174

Maurits Cornelis Escher

Archive of 8 items, each Signed, "M.C. Escher": 6 Autograph Letters and two greeting cards, each to his daughter-in-law Mieke de Bruine

("Dear Mieke" or "Dear Mieke and [her husband] Hans"), in Dutch. The letters, 4 written on cards, conveying family news, offering to sell his prints at a discount, suggesting how to frame his prints, sending a rebus puzzle, expressing concern about upcoming or past surgeries, etc. The greeting cards: "With apologies . . . I have nothing better / [Wishing you] The best in the freezing cold! / and in 1970," featuring a blue-tinted reproduction of his 1938 woodcut Day and Night; and "Best wishes for 1972!," featuring a reproduction of his 1958 lithograph Belvedere. Each letter or card 1 page, 4to or 12mo; two on ruled paper with folds.


Vp, 1963-70.

  • Notes: 14 November 1964: ". . . I should send back your slides that we . . . projected at G[eorge, his son] and C[orrie, George's wife] in Willowdale [Canada]. It was very cozy there. They pampered us . . . after the surgery in Toronto.
    "I will not elaborate on that sad event. I feel fine and am not going to the hospital in Baarn for the time being. . . . (They tell me that it will be necessary). . . . [F]or the time being I have enough to care about and look after at home. . . . The verso is a joke. Of course I don't expect you at that exhibition [invitation to his show at the Goois (Hilversum) Museum beginning November 21, 1964] . . . ."

    15 March 1965: ". . . [T]he picture 'Day and Night' is available. It currently costs 200 guilders. But if it's worth 100 guilders to you, I'd be happy to give it up for that price. . . .
    "Maybe that's still too expensive for you, then I have a choice between smaller prints, which cost 100 guilders (and therefore 50 for you).
    "It was pleasant in Paris: an interested audience of 130 French people listened to my lecture and the exhibition also attracted many visitors [Insitut Néerlandais, 12-28 March, 1965]. But the hustle and bustle and 4 evenings of not going to bed until half past one, and just talking, talking, talking--takes a toll on you; that's why I now enjoy the rural peace in Ølslikke, in [his son] Arthur's cozy new house with wide views over rolling fields, without a single house on the horizon . . . ."

    21 March 1965: ". . . Regarding possible framing [for Day and Night],
    "1) in passe-partout (white or light cream) of about 8 cm wide on all sides. Leave about 1.5 cm of margin around the print (so that the signature remains visible). Total . . . dimensions about 56x85 cm.
    "2) light-colored frame of 2-3 cm width; gold & grey or white, for example-- no wood color, unless a light wood color (I find a dark frame ugly). . . ."

    26 August 1968 [from postmark]: ". . . No one, so far, has been able to solve your puzzle, or secret code, sent to me from Bormes-les-Mimosas. So now you . . . can sink your teeth into this one. Unfortunately, it's German and, unless you know it, it's virtually unsolvable. [Small sketch of letters and a numeral "1" arranged around a playing card displaying spades suit]. . . ."

    With--Small group of printed ephemera, unsigned: Death announcement of M.C. Escher mentioning the private funeral at New General Cemetery in Baarn on March 30, 1972. 1 page, 8vo. With original envelope, postmarked in Baarn on March 30, 1972 * Three 80-cent postage stamps issued in the Netherlands in 1988, featuring Escher, the National Library of the Netherlands, or writer Simon Vestdijk. Each mounted, uncancelled * Invitations to, or programs for, various exhibitions that included works by Escher. Each small 4to or 12mo. 1958-98. 
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April 9, 2026 12:00 PM EDT
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