Sunday, April 18, 2021

Blog Post No. 3600: Ronald Searle's Slightly Foxed—But Still Desirable, No. 3/150

Perhaps it's no surprise that of all Ronald Searle's cartoon collections, booksellers seem to have a special affinity for Slightly Foxed—But Still Desirable: Ronald Searle's Wicked World of Book Collecting (1989). The title alludes to genuine bookseller terms reportedly culled from unnamed sales catalogues and graphically interpreted in Searle's unique hand. No bookseller of merit is going to let a copy go without extracting a hefty price from the buyer, and that includes copies with some water damage or, at least in theory, slight foxing.


The copies from the Souvenir Press's signed and limited edition of 150 tend to cost the most. Of these, the first ten command the highest prices as they are graced with an original Searle cartoon of a bookish cat. D&D Galleries of Somerville, NJ, currently has copy no. 3/150 offered on AbeBooks, eBay, and elsewhere for $7,900. For comparison, in 2012 I reported on copy no. 10/100, which readily sold for $2,750.






Ronald Searle
Slightly Foxed—But Still Desirable, London: Souvenir Press Ltd., 1989,
Limited Edition no. 3/150 with an original cartoon




Ronald Searle

Note:  As alluded to above, my 2012 post showing copy #10/150 may be seen here. That leaves copies 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9/150 still to be accounted for on this blog. Get to work, people!


Original drawings by Ronald Searle hidden away in books are just the kind of things I like to unearth and publicize on the blog. Please submit your scans or photos. I'm quite sure I would never reject a Searle cat.


The Attempted Bloggery Centennial Posts 💯
Blog Post No. 100
Blog Post No. 200:  A Shaggy Dog Story




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