Not all mothers are easily fooled. A cartoon by Barbara Shermund published in the March 1939 issue of Esquire depicts a young woman coming home to her mother after a night on the town carrying an expensive necklace fresh out of its jewelry box. Her mother has seen this before; she already knows what story she's about to be told and she anticipates it with apparent sarcasm. The joke, of course, is that we all can suppose we know how her attractive daughter really obtained the jewelry.
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"I know! You won it in another prize contest!"
Barbara Shermund
Original art
Esquire, March 1939, page 124
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The rendition of the two women in the foyer is quite lovely, but the caption, I think, is weak. "Prize contest" just sounds wrong to the ear. Simply referring to a "contest" would have served better.
On the original art, the artist's signature is cut off by the mounting, which is inexcusable. But even more inexcusable is that the signature in the published cartoon is cut off at the same place. Eighty years ago, Esquire demonstrated a certain slovenliness in how it presented the work of its talented cartoonists. Did anyone even notice?
The original artwork has been sold on eBay twice in the past two years. The more recent listing is the more thorough one, and it makes use of Classic Esquire's new online archive.
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Barbara Shermund
eBay Listing Ended December 4, 2016
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Barbara Shermund
eBay Item Description |
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Barbara Shermund
eBay Bid History
It pays to wait. A bid in the final four seconds takes the prize. |
The same piece was resold two years later on eBay, and at a profit:
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"I know! You won it in another prize contest!"
Barbara Shermund
Original art
Esquire, March 1939, page 124 |
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"I know! You won it in another prize contest!"
Barbara Shermund
Matted original art
Esquire, March 1939, page 124 |
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"I know! You won it in another prize contest!"
Barbara Shermund
Matted original art
Esquire, March 1939, page 124 |
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| Barbara Shermund's partially-obscured signature |
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| The handwritten caption on the matte |
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| Verso |
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| Detail of verso with writing |
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| Detail of stamp on Verso |
Esquire's mascot Esky was created by E. Simms Campbell. The March 1939 magazine cover of Esky showing off on ice skates is illustrated with a sculpture by Arthur Von Frankenberg.
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Arthur Von Frankenberg
Esquire, March 1939 |
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| Esquire, March 1939, pages 124-125 |
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Barbara Shermund
eBay Listing Ended September 30, 2018
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Barbara Shermund
eBay Item Description |
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Barbara Shermund
eBay Bid History
With only one bidder, bid strategy didn't matter here, but placing a single early bid still can't be recommended. |
Note: Attempted Bloggery seeks scans or photos of original artwork by Barbara Shermund for possible inclusion in future blog posts. Now how many blogs can say that?
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