A Letter From Jean-Jacques Sempé to Angelo Rinaldi

A letter from the year 2000 consists of a mailing envelope and its contents: a signed and inscribed postcard as well as a signed and inscribed note with a drawing of three men seated in a restaurant. The group of papers is offered for sale by AbeBooks seller L'Ancienne Librairie and is priced at $1,672.78 US. No doubt that considerable cost is because the sender, Jean-Jacques Sempé, was the extremely popular cartoonist based in Paris. In addition, the recipient of the mailing, Angelo Rinaldi, was the French writer and literary critic who passed away in May of 2025. The envelope is addressed to Rinaldi care of his publisher L'Express and it appears to be appropriately stamped and postmarked.

The French listing has been rendered in English by Google Translate:

Jean-Jacques Sempé
AbeBooks listing accessed February 15, 2026, translated by Google

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Dessin-originale-sign%C3%A9-carte-postale-autographe/32390746684/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

Jean-Jacques Sempé
AbeBooks item description, translated by Google

Note:  Any reader who was fortunate enough to be one of Sempé's correspondents is invited to share his missives on this blog.

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Seen and Noted: Cathy Guisewite Sketch "To John K. Aulthouse, Jr.!"

An ink sketch on an index card by Cathy Guisewite of her comic strip alter ego Cathy is inscribed "To John K. Aulthouse, Jr!" in a thought balloon. It is signed and dated June 6, 1986, some ten years into the strip's thirty-four year run. The art is currently available on eBay for $74.99 or a best offer.

Cathy Guisewite
eBay listing accessed January 12, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/235906053238?_trksid=p1.c101732.m5053&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m164382.l178272&ch=osgood&euid=5590a0eed4d946bc86188961015cb75d&bu=43186000575&ut=RU&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20250111013616&segname=11021&recoId=235906053238&recoPos=2

Cathy Guisewite
Cathy Guisewite
eBay listing  item description

04851

A Souvenir Sketch of a Dog by Charles Barsotti

A souvenir sketch of a sitting dog by cartoonist Charles Barsotti has turned up in Belgium, of all places. Priced at $100.10, it is adorable and it doesn't need to be walked.

Charles Barsotti
AbeBooks listing accessed October 26, 2024

https://www.abebooks.com/paper-collectibles/Charles-Barsotti-1933-2014-Rare-signed-sketch/32020837847/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

04789

Ralph Steadman: A Letter to George Newson

Illustrator Ralph Steadman's typed letter to composer and photographer George Newson (1932-2024) is dated February 22, 1991. In just a couple of lines, he seemingly confirms a forthcoming art show and reassures Newson that "Of course we can find work to exhibit." It is rare for any commercial artist, even one of Steadman's stature, not to have a reasonable quantity of unsold work on hand.

Newson passed away on March 8 of this year and items from his estate are now on the market. At the time of this posting, the letter, embellished with a face and typed on Steadman's stationery, is available from Wool House Autographic.

Ralph Steadman
AbeBooks listing accessed July 5, 2024

https://www.abebooks.com/paper-collectibles/letter-drawing-Ralph-Steadman-na/31917244972/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

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Ronald Searle: From the Collection of Paul P. Goldberg

Paul P. Goldberg's request for an autograph sketch from cartoonist Ronald Searle was in all likelihood received by the artist's New York agent John Locke and then forwarded to Paris. Searle not only granted the collector's request, he even affixed the proper French postage. Air mail, no doubt.

Ronald Searle
eBay listing accessed January 6, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176150137538?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160811114145%26meid%3Dae4305fa14b94f09adc055c9be42e9a7%26pid%3D100667%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D176150137538%26itm%3D176150137538%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2351460&_trksid=p2351460.c100667.m2042

Ronald Searle
eBay item description 

Ronald Searle
eBay bid history
The last bid wins it. Again.

The bidding with three days to go seemed very manageable:

Sold!

Note:  The winning bidder has gone public with this purchase on Facebook. Those who are friends with the new owner may see it here.

04617

Dana Fradon: From the Collection of Paul P. Goldberg

Who wouldn't applaud the industry of comic art collector Paul P. Goldberg, who requested sketches from leading cartoonists over some three decades, maybe more? Dana Fradon, who eventually was to publish almost 1,400 cartoons in The New Yorker, is one of the many who took time out to return Goldberg's postcard. He included a 1978 self-portrait, an ink and wash sketch showing off his period sideburns and bushy eyebrows. He also wished Goldberg good luck, never a bad thing for a serious cartoon collector to have.

Dana Fradon
eBay listing ended January 10, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176152785167?itmmeta=01HV0BRR6XG51AGSV6JHYWF3JF&hash=item290386310f:g:yVoAAOSwDP5lkZk4

Dana Fradon
eBay item description

Dana Fradon
eBay bid history
There's only one bid. Placing it very late discourages competitive bids.

04616

Sid Harris: From the Collection of Paul P. Goldberg

Is the end finally nigh, or is a cartoonist merely sending greetings to collector Paul P. Goldberg? The year is 1972 and Sidney Harris responds to Goldberg's request for a sketch on a self-addressed postcard by drawing a prophet parading a large sign. The sign, simply enough, reads, "Hi, Paul! Sidney Harris." Harris's cartoon signature appears at the prophet's feet.

"Hi, Paul!
Sidney Harris"

Sid Harris
eBay listing ended January 10, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176152782470?itmmeta=01HV0BRR6X1H39Z8EVY7NZJJFG&hash=item2903862686:g:CCAAAOSwZbtlkZfI

Sid Harris
eBay item description

Sid Harris
eBay bid history
Three bids are placed in the final five seconds. For once, the last bid is not the winning bid.

04615

Robert Day: From the Collection of Paul P. Goldberg

In an autograph drawing from 1966, cartoonist Robert Day depicts himself sending friendly greetings from his drawing table. He also wishes a happy birthday to collector Paul P. Goldberg, who may have departed slightly from his usual request by mail to mention the big day.

"Hi, Paul!
Best wishes
for your birthday.
/        
Robt
Day
May 29
1966"

Robert Day
eBay listing ended January 9, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176150128865?itmmeta=01HV0AAP4YH2CGWFDMQ9V74ZYZ&hash=item29035da8e1:g:PBgAAOSwxWZllLLS

Robert Day
eBay item description

Robert Day
eBay bid history
Two bidders place two bids. The one who bides his time gets it. Maybe you know him.

04614

Walt Kelly: From the Collection of Paul P. Goldberg

Paul P. Goldberg wrote to a great many prominent cartoonists from the 1950s to the 1970s, amassing a collection of autograph drawings generously sent to him on self-addressed postcards. The cartoons are numerous enough to overwhelm just about anyone trying to follow them as they make their way through eBay—including, one assumes, potential buyers, the seller, and a certain less-than-diligent blogger. One of the more desirable postcards has Walt Kelly's drawing of his popular comic strip character Pogo.

"Here's to Paul—
with thanks
—Walt Kelly"

"Here's to Paul—
with thanks
—Walt Kelly"

Walt Kelly
eBay listing ended January 9, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176150062956

Walt Kelly
eBay item description

Walt Kelly
eBay bid history
The drawing goes to the last bidder—by three seconds!

04612