Q: I have five nursery rhyme prints and can't find any information about them. They are marked "Vernon Grant" in the corner. Who was he?
A: Vernon Grant (1902-1990) was an artist who did illustrations for magazine covers, wrote and illustrated children's books, and did advertisements. He was born in South Dakota and moved to California as a teenager. Grant did "chalk talks" on the vaudeville circuit to pay for his education at the University of Southern California and the Chicago Art Institute. After graduation he worked in Los Angeles as a commercial artist and taught art. He moved to New York in 1932. In 1933 he created the characters "Snap!" "Crackle!" and "Pop!" for Kellogg's Rice Krispies. Prints like yours featuring Snap! Crackle! and Pop! were offered as Kellogg's premiums for 49 cents and proof of purchase in 1938. There were six nursery rhymes illustrated--Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Jack Be Nimble, Little Jack Horner, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater. A single print sells for about $10. A set of six framed prints sold recently for $75.
7 comments:
How nice to see someone I was fortunate enough to see in person. Vernon Grant moved near Rock Hill SC in the 50s. I remember him speaking at our Elementary School PTA once where he told his story about drawing Snap, Crackle and Pop. He used pieces of clothing that he and his family had been given when they were very poor. After he talked he led us in singing songs we often sang at our school such as Church in the Valley by the Wildwood and some rounds like Row, Row, Row your Boat. He had built a house in the woods out in the country and called the place Pine Tuck. As he got older he moved into Rock Hill and his land was turned into a golf course and now houses have been added around it. It's still called Pine Tuck. In the 70s he drew a frog called Glen that represents a spring festival held in GlenCairn Gardens in Rock Hill. He also made large prints of some of his drawings that were availble to purchace, autographed by him. I have three of those hanging in my house now. You can still buy his items at the children's museum in Rock Hill.
I am from Rock Hill SC. In the seventies I worked for Art Printing Co.Inc. This company reproduced Mr. Grant's art work into Christmas Cards. He was such a nice gentleman. He signed 8 of these prints to my daughter and they will always stay in the family. R. Powell
My mother's family is from Rock Hill and my grandmother was friends with Vernon Grant's wife. When I was young, every time the Rice Crispies commercial came on TV, I would ask my mother to tell me about Mr. Grant. She would tell me how he would draw on anything laying around, like a napkin on the table...I also have been to his home where he had a studio. How wonderful to read comments from people in Rock Hill, where I spent many happy times with my grandmother & Great Aunt...I also attended Winthrop College in the 80's. I live in Florida now, but when my twin boys were born 11 years ago, I called the Museum of York County and had them send me some Vernon Grant prints for their room.
My Mother's family is from Rock Hill and my Grandmother was friends with the Grants. My mother would tell me how Mr. Grant would draw pictures on whatever happened to be around - a napkin on the table, etc...How wonderful to read comments from people in Rock Hill. I spent many happy times there with my Grandmother & Great Aunt. I also attended Winthrop College in the 80's. I live in Florida now but 11 years ago when my twin boys were born, I called the Museum of York County and had them send some Vernon Grant prints for the boys room.
Vernon Grant build a house next to us in Astoria, NYC in 1935. He was the greatest.
He made an advertisement for the Upjohn Co. which featured my brother. It was of a young boy wearing knickers with his socks sagging and a blk and white dog. The boy was measuring himself against a wall. This was probably in 1937-38. We lost our poster of this and are looking for the illustration. Any help would be appreciated...Jim O'Gallagher
I'm with the Culture & Heritage Museums in Rock Hill who house a lot of Vernon Grant work and have a permant gallery in the Museum of Rock Hill for Vernon Grant work. Thought this was a great blog and I loved reading the comments. If you have any images of Vernon Grant we would love for you to share them! We have a page on Facebook and Flickr. Also, we're about to put some stuff up on Wikipedia so be on the lookout for that. You might also be happy to know that we're hopefully going to start work on a new Children's Museum in downtown Rock Hill which will be inspired from Vernon Grant's images. click the link to read up about the new museum: http://chmuseums.org/childrens/
I have the wall plaques designed by Vernon Grant but with different subjects. Bobby Shaftoe;Rub-a-Dub-Dub;Old King Cole;How Many Miles to Babylon?;Friday Night's Dream; Ladybug, Ladybug
Can you tell me what they may be worth?
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