Gloria's Copy of The Art of The New Yorker 1925-1995

On September 15, 1995, editor Tina Brown threw a launch party for Lee Lorenz's book The Art of The New Yorker 1925-1995. Gloria (glorbrue on eBay), then an employee of the magazine, took the opportunity to purchase a copy and have it signed and personalized by a group of artists at the Lincoln Center event.

A minor scorch mark on the book prompted fire-related drawings from cartoonists Jack Ziegler, Danny Shanahan, and Lee Lorenz, plus a fire-quenching comment from Ed Fisher. Roz Chast contributed her own admonitory drawing to the page, while Gretchen Dow Simpson added a wistful inscription.

Meanwhile, Victoria Roberts left a disarmingly poignant emendation to the book's title. Her fanciful bird drawing prompted a mock-angry reaction from Bob Mankoff, who depicted himself packing heat and prepared to shoot. George Booth, positioning himself on the page above the fray, reacted to the gun play and the bird by having a bullet ricochet between his chickens.

Let's take a closer look. The following detail gives a better view of the drawings by Chast and Ziegler, both of which have faded over the intervening years.

Mankoff's enraged gunman has some rudimentary stippling, a hallmark of his style.

Is it a flamingo? A detail of Roberts's bird shows the somewhat meandering neck.

Booth's chickens seem unperturbed by all the action.

Shanahan and Lorenz address the burning issues of the day.

Bidding started on eBay at $250 with a buy-it-now price of $500. One low bid was all it took to seal the deal:

The Art of The New Yorker 1925-1995
eBay listing ended February 7, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/156036847523?epid=494627&itmmeta=01HV5JC18VPP170KGD6R6Q7PTC&hash=item24548557a3:g:3qUAAOSwMQZlunoq&itmprp

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CjwaSwdB9b2%2BDSDmyzRyQHK5jEJwWeNszrswu4wVDpAeFhEQ9Agx0mE74qIDzX7G1E8jCriIuO8AzT%2BCrd5RsPYvhLo3qHsUeAUraZCGdGBLV5bNqA5tx%2FV5B

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The Art of The New Yorker 1925-1995
eBay item description
". . . and two signatures I can't make out. Ed Koren? Bill Hamilton?" Try Ed Fisher and Bob Mankoff.

Note:  Believe it or not, this is the fourteenth copy of this book to appear here on the blog. Many of these copies are from the signing event at Lincoln Center. I'd be pleased to post additional copies of the book signed by New Yorker cartoonists. I would also love to hear from anyone in possession of photographs taken at the event.

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Inflation Watch: Original New Yorker Covers

Collectively, covers of The New Yorker magazine represent some of the finest achievements in illustration over the past ninety-seven years. New Yorker covers consist of art with superimposed logo, date, and price; unlike most magazines, there are no blurbs competing with the cover art. The published covers may be beautiful, thought-provoking, collectable, and framable. A New Yorker cover may be priceless. But is a New Yorker cover worth $2,795?

That's the price eBay seller Pacific Vintage Paper of Newberg, Oregon, is asking for its vintage paper products. These include a wide selection of printed New Yorker covers to be sure, but also Good Housekeeping covers and print advertisements. The price is the same for covers from 1934 or 2008, for covers by Saul Steinberg or Seth, for covers without or with mailing labels.

So is this a sign of runaway inflation? Is it an avaricious play for obscene profit? Not necessarily. Pacific Vintage Paper has 100% positive feedback on eBay and offers unhappy customers full refunds. The seller writes, "I am a historian and educator by trade and deal in paper as a hobby. 100% of all profits from my eBay sales are donated to children's non-profit organizations for kids to be involved in their community and go to summer camps." Could it be that the magazine covers and other vintage paper are intended to be attractive tokens of appreciation for donors? All the sales have Make Offer options. It could be that all reasonable offers are accepted, essentially allowing buyers to set the level of their financial support. But it might prove difficult for these buyers to claim a tax deduction.

Gretchen Dow Simpson
The New Yorker, April 24, 1978

Gretchen Dow Simpson
eBay listing accessed September 2, 2022

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333641787814?hash=item4dae99a9a6:g:mJ8AAOSwFnVe~TeU

Gretchen Dow Simpson
eBay item description

Never leave out the Dow in Dow Simpson.

For that kind of money, it's Ronald Searle.

There's no difference in price between New Yorker covers, Good Housekeeping covers, and print ads.

Should one buy a Murad Turkish cigarette ad or a New Yorker cover? It's the buyer's choice. Unfortunately, the cover by Abe Birnbaum is folded down the middle, as is the case with a number of the other covers offered.

For what it's worth ($2,795), I prefer The New Yorker's covers to Good Housekeeping's.

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