Bill Bush's Copy of The Dedini Gallery

A copy of The Dedini Gallery, Eldon Dedini's 1961 cartoon collection, is signed and inscribed, "Greetings, Bill!" by the artist. This Bill, we are told, is Houston-area comics collector William "Bill" Bush, Jr., who passed away in 2013. We were also told that he had been working on a history of early comic artists, one I don't think was completed or published. The Dedini book was discounted 25% by Texas-based eBay seller Space Cadets Collection for this weekend only and was sold thus.

Eldon Dedini
eBay listing accessed November 28, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304846112625?_skw=

Eldon Dedini
eBay item description

Sold!

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Bob Hemminger's Copy of Let's Boogie! by James Stevenson

For those keeping score, this is the second copy we have seen on this blog of the cartoon collection Let's Boogie! (1978) by James Stevenson personalized by the artist for a single person, Bob Hemminger, with an included sketch. This one from Space Cadets Collection reportedly comes out of the estate of comics historian Bill Bush, as did the Charles Saxon book in yesterday's post also made out to Hemminger. We have also seen a book from Edward Koren dedicated to the same individual with a superb drawing. It's possible, then, that Hemminger collected these by mail, sending a book (or two?) and requesting a signature and drawing from the artist, but there are other possibilities. Brilliant. 

Space Cadets, I may have mentioned yesterday, is selling much or all of its inventory for 25% off this weekend only. So while this very loose self-portrait may not be the best Stevenson drawing I've seen in one of his books, the price is right.

James Stevenson
eBay listing accessed November 28, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304950122737?itmmeta=01KB33A6Q44BNWMN4KCJD31CK7&hash=item47007198f1:g:v8QAAOSw6oJkUcpI

James Stevenson
eBay item description

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Bob Hemminger's Copy of One Man's Fancy by Charles Saxon

Online discounts tend to get serious on Thanksgiving Day weekend as sellers try to move as much inventory as they can before Christmas. Something similar happens in stores with Black Friday deals. And this year both consumers and retailers have increased cause for anxiety about the uncertain economy.

Behold then a signed copy of Charles Saxon's 1977 cartoon collection One Man's Fancy, which I've been following with interest for more than a year, suddenly reduced in price from $75 to $56.25, a 25% discount—though perhaps it was priced just a little lower one year ago. The seller, Space Cadets Collection, lowered the cost of many if not all of its listings on the auction site eBay.

The book's front cover illustrates idyllic behavior in business attire; the back cover does the same but without the attire.

This copy is dedicated to one Bob Hemminger by the artist. Saxon didn't typically add drawings to his inscriptions, but he did here.

The copyright page demonstrates how important The New Yorker is to the artist's oeuvre.

Here's the listing as it stood on Thanksgiving Day:

Charles Saxon
eBay listing accessed November 27, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304846112624?_skw=yorker&itmmeta=01KB30REVFMCB5HPWJCRY2V0AD&hash=item46fa3e8770:g:I9sAAOSwamVkBrdS

Charles Saxon
eBay item description

Did I mention that after a year of eying this one from afar, I went and took the bait?

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J. C. Leyendecker: Thanksgiving, 1628-1928

J. C. Leyendecker's original cover art for the Saturday Evening Post edition of November 24, 1928, depicts the pilgrim's progress over three-hundred years. Its title is Thanksgiving, 1628-1928. The work was sold at Heritage Auctions in 2015.

This was before television was in the home and radio was only in its infancy. People, at least some of them, were actually attending the games on Thanksgiving Day—as they do today. Very likely someone had to stay home and cook.

It's a very nice piece and it sold for a very nice price.

The published magazine cover is shown here above the orignal art:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DC-L5aFvz7M/?img_index=2

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A 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Teaser: The View From 86th Street

Crossing West 86th Street today in a taxi, I chanced upon the very last float lined up for tomorrow's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. On Thanksgiving morning, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and numerous elves will ride in this reindeer-driven sleigh all the way down to Herald Square.

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J. C. Leyendecker: Thanksgiving 1932

On November 14, Heritage Auctions sold the original art to a Saturday Evening Post cover by J. C. Leyendecker from the issue of November 26, 1932. Titled Thanksgiving Crest, it might not be what one is expecting of the artist or the Post. It is from the collection of Michael Dolas.

Bidding started at $75,000. Four days before the sale, no online bids had yet been placed. The estimate was $150,000 to $250,000.

J. C. Leyendecker
Heritage Auctions listing accessed November 9, 2025

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/paintings/a-written-description-will-be-available-soon/a/8231-67008.s?ic16=ViewItem-BrowseTabs-Auction-Open-BrowseAlsoViewed-012417

J. C. Leyendecker
Heritage Auctions item description

The work was sold on November 14 for a hammer price of  $160,000.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187493565061

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Ludwig Bemelmans: Fowl Play

A drawing with color by Ludwig Bemelmans is a preliminary sketch for an illustration, or so we are informed by a pencil notation on the verso. Schulson Autographs, the drawing's current seller on the AbeBooks website, describes the action as "an 18th century styled waiter holding a roasted fowl. Two smiling girls appear in the background." That's all well and good, although it might easily be a girl and a boy. Regardless, it doesn't explain the story behind whatever is really going on here.

An upside-down notation on the verso, "Willy's Off,"

Ludwig Bemelmans
AbeBooks listing accessed November 24, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Original-Drawing-Signed-BEMELMANS-LUDWIG/32345800458/bd

Ludwig Bemelmans
AbeBooks item description

Note:  Readers who can direct me to a finished version of this illustration by Ludwig Bemelmans will surely earn my gratitude, but you'll still have to obtain your own roasted fowl this holiday season.

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