An Otto Soglow Alphabet

An important feature of the Dutch Treat Club yearbooks was the membership directory. In the Fortieth Anniversary of The Dutch Treat Club, the 1945 yearbook's directory has letter illustrations by the prolific Otto Soglow. Like the other illustrations in the yearbook, they are racy and irreverent, meant to be enjoyed by the group's members and definitely not intended for the general public. Not every letter of the alphabet is illustrated; only those for whom there are corresponding Dutch Treat Club members.

Otto Soglow, Members with letters A and B
Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club. New York: 1945
The listing begins with legendary theater impresario George Abbott

Otto Soglow, C
Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club. New York: 1945
Harrison Cady and James Cagney head the C listings.

Otto Soglow, D
Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club. New York: 1945
Including both Whitney Darrow and Whitney Darrow, Jr. 

Otto Soglow, E and F
Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club. New York: 1945
Clifton Fadiman has the dubious distinction of leading off the F's
Saturday Evening Post cover artist John Falter, who illustrated this year's
yearbook cover, is noted for his wartime service in the Naval Reserve.
 

Otto Soglow, G
Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club. New York: 1945
Frank Godwin and Rube Goldberg are among the G's. 

Otto Soglow, H
Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club. New York: 1945
John Gunther, author of the popular "Inside" books,
would publish Death Be Not Proud in 1949.

Otto Soglow, I and J
Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club, 1945
Rea Irvin, illustrator of The New Yorker's first cover,
is listed as the first I.

Otto Soglow, K and L
Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club. New York: 1945
Publisher Alfred A. Knopf is in the mix.
Fritz Kreisler is listed as a composer rather than a violinist.

Otto Soglow, M
Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club. New York: 1945
 

Otto Soglow, N, O, P, and Q
Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club. New York: 1945
Ogden Nash has the indignity of being the first N.
Illustrator Russell Patterson is listed among the R's.

Otto Soglow, R and S
Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club. New York: 1945

Otto Soglow, V and W
Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club. New York: 1945

Otto Soglow, Z
Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club. New York: 1945

Note:  Collectors who have access to rarities of the Dutch Treat Club are encouraged to share them here. I would also appreciate scans or photographs of original cartoon art by Otto Soglow. Rare and obscure published work such as these letters are always welcome.


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02383

Sight Unseen: An Otto Soglow Erotic Drawing

When I gamble, I don't need to go to a casino; I go to an online bookseller and buy something I can't personally examine. The wager is that a bookseller who won't go to the trouble of providing a photo will nevertheless accurately describe a book. My bets in book buying have overall been fairly successful so far, with one or two odd caveats. Win or lose, I report on the results of my blind purchases right here on the blog. Today I report on my most expensive experiment to date, a sight unseen copy of Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club (New York, 1945). As noted in the Strand Book Store listing, the publication is limited to 1000 copies and this volume is inscribed by Otto Soglow with an erotic drawing. The price is $125. Okay, I decided to go for it.

Abe Books Listing
August 7, 2016

The book has voyeuristic cover art by John Falter, a regular Saturday Evening Post cover artist.

Fortieth Anniversary of the Dutch Treat Club

John Falter

New York, 1945, cover

The endpapers are by Dean Cornwell, another outstanding contributor.

Endpaper
Dean Cornwell

The Soglow drawing appears in the front of the book on a blank page opposite a printed erotic drawing of a woman wearing only panties, a skirt, and heels, immodestly bending over. Soglow has drawn his Little King staring very specifically at her crotch and experiencing a visible bulge in his royal robe. Humorist Corey Ford has also signed the page and directed a comment at the same area of the woman's anatomy. What a coincidence!

Inscribed "With love to Harry [Staton?]/O. Soglow" with a drawing of the Little King aroused
Inscribed "The usual place/Corey Ford—"

The drawing is inscribed to one Harry. It seems likely but by no means certain that this is Harry Staton, who managed the Herald Tribune Syndicate and served as Treasurer of the Dutch Treat Club.

Among the listed officers of the Dutch Treat Club is Treasurer Harry Staton (c. 1880- 1959), possibly the original owner of this volume. Harry Staton was the manager of the Herald Tribune Syndicate from 1924-1947. Note the classy medicine cabinet.

Many of the artists in the Dutch Treat Club contributed a drawing with the theme of the number forty. Here is Otto Soglow's anatomical capriccio to end the volume:

So here's my take on this purchase: I got my money's worth, but to what end? This book is an absolutely unique item in a number of ways. It is perhaps Soglow's only drawing of the Little King in a sexually-aroused state—heaven forfend if there are more—and it is an unexpected bonus to see it paired, if crudely, with Corey Ford's signature. The likely provenance of Harry Staton makes it even more interesting. I have no doubt it's worth $125.

On the down side, it is a dated relic of an old boys' club of cartoonists and humorists. Soglow and Ford are looking for coarse laughs in the objectification of women. I love the Little King, but this isn't the Little King drawing I would choose for myself. In fact, I'm pretty sure I would have passed on the book if I'd actually seen it. But then, what was I expecting?

Note:  It's not so hard for a determined collector to find an absolutely unique drawing. In fact, it's quite easy, because cartoonists and other creative people conjure up absolutely unique images every day. Readers who have accumulated unique artifacts of the Dutch Treat Club are encouraged to share them right here on Attempted Bloggery.

It seems almost every day I ask for scans or photographs of original cartoon art by Otto Soglow. I usually ask for examples of extremely rare and obscure published work. Today I offered a little of each myself. See, it isn't so hard. Well, I suppose that depends on what I mean by it.


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02382

Original Magazine Cover Art

In its December 10 sale, Illustration House offered a number of original magazine cover illustrations from the American press in a variety of styles.

Lot 25	John Falter						1910-1982		x
x		Postal workers sorting Christmas mail.								x
x		Magazine cover, Saturday Evening Post, December 8, 1945; Oil on hardboard panel, 23.75 x 20", signed lower left								x
x		Estimate: $25,000 - 35,000								x
x										x
x		Condition - Very good overall: A few small professional inpaints. Restored under supervision of Judy Goffman Fine Art, ca. 1982. Framed in old wood and linen liner.								x
x

http://www.pophistorydig.com/?tag=post-office-saturday-evening-post 

Lot 25

John Falter

1910-1982

x

x

Postal workers sorting Christmas mail.

x

x

Magazine cover, Saturday Evening Post, December 8, 1945;
Oil on hardboard panel, 23.75 x 20", signed lower left

x

x

Estimate: $25,000 - 35,000

x

x

x

x

Condition - Very good overall: A few small professional inpaints. Restored under supervision of Judy Goffman Fine Art, ca. 1982. Framed in old wood and linen liner.

x

x

Lot 28	George E. Hughes						1907-1990		x
x		Baby in back yard pulling up rose garden.								x
x		"Coming Up Roses" Magazine cover, Saturday Evening Post, June 8, 1957; Oil on masonite panel, 22 x 20.25", signed lower left								x
x		Estimate: $8,000 - 12,000								x
x		Number written verso: P4672. Bears original label from Post verso, with date of 12/14/1955, probably the date received. Provenance - According to the consignor, Norman Rockwell talked Hughes into donating this painting for a raffle in Arlington VT in the late 1950's. The consignor (who was 11 at the time) had his name entered by his uncle who was an acquaintance of Rockwell's. He won it, and the painting has hung in his home since then.								x
x		Condition - Very good overall: clean; original frame provided by Hughes in 1950s (probably recently repainted).

Lot 28

George E. Hughes

1907-1990

x

x

Baby in back yard pulling up rose garden.

x

x

"Coming Up Roses"
Magazine cover, Saturday Evening Post, June 8, 1957;
Oil on masonite panel, 22 x 20.25", signed lower left

x

x

Estimate: $8,000 - 12,000

x

x

Number written verso: P4672. Bears original label from Post verso, with date of 12/14/1955, probably the date received.
Provenance - According to the consignor, Norman Rockwell talked Hughes into donating this painting for a raffle in Arlington VT in the late 1950's. The consignor (who was 11 at the time) had his name entered by his uncle who was an acquaintance of Rockwell's. He won it, and the painting has hung in his home since then.

x

x

Condition - Very good overall: clean; original frame provided by Hughes in 1950s (probably recently repainted).

Δ Lot 29	Robert Hilbert								x
x		Boy falling while on "E-Z" roller skates.								x
x		“New Skates” Magazine cover, American Weekly, June 9, 1954; Gouache, 22.5 x 18", signed lower right								x
x		Estimate: $1,500 - 2,000								x
x										x
x		Condition - Very good overall: relatively unscuffed; matted and framed.								x
x

x	Lot 44	Harrison Fisher						1875-1934		x
x		Young woman holding duckling.								x
x		Magazine cover, Cosmopolitan, September 1924; Pastel on sand-surfaced canvas, 22 x 16", signed lower left								x
x		Estimate: $3,500 - 5,500								x
x		Simaltaneously published in Britain as a cover for Nash's magazine. Literature - Literature: “The Complete Works of Harrison Fisher, Illustrator” by Naomi Welch 1999 p. 161, 188.								x
x		Condition - Very good overall: metal-leaf 'swan' moulding.

x

Lot 44

Harrison Fisher

1875-1934

x

x

Young woman holding duckling.

x

x

Magazine cover, Cosmopolitan, September 1924;
Pastel on sand-surfaced canvas, 22 x 16", signed lower left

x

x

Estimate: $3,500 - 5,500

x

x

Simaltaneously published in Britain as a cover for Nash's magazine.
Literature - Literature: “The Complete Works of Harrison Fisher, Illustrator” by Naomi Welch 1999 p. 161, 188.

x

x

Condition - Very good overall: metal-leaf 'swan' moulding.

Δ Lot 29

Robert Hilbert

x

x

Boy falling while on "E-Z" roller skates.

x

x

“New Skates”
Magazine cover, American Weekly, June 9, 1954;
Gouache, 22.5 x 18", signed lower right

x

x

Estimate: $1,500 - 2,000

x

x

x

x

Condition - Very good overall: relatively unscuffed; matted and framed.

x

x

x

Lot 44

Harrison Fisher

1875-1934

x

x

Young woman holding duckling.

x

x

Magazine cover, Cosmopolitan, September 1924;
Pastel on sand-surfaced canvas, 22 x 16", signed lower left

x

x

Estimate: $3,500 - 5,500

x

x

Simaltaneously published in Britain as a cover for Nash's magazine.
Literature - Literature: “The Complete Works of Harrison Fisher, Illustrator” by Naomi Welch 1999 p. 161, 188.

x

x

Condition - Very good overall: metal-leaf 'swan' moulding.

x	Lot 45	James Montgomery Flagg						1877-1960		x
x		Coy young woman wearing black hat.								x
x		Magazine cover, Associated Sunday Magazines, February 7, 1915; Watercolor, 17.5 x 14.25", signed lower right								x
x		Estimate: $3,000 - 5,000								x
x		Literature - Literature: “James Montgomery Flagg: Uncle Sam and Beyond” by Nicholas Steward, published by Collectors Press, 1997. p. 29.								x
x		Condition - Good overall: may have faded slightly, moisture stain along bottom edge, framed.

x

Lot 45

James Montgomery Flagg

1877-1960

x 

x

Coy young woman wearing black hat.

x

x

Magazine cover, Associated Sunday Magazines, February 7, 1915;
Watercolor, 17.5 x 14.25", signed lower right

x

x

Estimate: $3,000 - 5,000

x

x

Literature - Literature: “James Montgomery Flagg: Uncle Sam and Beyond” by Nicholas Steward, published by Collectors Press, 1997. p. 29.

x

x

Condition - Good overall: may have faded slightly, moisture stain along bottom edge, framed.

x	Δ Lot 50	Amy Hogeboom								x
x		Young woman holding disk and giant quill pen.								x
x		Magazine cover, The Golden Book Magazine, July 1927; Gouache, watercolor, bronze paint, 14 x 9.75", signed lower left								x
x		Estimate: $2,500 - 3,500								x
x										x
x		Condition - Very good; some incipient flaking; black mat and frame; not examined out of frame.								x
x

x

Δ Lot 50

Amy Hogeboom

x

x

Young woman holding disk and giant quill pen.

x

x

Magazine cover, The Golden Book Magazine, July 1927;
Gouache, watercolor, bronze paint, 14 x 9.75", signed lower left

x

x

Estimate: $2,500 - 3,500

x

x

x

x

Condition - Very good; some incipient flaking; black mat and frame; not examined out of frame.

x

x

Amy Hogeboom, The Golden Book Magazine, July 1927

Lot 69	Gyo Fujikawa						1908-1998		x
x		Seven Dwarfs discover Snow White sleeping.								x
x		“A scene from Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” Magazine cover, Children's Digest, May 1952; Gouache, 8.75 x 7.5", not signed								x
x		Estimate: $5,000 - 7,000								x
x		The artist's first name is noted verso, along with the date and magazine title abbreviation. In this period, Disney artists were never given public credit for their work.								x
x		Condition - Very good overall: light fading; glue residue outside image; archivally matted and metal-sectional frame

Lot 69

Gyo Fujikawa

1908-1998

x

x

Seven Dwarfs discover Snow White sleeping.

x

x

“A scene from Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”
Magazine cover, Children's Digest, May 1952;
Gouache, 8.75 x 7.5", not signed

x

x

Estimate: $5,000 - 7,000

x

x

The artist's first name is noted verso, along with the date and magazine title abbreviation. In this period, Disney artists were never given public credit for their work.

x

x

Condition - Very good overall: light fading; glue residue outside image; archivally matted and metal-sectional frame

Gyo Fujikawa, Children's Digest, May 1952

0175