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Collection of four (4) signed Leo Politi (California/American, 1908-1996) ephemera, including 1 inscribed lithograph and 3 books. Politi was an award winning children’s author and advocate for historic neighborhoods in Los Angeles during urban renewal, particularly Bunker Hill in the 1960’s. 1st item: large lithograph of children playing in front of a gingerbread-style Victorian house, likely an architectural amalgamation of homes in Bunker Hill. Signed and dedicated “to Rikki and Jeffrey / Leo Politi 1971” lower left corner. Sight: 21 1/4 in. W x 27 1/4 in. H Frame: 28 in. W. x 31 1/2 in. H. 2nd and 3rd items: 2 signed and inscribed children’s books, including a first-edition Piccolo’s Prank and the Caldecott-award winning Song of the Swallow. Piccolo’s Prank (1965, first edition) is inscribed: “to dear Rikki and Jeff / with affection / 1969 Leo Politi,” painted with orange, green, red, and blue balloons. Song of the Swallow (1945, later printing, priced $4.95), is inscribed: “to dear Rikki and Jeffrey / Merry Christmas / Leo Politi 1971,” painted with orange and pink flowers, a blue bird, and purple bell, all motifs carried over from the book’s illustrations. 4th item: Bunker Hill (1969, third printing), was Politi’s first book targeted for adults and intended to be both a love letter to and in protest of the loss of Bunker Hill. Inscribed to “Dick and Annelle / with all best wishes / Leo Politi / Christmas 1969.” Note: “Rikki” refers to Richard “Rikki” Hall (d. 2014), who was born in California, studied at MIT, and made Knoxville, TN home after studying ecology at the University of Tennessee. Hall was also managing editor of The Hellbender Press, an East Tennessee environmental newspaper, and a columnist of the Metro Pulse. The “Dick and Annelle” inscriptions refer to Hall’s grandparents.
CONDITION: All items in very good condition. Lithograph not examined out of frame. All books in dust jackets, with Bunker Hill having a 2 inch half-circle stain bottom center of cover.
