Lot 1235: Lawrence Beall Smith Medical Illustration Art, Abbott Laboratories, 1948

Lawrence Beall Smith (American, 1909-1995) gouache on artists board advertisement illustration for Abbott Laboratories. Depicts two boys playing around chartreuse wooden crates, one standing below with a Navy hat, striped shirt, blue jeans, and rifle, and one crouching above with red round glasses and black barrister gown, likely representing a Reverend Spooner-type character. Standing boy is handing the other a red and white stick candy, which represents Abbott Labs’ “Dulcet” line of “Medicated Sugar Tablets.” Line was targeted for children and adults who could not tolerate medicinal tastes. Label verso reads “Associated American Artists Galleries / 711 Fifth Avenue New York / 846 North Michigan Avenue Chicago / Illustration for Penicillin Dulcets ad f(rom) / Back of Deoxyn Broadside – January / Artist:  Lawrence Beall Smith.” 4 placement stickers on each side of the image denotes crop line for Vandercook, a Chicago proof press. Pencilled “February 9, 1950” in lower left corner and “9 x 12 – 133 Screen” lower center. Initialed “LBS 48” to inside bottom crate corner.  20 3/4 in. H x 13 1/4 in. W.  American, mid-20th century.

PROVENANCE: Private North Chicago collection.  

CONDITION: Good condition, with light foxing and scattered dirt and scuffs overall.  Fingerprints and smudging along edges of board, with pinholes to bottom center and approximately one inch above top center Vandercook marker label. Edges are unevenly cut, and bottom corners are slightly bent, especially the left one.