Marshall Levin had close relationships with numerous NYC button makers from the 1960s through the 1990s. These items are unique pieces from his collection relating to the series of 1960s buttons by famous artist David Levine. His illustrations appeared in The New York Review of Books from 1963 to 2007. In all he did some 3,800 caricatures in pen and ink. These items relate to a mid 1960s series of 17 buttons done in 1.75" and 6" sizes with art from 1963 through 1966. First is 8.5x11" letter dated October 26, 1966 from Marvic Advertising Corp. to button maker Hand Tip & Novelty Co. Letter confirms phone call and an order to print "a die-cutting ring for the six inch button." Letter specifies Levine and New York Review Copyright text that must appear on curls of 19 rings; however list below specifies only 17 names. Why a difference of two, we don't know. Sheet has various handwritten production notes and lower half has tan smudges. Once stapled to the letter are two (creased as sent) 8x8" papers showing 6" circle to represent the button plus the curl credit text "By David Levine (C) 1963-64-65-66 New York Review." In addition is a probably unique 6" button made for proofing purposes. This has black cardboard easel-back plus bar pin. Front has red text around edge that matches list of 17 buttons on the letter except that other than "A-1 President Johnson" the name "President Johnson" is not repeated for the additional buttons showing him which are numbers A-3 A-11 and A-15. Thus the text on the button reads in full: "A-1 President Johnson/A-2 Pushkin/A-3/A-11/A-15/A-4 Freud/A-5 De Gaulle/A-6 Einstein/A-7 Ky/A-8 Mao/A-9 Bobby/A-10 Picasso/A-12 Pope John/A-13 Crocodile/A-14 The Beatles/A 16 Keats/A-17 Nietzsche." Button is Mint. Also see buttons from this series numbers 146 and 147. Comes with Hake's COA.