWI. In 1926, she married Edward Byam Brown, a professor at the University of Melbourne, who was a brother of the Brown sisters. Ref: Glen Eira Historical Society newsletters, nos 18 & 19; ADB.
Item #CL203-37
Price (AUD): $2,200.00 other currencies