Thursday, December 25, 2025

Edward Sorel: The Aviary

Edward Sorel today can be regarded as one of the great living caricaturists. Back in 1966, though, he was earning his bona fides in Ramparts magazine with his Bestiary series. 



The Aviary [Hawkus Caucus Americanus] illustration concluded the sequence as a full wraparound color cover for the July 1966 issue. 
The original art has faded somewhat, but perhaps not as much as our memories of the Vietnam era hawks and doves who provided the intellectual justification for our national fiasco. Heritage Auctions, the seller of this work in its November 4 Illustration Art sale, was good enough to include a scan of the published magazine cover.

When I checked in on the bidding action some thirteen hours before the sale, the online price was well over $5,000 for this signature piece at Heritage Auctions. 

Edward Sorel
Heritage Auctions Illustration Art sale of November 4, 2025


Edward Sorel
Heritage Auctions item description

Sold!



Ramparts magazine included a key of sorts, full of puns rather than names, but the identities of the various birds are apparent.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/364116809810






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Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Edward Sorel: Christmas Past, Christmas Present

One of the highlights of the November 4 Illustration Art sale at Heritage Auctions was Edward Sorel's original cover artwork for The New Yorker's December 16, 1996 issue. The magazine gave it the title Christmas Past, Christmas Present. It had been in the collection of Irvin Greif.

Christmas Past, Christmas Present
Edward Sorel
Original cover art
The New Yorker, December 16, 1996

Christmas Past, Christmas Present
Edward Sorel
Framed, original cover art
The New Yorker, December 16, 1996



Bidding was strong, up at $7,000 (not including the buyer's premium) thirteen hours before the live bidding started. How high would the price go?

Edward Sorel
Heritage Auctions listing accessed thirteen hours before the November 4, 2025 sale

It sold for $15,000 including the premium to an online live bidder. What would our ancestors have made of that?

Edward Sorel
Heritage Auctions item description



Christmas Past, Christmas Present
Edward Sorel
Original cover art
The New Yorker, December 16, 1996

Christmas Past, Christmas Present
Edward Sorel
The New Yorker, December 16, 1996


I'll repost my photograph of the present work from the New York preview:

Christmas Past, Christmas Present
Edward Sorel
Framed, original cover art
The New Yorker, December 16, 1996



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Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Monday, December 22, 2025

My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #972

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #972 from the issue of December 15, 2025, two Godzillas are seated in a theater watching a Godzilla movie. The one on the right speaks. My entry appears below. The drawing is by Lonnie Millsap.


"How dare they call Tokyo the victim?"



These captions were poorly reviewed:

"I thought it was going to be a rom-com."
"It's a Spike-y joint."
"This is too intense. I'm going for popcorn."
"The camera adds ten tons."



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Sunday, December 21, 2025

My Entries in the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest for November/December 2025

Moment magazine's Cartoon Caption Contest for the November/December 2025 issue shows angry townspeople carrying torches in pursuit of Dr. Frankenstein's monster. They are led by an Orthodox Jewish man holding a fully lit Chanukah menorah. This man addresses the monster. The drawing is by the film buff and cartoonist Benjamin Schwartz. My captions appear below.

"Part of you will always be Jewish."
"They'll never get me to carry a tiki torch."
"But we always have the Frankensteins over for Chanukah."
"Apparently, neither one of us will replace them."
"The townsfolk do not like to lose at dreidel."
"Why do you think we call it the Festival of Lights?"
"Now turn around and act like you're part Maccabee!"





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Saturday, December 20, 2025

Thomas Nast: Christmas, 1863

Thomas Nast's spread over two pages in Harper's Weekly late in 1863 presents us with images of Christmas during the Civil War. Here is a series of vignettes which show his appeal as a storyteller. 


Christmas, 1863
Thomas Nast
Harper's Weekly, 1863, pp. 824-825

How common was it to be able to get a furlough for Christmas in 1863? Was household prosperity really all that we see here? Certainly the reality must have been harsher for many, but Nast gives his readers a story they want to believe in. And his Santa Claus creation makes an appearance as well.

The print is available form Argosy Book Store.
Thomas Nast
Argosy Book Store listing accessed May 29, 2025




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Friday, December 19, 2025

Dr. Seuss: A Sketch of Max from How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

In its October 20, 2025, sale, Heritage Auctions offered a small souvenir drawing by Dr. Seuss. It shows Max, the hapless dog in How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, the 1957 book. Max's head is seen in profile, smiling for once.





The 2011 Certificate of Authenticity that accompanies this sketch is interesting in that Linda Jones Enterprises, the authenticator, is identified as a Chuck Jones company. Jones, of course, is the animator and director of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!," the 1966 television movie that is still the best adaptation of the Seuss Christmas classic. Could this be merely coincidence? You tell me.



Sold!
Dr. Seuss
Heritage Auctions listing of October 20, 2025


Dr. Seuss
Heritage Auctions item description

Hammer price






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