Not Our Charles Saxon

I have absolutely no idea who Chuck Saxton may be, but I know who he is not. He is not New Yorker cartoonist Charles Saxon (1920-1988). But go tell that to the eBay seller of a genuine Chuck Saxton sketch—if one can call it that—erroneously promoted as the work of Charles Saxon. No one familiar with Saxon's cartoons could mistake this for his signature or his art. Nevertheless, the new owner has also won himself a Letter of Authenticity. Congratulations, and caveat emptor.

Chuck Saxton
eBay bid history
Two bidders fight over a sketch that shouldn't be fought over.

Here's the real Charles Saxon on the cover of Newsweek:

How Men Are Changing
Charles Saxon
Newsweek, January 16, 1978

https://www.ebay.com/itm/224271053161?hash=item34...

Legal Battle of the Sexes
Charles Saxon
Newsweek, April 30, 1979

https://www.ebay.com/itm/303592879209?....

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David Levine's Concurrent Time and Newsweek Covers

In yesterday's post, a biographical tidbit found on eBay stated that David Levine once produced caricatures for the covers of both Time and Newsweek during the same week, and that neither magazine knew this was going on beforehand. This was news to me, although apparently it is well known to Mr. Levine's devotees.

For me, seeing is believing. I did a little research and this is what I found:

David Levine, "Man of the Year: L.B.J. as Lear," Time, January 5, 1968

President Lyndon B. Johnson, Democratic Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, and Democratic Representative Wilbur Mills

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TIME-Magazine-January-5-1968-LBJ-as-Lear-Man-of-the-Year-/330964912940?pt=Magazines&hash=item4d0f0bcb2c&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

David Levine, Original Artwork for "Man of the Year:  L.B.J. as Lear," Time, January 5, 1968

President Lyndon B. Johnson, Democratic Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, and Democratic Representative Wilbur Mills

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nostri-imago/5023586794/

David Levine, "Politics '68," Newsweek, January 8, 1968

The 1968 contenders for the Republican Presidential nomination: frontrunner Richard M. Nixon followed by Michigan Governor George Romney, New York Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, California Governor Ronald Reagan, and Illinois Senator Chuck Percy.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-NEWSWEEK-MAGAZINE-JANUARY-8-1968-POLITICS-68-/151079797163?nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Note:  Yesterday's post on a David Levine bookplate is here. To see all my posts on caricature, click here.

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Charles Addams: The Flashing Festers

Over the years, Charles Addams created a number of what I call "Flashing Festers," souvenir drawings featuring his iconic Addams Family character Uncle Fester revealing his bare chest and his underwear. A couple of them have been offered at auction by Heritage in the past:

Charles Addams, Uncle Fester.
Heritage Auctions Listing, July 28, 2012

http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7063&lotNo=94809

Charles Addams, Uncle Fester.
Heritage Auctions Listing, July 28, 2012

http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7063&lotNo=94809

Charles Addams
Uncle Fester. Dedicated "To Richard with all best"
on the front free endpapaper in a copy of The Groaning Board, 1964
Heritage Auctions Listing, November 16, 2011

http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7039&lotNo=92039#Photo

Charles Addams
Uncle Fester. Dedicated "To Richard with all best"
on the front free endpapaper in a copy of The Groaning Board, 1964
Heritage Auctions Listing, November 16, 2011

http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7039&lotNo=92039#Photo

Charles Addams
The Groaning Board, 1964
Heritage Auctions Listing, November 16, 2011

http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7039&lotNo=92039#Photo

Charles Addams, Uncle Fester. Dedicated "To Richard with all best"
on the front free endpapaper in a copy of The Groaning Board, 1964
Heritage Auctions Listing, November 16, 2011

http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7039&lotNo=92039#Photo

One of the most elaborate of these flashing Festers is currently being offered by Bauman Rare Books in New York City. At $3,800, it is also the most expensive one I've seen. It appears in a copy of the cartoonist's 1981 collection Creature Comforts and was dedicated by Mr. Addams to Mary Lee and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., for Christmas 1982. Uncle Fester sports boxer shorts with festive red and green stripes.

Now you know how to respond the next time someone asks you whether Uncle Fester wears boxers or briefs.

Charles Addams, Uncle Fester
inscribed to Mary Lee and Douglas [Fairbanks, Jr.], 1982,
in a copy of Creature Comforts, 1981

 Bauman Rare Books Listing, 2012

http://www.baumanrarebooks.com/rare-books/addams-charles/creature-comforts/83792.aspx

Copy of Creature Comforts inscribed in 1982 by Charles Addams to 
Mary Lee and Douglas [Fairbanks, Jr.]
 Bauman Rare Books Listing, 2012

http://www.baumanrarebooks.com/rare-books/addams-charles/creature-comforts/83792.aspx

Charles Addams
Creature Comforts, Bauman Rare Books Listing, 2012

http://www.baumanrarebooks.com/rare-books/addams-charles/creature-comforts/83792.aspx

Sold!

Image added March 23, 2017

October 11, 2015 Update:

Charles Addams
eBay Listing Ended July 20, 2015

eBay

Charles Addams
eBay item description

September 4, 2018 Update:  As mentioned in the comments section below, reader George Kovalenko of Saskatoon, who writes the Fountain Pen History, Hand & Pen blog, has found a Flashing Fester in a 1977 copy of Newsweek, where it is purportedly identified as an Addams self-portrait.

Charles Addams
Newsweek, April 18, 1977, page 61
The University of Sasketchewan library

https://i.imgur.com/suRF62Z.jpg

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