Open Letter to Steven Spielberg and George Lucas

Online, July 6, 2010 (Newswire.com) - For nearly 50 years millions of Americans brought Norman Rockwell's art into their homes, enjoying his Saturday Evening Post covers and illustrations. In recent news, two of the most avid collectors of Rockwell artwork, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, announced that they have pooled their Rockwell holdings to create an exhibition for the public. Entitled "Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell From the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg," the show opened July 2, 2010 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC, where it will remain on view until January 2, 2011. In a June 29, 2010 New York Times article, Spielberg was quoted as saying: "George and I felt it was time that we released the Norman Rockwell collections in a way that the public can appreciate."

Well, Steve, and George, there's one more piece that you might want to add to your collection: an especially sweet, original Rockwell sketch of a dog with a tin can tied to his tail that the American Icon sent to an admirer, along with his thanks and a paintbrush he used.

Now these two renowned collectors, who are also American Icons, have an opportunity to bid against the rest of us for this remarkable work of art, thanks to RR Auction. The online auction house, known to collectors and dealers worldwide since 1976 as the most respected source for guaranteed authentic autographs, offers Rockwell admirers the opportunity to own the delightful sketch, note and paintbrush--if they get their bids on before the auction closes on Wednesday evening, July 14. (Note to Steve and George: the 30-minute rule goes into affect at midnight, so please don't wait till the last minute to bid).

The July 2010 auction also spotlights items from John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and other Declaration of Independence signers; the Marquis de Lafayette; and a scarce and desirable document signed by both Jefferson and George Washington. The latter document, dating from 1793, consists of ship's papers for a brigantine, on which President Washington and Secretary of State Jefferson have placed remarkably prominent, centrally located signatures. The signature of John Hancock appears on a Revolutionary War-era proclamation that he issued for a ship, along with his assurance that "no Subject of the King of Great-Britain...hath any share, part, or interest" in the vessel.

Benjamin Franklin is represented as well, conveying a directive to Pennsylvania officials a year after signing the US Constitution; as is Lafayette, who asks President James Monroe to admit a fellow Frenchman to the Society of Cincinnati in 1817; and Jefferson, again as Secretary of State, informing Maryland of a 1790 Patent Act. Declaration signers include John Hart of New Jersey, Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island, Thomas McKean of Delaware, William Hooper and James Penn of North Carolina, Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, Samuel Huntington and William Williams of Connecticut, and George Ross and James Wilson of Pennsylvania.

Sports enthusiasts will marvel at an incredibly rare, handwritten letter from "Your Friend, Cassius Clay." Dated October 18, 1961, the future Muhammad Ali, in his first year as a professional boxer, writes a young fan to apologize for not sending a signed photo, but says that, "since becoming a National none [sic] person, I will have some made to send to my fans" and pledges that one will be mailed to the recipient.

Another incredibly rare offering is a signed Clark Gable photo showing the actor in character as Rhett Butler. The provenance includes a letter from the original recipient and the note from a "Gone With the Wind" cameraman who obtained the autograph during filming.

"We're really looking forward to hearing from Mr. Spielberg, Mr. Lucas--or both, if they care to bid against each other," says RR Action spokesman Bobby Livingston.

For more information, log on to www.rrauction.com

Media Contact: Janet Vasquez, 212-825-3210, [email protected]