Ronald Searle: One-Armed Bandit

Ronald Searle's drawing of a gambler joylessly working a slot machine is from the pictorial "Las Vegas: Home on the Range." It appeared in Holiday magazine's issue of June 1960. The original 65-year-old art was sold four weeks ago at Heritage Auctions.

The online presale activity was enthusiastic, bringing the bid price up to $5,200 just thirteen hours before the sale. 

But the bidding went no further.

Ronald Searle
Heritage Auctions listing ended November 4, 2025

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/mainstream-illustration/ronald-william-fordham-searle-british-1920-2011-las-vegas-holiday-magazine-interior-june-1960-ink-on-board-20-x/a/8224-71070.s?ic10=ExpandedResults-ItemImageDesc-040215

Ronald Searle
Heritage Auctions item description

The drawing, as originally published in Holiday:

Ronald Searle
"Las Vegas:  Home on the Range"
Holiday, June, 1960, p. 89

https://ronaldsearle.blogspot.com/2020/05/gamblin-towns.html

It took up a full page in the oversize magazine:

The article is listed in the table of contents as starting on page 88:

Note:  For further reading and pictures, see Perpetua, the Ronald Searle Tribute blog created by Matt Jones—specifically the post called "Gamblin' Towns."

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