366

SWANSON, GLORIA

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 600.00 USD
SWANSON, GLORIA
<b>366. GLORIA SWANSON </b>(1897 - 1983) American silent film star starring in numerous melodramas. A fine group of seven pieces relative to Swanson's venture into marketing a line of organic cosmetics in the mid 1960s, including an original sketch by Swanson for a cosmetics brochure on a small scrap of tracing paper illustrating different methods of applying makeup. Together with three T.L.S.'s: in the first, May 4, 1966, she writes to the actual producer of the cosmetics noting that <i>"...The dark liquid foundations has arrived...I am seeing Mr. Albino on Friday and he is excited about the line!...</i>". The second and undated letter is written to a Mr. Albino, who was orchestrating the marketing campaign for Swanson's product line, enclosing <i>"...the copy for the booklet. I hope to think of a better title so I will keep brooding over it...Gloria</i>". The third letter, dated Feb. 3, 1967, to Mr. Albino notes that she "<i>...Had thought that perhaps some women friends of mine in various parts of the country might qualify for selling the Gloria Swanson cosmetics products, but I have in the last four weeks changed my mind...amateurs in any field are costly risks. Already there has been far too much groping in the dark and I don't want to add to it by any suggestions of mine...</i>". Apparently Swanson was reacting to Albino's complaints about her. In an unsigned copy of a letter dated Dept. 19, 1966, Albino complains about some edits she made to some ad copy and bemoans <i>"...Her usually uncooperative attitude which has caused innumerable expensive delays the past year, but it also indicated a total lack of proper merchandising knowledge...she says `I am still testing them myself.' This is absolutely ridiculous. What consumer would purchase cosmetics which are still being tested? To ask for help from `all your friends' and invite criticism is certainly not a rational policy for any manufacturer...if this uncooperative attitude continues, we will be out of business before we start...</i>". Also included is a 3" x 5" card bearing Swanson's signature written on an angle which, it turns out was the way her signature appeared in ads for her cosmetics line, as well as on the products themselves. With an unsigned copy of the contract between Gloria Swanson Cosmetics, Ltd. and the Vegetable Products Company of Syracuse, NY, allowing the latter to use her name in marketing the products. Seven pieces. Condition ranges from good to very good. <b>$400-600</b>