A Dragon Fancier's Copy of I, Leonardo by Ralph Steadman?

Twenty-five years ago, Ralph Steadman signed a copy of the softcover edition of I, Leonardo (1988). 

Although there's no inscription, there is a drawing of a fantastic Steadman creature. Is it drawn at the request of a dragon fancier? Or might it be something made to gratify a dinosaur enthusiast? The two-legged, four-toed, spined creature raises some questions as to its taxonomy. Of course, the inspiration for it could be pure Steadman. What ever it has to do with Leonardo may not be self-evident. The ink spatter, a Steadman trademark, comes already printed on the page.

Steadman is not squeamish about illustrating Leonardo's anatomical studies. He leaves it to the master's assistants to convey their comic reactions to the gruesome scene.

Ralph Steadman
AbeBooks listing accessed July 3, 2024

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Leonardo-Picador-Books-Ralph-Steadman/31920824497/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=readmore_low

Ralph Steadman
AbeBooks item description

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Frank Modell: Don't Meet the Press

From an eBay sale back in 2018, we have images of an original drawing by Frank Modell. It is a humorous illustration which certainly could have been published.

Frank Modell
eBay listing ended October 14, 2018

https://www.ebay.com/itm/frank-modell-original-art-cartoon-drawing-reporter-agent-and-stars-New-Yorker-/253922027188?hash=item3b1eeea6b4%3Ag%3

AitMAAOSwx2lblP6s&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Frank Modell
eBay item description

Frank Modell
eBay bid history
One bidder. Two bids. Otherwise, not much excitement.

Note:  I would like to hear from anyone who has seen this drawing in print.

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Clive Hirschhorn's Copy of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Something familiar: the 1963 book version of the Broadway musical "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." 

Something peculiar: that book signed by composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim and by Larry Gelbart, who wrote the book with Burt Shevelove. Gelbart inscribed the book to London theater critic Clive Hirschhorn on behalf of Shevelove and himself. Sondheim signed his autograph. It's quite a rarity, but maybe peculiar isn't the right word.

The cover illustration is not by Al Hirschfeld, who has one interior illustration, but by Rudy Nappi, best know for his Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew book covers. Here Zero Mostel looks nothing like a boy detective but he seems to have found what he was looking for.

This very desirable book was priced at $975 back on May 24.

Since then, the booksellers, Lakin & Marley, have reconsidered the price. It now goes for an even $1,200.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
AbeBooks listing accessed July 1, 2024

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/FUNNY-THING-HAPPENED-WAY-FORUN-Inscribed/31879062410/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
AbeBooks item description

"Comedy Tonight"

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #903

X marks the spot in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #903 from the issue of July 1, 2024. My caption is shown below, but I failed to enter the contest before the deadline. The drawing is by Meredith Southard.

"Well, if it isn't your mother's storage locker and your father."

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