Joseph Cornell, New York, N.Y. letter to Marcel Duchamp, Flushing, N.Y., between 1955 and 1968

Physical Details: Letter : 1 p. : typescript ; 28 x 22 cm.

Sender: Joseph Cornell (1903-1972) (New York, N.Y.)

Recipient: Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968) (Flushing, N.Y.)

Description: Letter from Cornell presenting Duchamp with a thaumatrope, a toy which consists of a small disk of paper or cardboard with images on both sides and string attached to the parallel edges so that it can be spun, creating an optical illusion.
Two envelopes accompany the letter, one very small and blue and one standard letter-sized.
Presumably the small envelope originally held the thaumatrope, which is no longer present although Cornell has made a crayon rubbing of it on the verso of the letter.

Forms part of: Joseph Cornell papers, 1804-1986, bulk 1939-1972

Rights Statement: Current copyright status is undetermined

Citation: Joseph Cornell, New York, N.Y. letter to Marcel Duchamp, Flushing, N.Y., between 1955 and 1968. Joseph Cornell papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

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Digital ID: 11778

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