Argosy Book Store has listed a souvenir drawing by Otto Soglow of his beloved character the Little King. It is dedicated to A. Atlas Leve, a coin, stamp, and currency dealer. The piece is framed and glazed, and the paper shows some toning. Argosy dates it to the 1930s. The Little King first appeared in The New Yorker and the popular feature was later syndicated as a comic strip.
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| "To A. Atlas Leve from O. Soglow" |
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| Otto Soglow Argosy Book Store listing accessed April 8, 2025 |
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An original New Yorker cartoon by William Hamilton was sold on eBay in January, fifty-four years after its publication. A family is seen seated at the dinner table:
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"But, darling, many very successful young revolutionaries—our own Thomas Jefferson among them—dressed for dinner." William Hamilton Original art The New Yorker, January 9, 1971, p. 31 |
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"But, darling, many very successful young revolutionaries—our own Thomas Jefferson among them—dressed for dinner." William Hamilton Original art The New Yorker, January 9, 1971, p. 31 |
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"But, darling, many very successful young revolutionaries—our own Thomas Jefferson among them—dressed for dinner." William Hamilton The New Yorker, January 9, 1971, p. 31 |
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"But, darling, many very successful young revolutionaries—our own Thomas Jefferson among them—dressed for dinner." William Hamilton The New Yorker, January 9, 1971, p. 31 |
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| William Hamilton eBay listing ended January 31, 2025 |
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| William Hamilton eBay item description |
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| [End of eBay listing] |
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"But, darling, many very successful young revolutionaries—our own Thomas Jefferson among them— dressed for dinner." William Hamilton The New Yorker, January 9, 1971, p. 31 |
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"But, darling, many very successful young revolutionaries—our own Thomas Jefferson among them— dressed for dinner." William Hamilton Original art The New Yorker, January 9, 1971, p. 31 |
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| With cartoons by Smilby and William Hamilton |
The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #939 appeared in the issue of April 7, 2025. A couple is seated in a restaurant. Medusa is at the next table. The woman speaks; the man does not move. My entry appears below. The drawing is by Jason Adam Katzenstein—you know, JAK.
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| "I should let you know I'm blind." |
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| "You looked, didn't you?" "Don't move—oh, you can't." "Did the place suddenly get quiet?" "How's the Mexican stone soup?" |
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Author and artist Jean-Jacques Sempé figuratively raises a hand-sketched glass to a book recipient. The volume, Monsieur Lambert (1985), originally belonged to one Olivier and it has a delightful souvenir drawing.
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| Jean-Jacques Sempé AbeBooks listing accessed April 6, 2025 |
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In the CartoonStock Caption Contest number 191, we find Mr. Monopoly sitting in his recliner holding the television remote. His wife looks on. Rich Uncle Pennybags is speaking.
The rules of the monthly cash prize contest have not changed (and neither has my description of them): Five dollars buys up to three entries. Real cash prizes are $500 for first place and $100 for each of five runners up. As of this writing, I've put $180 into the first thirty-six pay-to-play contests and this thirty-seventh challenge brings my total cash outlay up to $185. Having achieved runner-up status with two previous entries, I've collected $200 from CartoonStock, so I'm still playing with the house's money, thank goodness. In fact, so few contestants enter that the odds may generally be considered favorable even for us less-gifted caption writers. My three entries are shown below. The cartoonist is Kyle Bravo, new to the blog.
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| "CNBC is entertaining." "I can't see through the Community Chest." "No one needs more than $200." |
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The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #938 appeared in the issue of March 31, 2025. A woman in business attire enters a boardroom full of dogs. The woman speaks. My entry appears below. The drawing is by Liza Donnelly.
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| "Who told you all to sit?" |
These just wouldn't obey:
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| "Let's adjourn to the park." "I need a volunteer to fetch the bylaws." |
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Ever the generous friend, New Yorker cartoonist Edward Koren (1935-2023) was known to treat those he cared about with the occasional souvenir drawing in his unique and furry style. Henry Sussman was one such lucky recipient. Although some twenty-six years older than Koren, they shared at least an interest in jogging. Sussman's framed Koren drawing attesting to this was recently listed on eBay.
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| Inscribed and signed |
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| Edward Koren eBay listing ended February 12, 2025 |
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| Edward Koren eBay item description |
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Good Intentions, John Cuneo's latest collection, was published on March 11. I ordered a signed copy back in January from The Golden Notebook, an independent bookstore in Woodstock, New York. The books were brought to the artist's studio where he did indeed sign them but also added drawings and a bit of color, too. All in all, this is a pretty sweet deal.
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I obtained my copy of Liana Finck's children's book Mixed Feelings (2025) at the Society of Illustrators on February 6. The event, also featuring New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly, was jointly sponsored by the Society and the American Academy in Berlin. The discussion and slideshow was followed by a book signing.
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| Liana Finck and Liza Donnelly |
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The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #937 appeared in the issue of March 24, 2025. A jester encounter Death. The Grim Reaper speaks. My entry appears below. The drawing is by Guy Richards Smit.
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| "No one will ever forget you, Yorick." |
April 6, 2025 Update: The Finalists
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The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #936 appeared in the issue of March 17, 2025. Two angels are greeted by two aliens. The puzzled male angel speaks. The drawing is by Daniel Kanhai.
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| "We were so wrong in our theology." |
March 29, 2025 Update: The Finalists
April 6, 2025 Update: I voted for the caption from Reston.
04906
A rough pencil drawing by cartoonist Barbara Shermund was sketched on a paper wrapper originally attached to the back of an illustration board. (That board bore a cartoon with the caption "I'll just be a minute.") There is a copyright stamp for Life Publishing Company. The piece's eBay seller has called it The Lecture.
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| Barbara Shermund eBay listing ended January 3, 2025 |
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| Barbara Shermund eBay item description |
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