Lot 518: Norman Rockwell Signed Lithograph, Lincoln for the Defense

Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978) lithograph titled "Lincoln for the Defense" and depicting the future President as a young lawyer attired in all white except his bowtie and suspenders. He stands with his right fist on a law book that rests on the defense table and he holds a sheet of paper and glasses in his left hand. His defendant leans forward and holds his head on the defense table. He is obscured by shadows, except for his manacled hands. An artist's proof impression outside of the 200 published by Circle Gallery, Chicago. Pencil signed lower right margin and inscribed AP, lower left margin. with publisher's blind stamp to lower left and right corners. Housed in a parcel gilt wood frame with brown linen matte. Sheet: 26 1/2" H x 19 1/2" W. Sight: 23" H x 9" W. Framed: 37" H x 23" W. Note: Rockwell initially created this image as a painting to illustrate the February 10, 1962 edition of The Saturday Evening Post. He later reproduced the painting as the present lithograph. The image is based on a case dubbed the "Almanac" murder in which Lincoln defended Duff Armstrong and successfully proved that lack of moonlight would have prevented witnesses from clearly seeing what they claimed. The original painting is in the collection of The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. (Source: Lincoln Memorial Shrine)

PROVENANCE: Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc., Chicago.

CONDITION: With full margins. Even toning to sight area. Faint marginal tideline visible at upper left, outside of image, plus area of dampstaining en verso, upper right of sheet, outside of sight area and not visible en recto, 6" x 2". Paper along upper edge en verso slightly skinned from removal of previous tape, now hinged with archival tape affixed to upper edge en verso.