Select pieces were on view at the midtown Manhattan reception Wednesday evening for the Heritage Auctions Signature Illustration Art Sale to be held on April 21 in Dallas. Naturally, I couldn't resist photographing some of these highlights, starting with the bold illustration by Patrick Nagel that appears on the catalogue cover.
Untitled [Tracy Vaccaro in Polka Dot Dress], 1983
Patrick Nagel
Untitled [Close Up—Heidi Sorenson], 1983
Patrick Nagel
Patrick Nagel
And Forsaking All Others Edward Sorel The New Yorker, June 15, 1998
Constantin Alajálov The Saturday Evening Post, April 13, 1946
Garth Williams
James Gurney
To bring out the colors, I enhanced this 1917 advertising illustration image for Kellogg's Corn Flakes by J. C. Leyendecker:
Happy New Year, even if I am a little late in my self-imposed deadline!
J. C. Leyendecker's cover art for the first issue of The Saturday Evening Post to appear in the year 1920 shows a winged baby concealing a bottle of alcohol as he welcomes in the New Year. This particular year saw the onset of Prohibition, the defiance of which was in many ways to define American social life for a decade. The title Baby New Year and Prohibition Camel comes from the Post's website. It had been the cartoonist Thomas Nast who chose the camel, which drinks only water, to represent the Prohibition Party. Leyendecker put it to good use as we prepared for a bit of a dry spell.
J. C. Leyendecker Original art The Saturday Evening Post, January 3, 1920
J. C. Leyendecker Framed original art The Saturday Evening Post, January 3, 1920
Here's an illustration mystery for the ages: How on earth could this artwork, which is very specific to the New Year celebration of 1920, bear a framing label dated 1917?
The bidding was already strong some five days prior to the November 14 sale of Illustration Art at Heritage Auctions where this original art would be sold.
J. C. Leyendecker Heritage Auctions listing accessed November 9, 2025
January 7, 2026 Update: In the comments section, John Sunday observes that the framing of this piece dates from 2017, and not 1917. I'll leave my error in place as a reminder that I have got to think fourth-dimensionally.
J. C. Leyendecker's original cover art for the Saturday Evening Post edition of November 24, 1928, depicts the pilgrim's progress over three-hundred years. Its title is Thanksgiving, 1628-1928. The work was sold at Heritage Auctions in 2015.
This was before television was in the home and radio was only in its infancy. People, at least some of them, were actually attending the games on Thanksgiving Day—as they do today. Very likely someone had to stay home and cook.
It's a very nice piece and it sold for a very nice price.
The published magazine cover is shown here above the orignal art:
On November 14, Heritage Auctions sold the original art to a Saturday Evening Post cover by J. C. Leyendecker from the issue of November 26, 1932. Titled Thanksgiving Crest, it might not be what one is expecting of the artist or the Post. It is from the collection of Michael Dolas.
Bidding started at $75,000. Four days before the sale, no online bids had yet been placed. The estimate was $150,000 to $250,000.
J. C. Leyendecker Heritage Auctions listing accessed November 9, 2025
Last night, Heritage Auctions hosted a reception in New York for its forthcoming American Art sale. These works and many others will be on the auction block in Texas on November 14. There was some high-end illustration art there as well, including a lot of scouting pictures.
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