11x18.5" sheet has been matted to 8.5x14" and contains original pen and ink art by noted book jacket artist Arthur Hawkins Jr. This unpublished cover art was created for the 1956 American Signet Classic edition of "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. Hawkins did covers for some of the most famous authors of the 20th Century including - William Faulkner's "Light In August" and "These Thirteen," Arthur C. Clarke's "A Fall Of Moondust," James Cain's "The Postman Always Rings Twice," John Steinbeck's "Cannery Row," John O'Hara's "Butterfield 8," Joseph Bowen's "A Man Without A Head," and many others. Hawkins was noted for his Art Deco designs that transformed a book's cover into a work of art. This unpublished art was created during Hawkins' brief time working for Signet. Signet's edition was the first to feature art on the cover and is often counted among the most famous book covers of the last 100 years. Instead of the book's final cover art featuring a pig and donkey head, Hawkins has created an image of a large authoritative pig standing a center, a whip in his hooves. Two smaller pigs flank him, one appearing to hold a gun. Below these images are two 7/8x2.75" paste-overs, each w/two small wolf images (for a total of four). Below this as farm scene featuring animals. 2.25x8.5" piece of aged onionskin paper at top w/hand-penciled book title, Orwell's name and "A Signet Classic" text. This has aged noticeably. Art has some white correctional fluid marks as Hawkins changed his mind a few times as to how he wanted to depict his subjects. Wolf paste-overs are also lightly aged. Comes w/the original mat Hawkins had made for the art over 50 years ago. Mat has been signed in pencil on reverse by Hawkins. Lower left margin has some moisture staining and upper right margin has 1x2" area of faint moisture staining. Art itself is clean and displays VF/Exc. Mat and title sheet are Fine overall. Would look great w/a new mat and framed. Hawkins' original art rarely comes on the market for sale, this piece being originally obtained from the Hawkins Estate in the 1980s. Historic piece of art from one of the most popular books of the 20th Century.