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Hand-illustrated cover
Object Details
- Description
- The self-portrait watercolor shows Jack Fogarty basking in sunny England and making fun of the rain that drenches his pen pal Mary MacDonald in New York. Forgarty sent this envelope via airmail with a one shilling stamp (248) from Great Britain to New York. Postmarked May 19, 1947, this cover dates from Fogarty’s time London after his service in the army.
- Jack Fogarty served with the US Army’s 98th Evacuation Hospital during World War II. While working in the hospital’s administrative office, Corporal Jack Fogarty (later promoted to Sergeant) struck up a life-long friendship with Chief Warrant Officer John MacDonald and his wife, Mary. Jack and John both wrote regularly to Mary as the war took them to the Pacific Theater. John MacDonald also served as a censor for the unit, and the illustrated covers by Jack Fogarty bear MacDonald’s censor stamp and signature. In his correspondence with Mary, Jack filled the envelopes with scenes in watercolors, ink, and pencil. The illustrated covers show Jack’s life at the Desert Training Center in Yuma, Arizona, and his overseas service in New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan. In addition to illustrating his personal correspondence, Jack contributed artwork to the 98th Evacuation Hospital’s newsletter, The Bulletin. After the war, Fogarty’s artistic career took him into acting and his prolific correspondence with friends sometimes included illustrations.
- References:
- Fogarty, John. Little Boy-Short Trousers-Eaton Cap: This I Remember. AuthorHouse, 2005.
- Data Source
- National Postal Museum
- Date
- May 19, 1947
- Object number
- 2012.2006.21
- Type
- Covers & Associated Letters
- Medium
- paper; ink; watercolor
- Dimensions
- Height x Width: 3 5/8 x 6 in. (9.2 x 15.2 cm)
- Place of Origin
- GREAT BRITAIN
- Place of Destination
- New York
- See more items in
- National Postal Museum Collection
- Title
- Scott Catalogue Great Britain 248
- Topic
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Covers & Letters
- Record ID
- npm_2012.2006.21
- Usage
- Usage conditions apply
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