Rea Irvin: Vacationtime in the Virgin Islands

This is a surprise. From eBay, two original illustrations by Rea Irvin were sold for just $200 after failing to find a buyer at $250. Their publication history in the February 1954 issue of Woman's Day is fully known and scrupulously documented in the eBay listing. Both pieces of color artwork are framed together in one matte with two windows and a suitable frame that alone would cost more than $200 to obtain today. It's like getting the art for free.

Rea Irvin, of course, worked for the old Life, The New Yorker, and many other publications. He was The New Yorker's original art editor. He created many innovative covers for the magazine, including its legendary first issue.

Two original side-by-side color illustrations by Rea Irvin of the Virgin Islands are shown alongside pages 18 and 19 from the February 1954 issue of Woman's Day which includes the illustration of Frederiksted, St. Croix.

The title page of the Woman's Day article reproduces the St. Croix illustration in full color. The blurb reveals that Irvin "spends a good part of the year in the islands...."

Rea Irvin, "Frederiksted, St. Croix -- The Rush Hour."

Rea Irvin, "Ninety nine steps, St. Thomas"

Ninety-Nine Steps, St. Thomas today

http://travel.usnews.com/US_Virgin_Islands/Pictures/99_Steps_282/

The famous 99 Steps are reduced to 29 Steps by sloppy copy writers at Woman's Day, who seemingly could have used assistance from some of The New Yorker's legendary fact-checkers.

Page 18 of Woman's Day for February 1954 is the title page of Irvin's article

The illustrations on the title page are reproduced in their original color.

Irvin's color illustration of Ninety-Nine Steps is reproduced only in black-and-white on page 104 of Woman's Day, towards the back of the magazine.

Rea Irvin, "Frederiksted, St. Croix -- The Rush Hour." and "Ninety nine steps, St. Thomas" are framed together.

Woman's Day, February 1954 Cover

The Back of the Frame

The Label

Rea Irvin eBay Listing Ending June 1, 2013

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-REA-IRVIN-Original-Illustrations-Published-In-1954-Womens-Day-Magazine-/151053174922?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item232b78888a&nma=true&si=VJo29%252F7WbHpl1SY9gWmnl4%252FkT80%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

The Final Sale Price

This artwork failed to find a buyer at $250 on eBay, but sold at $200.

Two original color illustrations by Rea Irvin of the Virgin Islands are shown alongside pages 18 and 19 from the February 1954 Woman's Day which includes the illustration of Frederiksted, St. Croix.

Note:  A photo of Rea Irvin at a fancy costume party some forty years before these illustrations were published can be found here.

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