Brendan Gill's Copy of Is Sex Necessary?

New Yorker writer Brendan Gill's copy of James Thurber and E. B. White's Is Sex Necessary? is a 1944 reprint of the 1929 humorous book. Thurber and White each wrote alternating chapters of the book. Gill has written his name and address, as well as the 1946 date [of acquisition?]. White inscribed, "To my chum/E B White/ex-humorist" a little poignantly.

This very interesting copy of the book sold at auction for $150 in 2017, just half its low estimate. It returned to the market this year with a minimum bid of $300, half its new low estimate, and it did not sell.

Inscribed "To my chum/E B White/ex-humorist"

Brendan Gill's copy

Title page with a Thurber illustration

E. B. White
eBay Listing Ended Many 23, 2018

https://www.ebay.com/itm/E-B-White-Asks-the-Question-on-Everyone-039-s-Mind-034-Is-Sex-Necessary-034-Lot-156-/253588092179?ul_noapp=true&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

E. B. White
eBay Item Description

https://www.invaluable.com/catalog/searchLots.cfm?scp=p&catalogRef=&shw=50&ord=0&img=0&olF=1&houseRef=&houseLetter=A&artistRef=&aID=0&areaID=&countryID=&regionID=&stateID=&fdt=&tdt=&fr=0&to=0&wa=Brendan%20Gill&wp=&wo=&nw=&upcoming=0&rp=&hi=1&rem=FALSE&ns=0&isSC=0&row=1&isBIN=0&isAdvanced=1

Note:  From time to time Attempted Bloggery publishes images of books signed, inscribed, or drawn upon by New Yorker luminaries. Please send me pictures of such books you'd like to show off on the blog.

Brendan Gill has not been mentioned on the blog before, but surely he'll be here again.


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