Ima Rosada's Copy of Monster Rally by Charles Addams

In 1956, Ima Rosada purchased a home on Quiogue Point in Southampton Town. The following year New Yorker cartoonist Charles Addams was her houseguest. He presented his hostess with a personalized copy of his 1950 book Monster Rally from its second printing. It was a housewarming gift of sorts as well a means of reciprocating her hospitality.

The original drawing in the book features the boy Pugsley as we now call him—he was as yet unnamed before "The Addams Family" television show. He holds the family's pet lizard, if you will, on a leash.

Charles Addams
AbeBooks listing accessed November 4, 2023

Charles Addams
AbeBooks item description

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/Monster-Rally-Addams-Charles-Simon-Schuster/31692052602/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook_high

The aforementioned 1956 real estate transaction had been posted in the local press. Addams misspelled Rosada's name in the book, but hi got Quiogue right.

Realty Sales
The Southampton Press, November 29, 1956, p. 12

https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=sp19561129-01.1.12&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN----------

Note:  This book has been sold. But Charles Addams, bless him, gave away many copies of his books to which he added personalized inscriptions and drawings. Other such volumes were no doubt obtained at book signings. Whatever the story behind them, consider this blog the home away from home for images of the superb Addams books in your library.

See Dan's Papers for a helpful 2013 primer on Quogue and Quiogue here.

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