Charles Addams: Galley Slaves

Here's an extraordinary work of original New Yorker art by Charles Addams. The seafaring cartoon was offered for sale on eBay in February where it made quite a splash.

Charles Addams
Original art
The New Yorker, September 6, 1976, p. 23
Creature Comforts (New York, Simon & Schuster, 1981)

The composition is noteworthy for its overall symmetry. The humorous element is placed right in the middle.

Charles Addams
Framed original art
The New Yorker, September 6, 1976, p. 23
Creature Comforts (New York, Simon & Schuster, 1981)

The lettering is carefully done so it will reproduce clearly when shrunk down to the magazine page's size.

Detail

Charles Addams's signature

Verso

Verso

Charles Addams
eBay listing ended February 4, 2023

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334729651054?hash=item4def71236e:g:~zgAAOSwO4tj2-4j&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4M4yS77Ovet96MdRGETydWOCWUd6QJFYfATHOka%2FLFzC%2FKAPB0iFoOGc2%2FHSF2Qw9lF1f30uYIgRZ6ZVGNsxZFRfbF%2BpuMTDLpagyBbm4%2Bc%2BS%2FPJWDDnuWz%2

BqbV383C60N19mRUl4MGaZh4ekL86r7jGsEzx9qG62FNkujQps4hKtetepMNciFnzIMwSmlpbmk1jw0UyCUdjt24KnwWUkW2%2BnCsLbhl08ChVjwJ%2F%2FJYtBnJo1RQtHzI8brkRWLI4%2F8ztVDoa%2FFpJlJptq2WnHqAbdauCu9OnlBLoW1Yg8De%2F%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8i05dXvYQ

Charles Addams
eBay item description

The Best Offer option was not used.

Charles Addams
The New Yorker, September 6, 1976, p. 23

Charles Addams
Original art
The New Yorker, September 6, 1976, p. 23
Creature Comforts (New York, Simon & Schuster, 1981)

A spot drawing by Henry Martin and a cartoon by Charles Addams

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1976-09-06/flipbook/022/

Creature Comforts (London, William Heinemann Ltd., 1981)

https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/Creature-Comforts-Chas-Addams-Heinemann/10451603109/bd

Spot drawing
Henry Martin

Note:  Michael Maslin linked to this original drawing and described it as "classic Addams" on his Ink Spill blog here on the very day when it sold with Buy It Now. Coincidence? You tell me.

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