JOHNNY ECK Handwritten Letter + Orig Artwork to Author Richard Lamparski FREAKS

Description

Vintage original handwritten letter and mailing envelope with an original color drawing
by side-show performer and motion picture actor,
JOHNNY ECK
. This one-page letter was handwritten on Mr. Eck's personalized stationery on a textured buff stock that features a
caricature of Eck
drawn by the legendary artist, Robert Crumb
, (which was the cover illustration drawn in 1981 from an unpublished book by Crumb entitled,
King of the Freaks - The Johnny Eck Story
) that shows Eck balancing on one hand atop a decorative stool. Eck became good friends with the well-known motion picture author and historian,
Richard Lamparski
(who penned the popular "Whatever Became of...?" series of books), and he handwrote this letter to Mr. Lamparski on May 11, 1985. Within, Eck mentions receiving two of Lamparski's books; the arrival of a "fan" visiting from South Carolina on his way to New York; a reference to Lamparski's write-up about Eck; and his gratitude about their friendship.
What makes this lot even more desirable is that
the accompanying #10 mailing envelope includes an original hand-drawn artwork of a tiger by Eck
, whose original artworks like this one are now very sought-after by collectors (there's even an online tribute site to Eck entitled the Johnny Eck Museum).
The vintage original handwritten letter is actually signed twice by Eck
(after the P.S. at the top and at the conclusion at the bottom) and is in very fine+ condition without any visible flaws. The accompanying original mailing envelope is in fine+ condition with a few light diagonal creases on the left side (which did not affect the letter itself).
NOTE
that the blacked-out portions
seen
in this listing are only on the accompanying photos and are not on the original letter and mailing envelope.
Silent Cinema Inc. (the seller here) guarantees the authenticity of 1) Johnny Eck's handwritten letter and 2) the original color drawing of a tiger on the accompanying #10 mailing envelope done in Johnny Eck's own hand.
John Eckhardt Jr, (August 27, 1911 – January 5, 1991) professionally billed as Johnny Eck was an American freak show performer in sideshows and a film actor. Born without the lower half of his torso, Eck is best known today for his role in Tod Browning's 1932 cult classic film,
Freaks
, and his appearances as a bird creature in several Tarzan films. He was often billed as "The Amazing Half-Boy", "King of the Freaks" and "The Most Remarkable Man Alive". Besides being a sideshow performer and actor, the multi-talented Eck was also an artist, musician, photographer, illusionist, penny arcade owner, Punch and Judy operator, and expert model-maker. Eck's artworks have been on exhibit at The American Institute College of Art (Baltimore, 2014) as well as various galleries and other venues.