Description

 

Disney, Walt (1901 – 1966)

An exceptional, early signed and inscribed 8″ X 10″ portrait by Walt Disney. The young animator is shown in a smart half-length pose. Signed very boldly in flowing fountain pen ink, ‘To Paolino Cotticelli, Saluti, Walt Disney, Rex, July — 35 — XIII’. In excellent condition. By far the finest signed portrait by Disney we have ever offered.

In 1935, Disney visited various European countries, including Italy in July, where this was signed. The tour was designed to publicise his already popular Mickey Mouse shorts, and to strengthen relationships with European distributors. The ‘Rex’ beneath Disney’s signature is likely a reference to the Italian ocean liner S.S. Rex on which Disney is thought to have travelled.