Attempted Bloggery: Edward Gorey's Penny Candy

Monday, December 12, 2011

Edward Gorey's Penny Candy

Bonhams will be offering two fine Edward Gorey original illustrations from Edward Fenton's Penny Candy in its December 15 sale.

Sale 19427 - Fine Books and Manuscripts, 15 Dec 2011
New York

Lot No: 5083

GOREY, EDWARD. 1925-2000.

1. "Paul was staring steadily at the Widow Shinn," 132 x 113 mm.

2. "Like swallows they scudded through the gritty air of Wishbone Street," 45 x 114 mm.

Both pen and ink, illustrations for Edward P. Fenton, Penny Candy (New York: Holt, 1970, pp 45 and 47), matted and framed together.

Estimate: US$7,000 - 10,000

December 15, 2011: Unsold

http://www.bonhams.com/eur/auction/19427/lot/5083/

In June, Bonhams offered preliminary cover artwork for this book. Alas, it did not find a buyer.

Sale 19514 - 20th Century Illustration Art, 22 Jun 2011

New York

Lot No: 139

Edward Gorey (American, 1929-2000)

"Penny Candy," color sketch for the jacket design for Edward Fenton's Penny Candy (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1970).

Pen and ink and watercolor.
20.5 x 18.5cm (8 1/16 x 7 5/16in).
Matted and framed.

Estimate: US$6,000 - 8,000
Unsold

Footnote:
This children's story derives from the familiar English nursery rhyme "Tinker Tailor," that is also a counting game and a fortune telling song.

http://www.bonhams.com/eur/auction/19514/lot/139/

The published cover for Penny Candy by Edward Fenton

http://brickbatbooks.blogspot.com/2011/11/featured-four-by-edward-gorey.html

The following was offered for sale at Goreybooks.com. It appears to have been sold:

PAUL'S TOY EMPORIUM (1970) from Penny Candy by Edward Fenton (1970) New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston

Original pen and ink illustration

Image 5.25 x 4.5 inches, paper 11.5 x 7.25 inches

$5,500.oo

http://www.goreyography.com/west/backroom/br04.htm

January 24, 2013 Update: The preliminary cover artwork for Penny Candy was sold today at Swann Galleries in New York. It had a presale estimate of $4,000 to $6,000, considerably less than the 2011 Bonhams estimate. The hammer price was $3,400.