Edward Sorel today can be regarded as one of the great living caricaturists. Back in 1966, though, he was earning his bona fides in Ramparts magazine with his Bestiary series.
The Aviary [Hawkus Caucus Americanus] illustration concluded the sequence as a full wraparound color cover for the July 1966 issue.
The original art has faded somewhat, but perhaps not as much as our memories of the Vietnam era hawks and doves who provided the intellectual justification for and refutation of our national fiasco in Southeast Asia. Heritage Auctions, the seller of this work in its November 4 Illustration Art sale, was good enough to include a scan of the published magazine cover.
When I checked in on the bidding action some thirteen hours before the sale, the online price was well over $5,000 for this signature piece at Heritage Auctions.
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Edward Sorel
Heritage Auctions Illustration Art sale of November 4, 2025
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Edward Sorel
Heritage Auctions item description |
Sold!
Ramparts magazine included a key of sorts, full of puns rather than names, but the identities of the various birds are apparent.
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