The collection of legendary artist, poet and American icon Norman Rockwell was captured brilliantly by author George Mendoza in his acclaimed book “Norman Rockwell’s Patriotic Times” that was published in October of 1985. The book features numerous full-color reproductions of Rockwell’s portraits, along with speeches, essays and poetry celebrating American values. One of the many subjects of Rockwell’s artistry was that of former President Ronald Reagan, who posed for Rockwell while governor of California in 1968 and the portrait appeared in Look Magazine. Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, provided a forward to Mendoza’s book, along with an official typed copy of the forward on White House letterhead with Reagan’s signature.

The 2-page foreword is dated December 13, 1984, only a month after Reagan’s landslide election victory in which he earned his second term as president. In one of the passages Reagan notes “Our Nation has changed profoundly since the days of the America that Norman Rockwell so skillfully portrayed. Yet the values that he cherished and celebrated -- love of God and country, hard work, neighborhood, and family -- still give us strength, and will shape our dreams for the decades to come. I hope you will enjoy as much as Nancy and I have the poems and other patriotic selections assembled here by Mr. Mendoza, along with highlights of Norman Rockwell’s illustrations. As we build America’s future, we will do well to take inspiration from our Nation’s past, and no one captured that past more lovingly than Norman Rockwell, artist and patriot.” Reagan then signed his name in black pen. A truly rare handwritten Reagan letter that has been personally signed by the 40th President of the United States at the peak of his presidency. This letter comes with a LOA from JSA.

Reagan has personally hand-signed and inscribed the title page to author George Mendoza on this offered copy of Mendoza’s 1985 book. Below the printed “NORMAN ROCKWELL’S PATRIOTIC TIMES George Mendoza Foreword by Ronald Reagan President of the United States of America” Reagan inscribes in black pen “To George Mendoza – With great appreciation, every good wish + Very Best Regards,” signed “Ronald Reagan”, with the inscribed date “Sept. 26 1986”. This lot comes with a LOA from Beckett Authentication, which authenticated Reagan’s signature on the George Mendoza book and graded his signature a GEM MINT 10.

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