Lot 159: LOBEL, ARNOLD. 1933-1987. Watercolor drawing of Toad over message, Dear A

LOBEL, ARNOLD. 1933-1987. Watercolor drawing of Toad over message, Dear Alexandra..., a one-page illustrated autograph letter to a child, 273 x 210 mm, n.d., light crease, framed. Provenance: Morton Schindel. WITH: ZEMACH, MARGOT. Mixed media painting of a Russian feast, 229 x 305 mm, inscribed in crayon upper left corner by the artist and her husband and collaborator Harve Zemach: For Mort with Affection Margot and Harve July, 65; AND WITH: UNGERER, TOMI. Dear Morton..., one-page decorated letter in ink to Morton Schindel with envelope, 298 x 203 mm, n.d., crease; with three Ungerer books, one inscribed to Schindel. Morton Schindel (1918-2016) founded Weston Woods Studios in 1953, to produce animated films and filmstrips for use in schools. The first of his nearly 500 titles was an adaptation of James Daugherty’s Caldecott Honor Book Andy and the Lion (1938) released in 1954; and he tried to film every other Caldecott Medal Winner after that. Lobel, Zemach and Ungerer were just a few of the many other artists with whom he worked; and these tributes to the producer demonstrate the great affection they held for him. For example, Ungerer writes: Dear Morton...Just a few lines to say that I do hope that We shall meet eventually. Here or There or Anywhere ... In the meantime with my very best and Friendliest whatnots T. Ungere ... ei. He appends the note with a little bird laying an egg on the flourish of his signature. Lobel assures a young fan: ...I’m happy to hear that you have been reading and enjoying my Frog and Toad books. Here is a sketch of Toad for you and an F[rog] and T[oad] fan club card. Your friend, Arnold Lobel. The fate of the Frog and Toad Fan Club card remains a mystery.