Howard Moss's Copy of Snow Lessons by Ivar Ivask

Poet, playwright, and critic Howard Moss was The New Yorker's poetry editor from 1948 until his death in 1987, an impressive run. Very likely he accumulated a fine library. To wit, a copy of Snow Lessons (1986) by the Latvian-born poet and critic Ivar Ivask is signed and inscribed to Moss by the author. The volume is currently available on AbeBooks from Between the Covers Rare Books for $45 plus shipping. Ivask himself was the editor of the prestigious quarterly World Literature Today, formerly Books Abroad.

Ivar Ivask
AbeBooks listing accessed February 15, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/Snow-Lessons-IVASK-Ivar-Poetry-Around/32131938102/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=readmore_low

Ivar Ivask
AbeBooks item description

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #933

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #933 from the centennial issue of February 17 & 24, 2025, an artist in Central Park prepares to sketch a pigeon. He appears angry as he speaks. The drawing is by Avi Steinberg.

"Smile, dammit."

These captions didn't soar:

"When is one of you going to pay me?"
"Will you be the first to keep still?"
"You ALL say you'll bring me bread."
"They're ALL good likenesses."
"When do I get to spread MY wings?"
"Are you sure you have a good side?"
"Just don't crumple it up in your beak and fly away."

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Christen's Copy of Emergency Mouse by Bernard Stone and Ralph Steadman

Christen's copy of Emergency Mouse, Bernard Stone's 1978 storybook, was signed by illustrator Ralph Steadman in September of 1994. Steadman added a drawing of the mouse with the dedication line serving as the rodent's mouth.

Ralph Steadman
AbeBooks listing accessed February 15, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Emergency-Mouse-Signed-decorated-drawing-illustrator/32131585153/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

Ralph Steadman
AbeBooks item description

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Rea Irvin: George Washington's Birthday—and a Peter Arno Cover Rough

George Washington's birthday falls on February 22, a fact that was known to most Americans before the creation of Presidents' Day. An undated and unpublished New Yorker cover by Rea Irvin was intended, no doubt, to celebrate the great general on his day. That might just be Alexander Hamilton on the left side of the image handling his correspondence. The postage stamp, of course, is a deliberate anachronism—and the joke.

Irvin's proposed cover art is on view at L'Alliance New York, part of the show called "Covering The New Yorker" curated by the current art editor Françoise Mouly. It is one of only two original works of art representing the magazine's first seventy years, neither of which was a published cover.

The other work is a preliminary drawing for what was to became the cover of December 20, 1958. The artist, Peter Arno, must have originally intended this to be a drawing inside the magazine. Reworking it into a cover necessitated some changes. He removed the awning and the background wash to accommodate the logo. He also eliminated the doorman, taking the driver out of the car and making him the central, taller figure. Placing the drawing on the cover also allowed Arno to add a striking splash of holiday color. 

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The New Yorker at One Hundred

The New Yorker's first issue was dated February 21, 1925, exactly one hundred years ago today. Rea Irvin's inaugural cover illustration must have mystified many people who saw it at the newsstand. Today, of course, we can see it for what it is: a classic. Happy birthday to The New Yorker.

Rea Irvin
The New Yorker, February 21, 1925

 

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Anatol Kovarsky at "Drawn From The New Yorker: A Centennial Celebration"

The cartoonist Anatol Kovarsky is represented by one drawing in the current exhibition at the Society of Illustrators on East 63rd Street. It's a good one. The show is called "Drawn From The New Yorker: A Centennial Celebration" and it is curated by Liza Donnelly.

Anatol Kovarsky
Original art
The New Yorker, September 6, 1947, p. 36

Anatol Kovarsky
The New Yorker, September 6, 1947, p. 36

With a cartoon by Anatol Kovarsky and an ad for American Railroads

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1947-09-06/flipbook/036/

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Ilonka Karasz at "Drawn From The New Yorker: A Centennial Celebration"

Ilonka Karasz was making beautiful covers for The New Yorker within a few weeks of its founding, and she is making beautiful covers for The New Yorker today.

—Brendan Gill

Here at The New Yorker (1975)

Ilonka Karasz is represented by one of these "beautiful covers" in the retrospective "Drawn From The New Yorker: A Centennial Celebration" currently on view at the Society of Illustrators. Now it's off to the races.

Ilonka Karasz
Original art
The New Yorker, June 9, 1956

Ilonka Karasz
The New Yorker, June 9, 1956

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1956-06-09/flipbook/CV1/

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Charles Addams at "Drawn From The New Yorker: A Centennial Celebration"

"Drawn From The New Yorker:  A Centennial Celebration" continues its run in New York City at the Society of Illustrators. Among the most popular of the many talented artists associated with The New Yorker over the past century is the splendid Charles Addams. His original cover art celebrating the new year of 1938 is set in an observatory. This is his first cover for the magazine, so it can be given for not quite looking like his later, more familiar work.

Charles Addams
Original art
The New Yorker, January 1, 1938

Charles Addams
The New Yorker, January 1, 1938

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1938-01-01/flipbook/CV1/

Addams is also represented in the exhibition with a wordless cartoon from 1949:

Charles Addams
Original art
The New Yorker, October 15, 1949, p. 27
Monster Rally, 1950, page 27
My Crowd, 1970, page 81

Speaking of good fortune, the Society of Illustrators has an original Addams from The New Yorker in its own collection. It is on display concurrently.

"Ready, dear?"
Charles Addams
Original art
The New Yorker, January 7, 1950, p. 29

"Ready, dear?"
Charles Addams
The New Yorker, January 7, 1950, p. 29

With a spot drawing of a double teapot and a cartoon by Charles Addams

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1950-01-07/flipbook/028/

Note:  The wordless 1949 Charles Addams moving day cartoon was already the subject of a post, which can be found in the blog archives here.

* * *

Of course, I'd love to hear from anyone with the uncanny ability to identify the spot artist responsible for this double cask teapot.

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Edward Koren at "Drawn From The New Yorker: A Centennial Celebration"

The retrospective now on view at the Society of Illustrators in honor of The New Yorker's centenary includes two original pieces by Edward Koren loaned by the artist's family. Both dating from Koren's heyday in the 1970s, there is one cartoon and one magazine cover.

"We got a complaint that his steak au poivre was dry and overcooked, his chicken vinaigrette
was prepared poorly in a sticky sweet-and-sour onion sauce that bordered on the inedible, and
his leaf-spinach-with-mushroom salad was crudely seasoned."
Edward Koren
Original art
The New Yorker, November 12, 1979, p. 182

"We got a complaint that his steak au poivre was dry and overcooked, his chicken vinaigrette
was prepared poorly in a sticky sweet-and-sour onion sauce that bordered on the inedible, and
his leaf-spinach-with-mushroom salad was crudely seasoned."

Edward Koren

The New Yorker, November 12, 1979, p. 182

Edward Koren
Original art
The New Yorker, April 11, 1977

Edward Koren
The New Yorker, April 11, 1977

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1977-04-11/flipbook/CV1/

Here's how Koren's cartoon looked in situ in the pages of the magazine:

With a cartoon by Edward Koren and an ad for Jack Daniel's

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1979-11-12/flipbook/182/

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My Entries in the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest for January/February 2025

Moment magazine's Cartoon Caption Contest for the January/February 2025 issue shows two dogs out for a walk. One dog has a Jewish star hanging from its collar and the other dog speaks. My two entries are shown below. The drawing is by dog lover Benjamin Schwartz.

“You’re lucky. Mine just says I don’t have rabies.”

"Would you ever date a German shepherd?"

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