It's hard to imagine what may have prompted Ronald Searle to create The Mysterious Object, a satiric 1978 lithograph produced in an edition of 99. The object in question receives much concerned attention from a growing crowd consisting entirely of perplexed elderly men dressed in business suits. The image, then, could simply be a critique of the excesses of capitalism. The implied lack of humanity could conceivably have been informed by Searle's horrific experiences after the fall of Singapore as a Japanese prisoner of war. Perhaps it is more a sympathetic response to 1960s counterculture. More specifically, it could be recalling the manner in which the apes approached the strange monolith in Stanley Kubrick's2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Whatever its origin may have been, there is no danger of this darkly comic image losing its relevance or its sting any time soon.
Ronald Searle The Mysterious Object Edition of 99, 1978
In 1978 I Love a Mystery Week was celebrated by the Second International Conference of Crime Writers. The event's picture book, limited to 800 copies, contains photographs by Jiro Kimura and bears a cover illustration by Edward Gorey. Gorey's cover presents much for mystery lovers to love too, at least for those who might be intrigued by the use of large urns to conceal bodies or to the pleasure of reading books like The Crocheted Turnip Murders.
Signed by Jiro Kimura
Edward Gorey AbeBooks Listing Retrieved January 17, 2018
—William Wordsworth Ode, Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood
Well, don't ask me. But fast forward more than 170 years and we have the book Animations of Mortality by Terry Gilliam with Lucinda Cowell, and perhaps the only Wordsworthian pun in the history of animation—or animations as the British sometimes say. Without that idiosyncratic plural Animations appearing in the credits of all the Monty Python episodes, the play on words on Wordsworth would never work. As it is, I'm not sure Immortality shouldn't have been left in the book title—Animations of Immortality maintains Wordsworth's rhythm and grandeur, but then perhaps Mortality is more appropriately humble. Humility hardly seems necessary when Gilliam's career in television and later the movies virtually guarantees that his work will outlive him, but immortality is a mighty big mantle for any artist to claim. Whether the book's clever title is the work of Gilliam, of his unsung coauthor Cowell, or of some unseen editorial hand is unknown, at least to me.
Far more lighthearted in spirit is Gilliam's handling of the book signing. In the example below, Gilliam has drawn an odd mustachioed figure with a prehensile nose signing his name in pencil. Thus he wishes the recipient Stephen Kroninger "Safe Dreams" albeit in a somewhat disturbing manner. Immortality would not seem to be particularly on Mr. Gilliam's mind here, and with that healthy attitude his immortality might very well be assured.
Animations of Mortality, 1978 Inscribed "For Stephen— Safe dreams— Terry Gilliam" with a drawing
Terry Gilliam, Animations of Mortality, 1978 Bookseller image
A copy of Bernard Stone's and Ralph Steadman'sEmergency Mouse (1978) bears an original drawing of an impatient mouse thump-thumping his hind leg. It is currently offered on eBay for $129, more than three times what another copy previously shown on this blog sold for in 2008.
Signed by Ralph Steadman with a sketch of the impatient mouse tapping "Thump Thump"
Note: "A Retrospective: Ralph Steadman" is now showing in New York at the Society of Illustrators. Would I steer you wrong?
If you should possess or have access to a book or books signed, dated, inscribed, sketched in, or otherwise embellished by Ralph Steadman and if you should also wish to scan or photograph said book or books for potential inclusion on the blog, then please proceed promptly and forward these images to me. Attempted Bloggery's quick links:
Emergency Mouse is a 1978 story by Bernard Stone with illustrations by Ralph Steadman. A copy of the book signed to Stephen Parr by the illustrator includes a quick portrait sketch of the harried mouse.
Bernard Stone,Emergency Mouse, 1978
Inscribed with a portrait sketch of the mouse "Ralph Steadman 2006 for Stephen Parr"
September 28, 2016 Update: This book was purchased August 2, 2008 on eBay for $36.00.
Note: You can see "A Retrospective: Ralph Steadman" at the Society of Illustrators in New York. The show is on view through October 22.
Books signed by Ralph Steadman, particularly those including original drawings or sketches, are prized by collectors and by certain bloggers as well. Well, at least by one blogger... Attempted Bloggery's quick links:
For whatever reason, the song lyric I probably quote the most is from Joe Walsh's classic tune "Life's Been Good." It appeared on his 1978 album "But Seriously, Folks...." The quotable line is "I can't complain but sometimes I still do." It seems to come to me all the time, such as whenever anyone asks me how I am. Or "How ya' doin'?"
