"THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF": HANDSOME LARGE CALLIGRAPHIC PORTRAIT LITHOGRAPH OF FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT CREATED FROM HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS, WITH ILLUSTRATED VIGNETTES DEPICTING HYDE PARK, THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, THE CAPITOL, AND THE WHITE HOUSE

ROOSEVELT, Franklin Delano. Inaugural Address. Kansas City, Missouri: Claude E. Halbert, circa 1933. Lithographic broadside, measuring 12 by 15 inches; matted, floated and framed, entire piece measures 23 by 20 inches. $3800.

Original calligraphic portrait lithograph of F.D.R. created from the text of his 1933 inaugural address, with portions of the text bolded to create a portrait of Roosevelt clearly visible within the text, crowned by a bald eagle and surrounded by vignettes of Hyde Park, New York, the Statue of Liberty, the United States Capitol, and the White House, with additional borders decoratively depicting the dates of the preceding presidents and the dates individual states achieved statehood.

"Roosevelt became president in 1933 as the United States was in the middle of the Great Depression. Roosevelt's speech was heard by millions of people on the radio and set the tone for his administration," including the New Deal (Constitution Daily, National Constitution Center). Calligraphic portrait broadsides of this type have long been popular American keepsakes, celebrating famous leaders and the words that defined their leadership. Other examples have captured Washington or Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence and Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation. This version, produced by Claude Halbert, who was known for this type of portrait, captures Roosevelt's 1933 inaugural address and certainly stands beside those examples for both historical importance and beauty.

Bottom edge trimmed closely affecting a few words outside the borders of the central illustration (i.e. not part of the inaugural address), slight soiling. Handsome and desirable, beautifully presented.