[MINTON JOHN]: (1917-1957) English Painter & Illustrator. A rare contemporary facsimile A.L.S., John...

[MINTON JOHN]: (1917-1957) English Painter & Illustrator. A rare contemporary facsimile A.L.S., John Minton, with holograph date ('December 23rd') and salutation ('Mr Knight'), one page, 4to, Apollo Place, Chelsea, London, 23rd December n.y. (annotated 1954 in an unidentified hand at the head), to Mr. Knight. The form letter was sent by Minton in his capacity as a steward of the Artists' General Benevolent Institution and states, in part, 'I feel most strongly that all of us who both practise and derive such pleasure from all the arts, have a right to ask one another for help at critical times If you yourself are a practising artist, or if you have derived delight and illumination from the works of others, I ask you most earnestly if it is not our duty to help those who, through the many disasters which can befall the very uncertain life of an artist, find themselves in distress ' Although with only the minimum of holograph additions, the present letter features a rare example of Minton's autograph as a result of his suicide at the age of 39. A few minor creases to the corners, about VG American Book Prices Current do not record any autograph letters of Minton as having appeared at auction.