Saul Steinberg, et al.: From the Library of Stephen Sondheim

Earlier this month, Doyle New York sold off some select items from the estate of Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021). For those of us who were never invited into Sondheim's living room, this was a rare chance to view, among other things, some of the songwriter's library.

A shelf full of some twenty-five art monographs included three essential books by Saul Steinberg (1914-1999): The Passport (1949), The Labyrinth (1960), and The Inspector (1973). 

It's no surprise that the composer of "Sunday in the Park with George" (1984) should have several books about Georges Seurat on the shelf, but what about Georges de La Tour? Based on the number of books, Sondheim seems to have really appreciated his work. Christopher Finch's The Art of Walt Disney is the source of much of what I know on the subject. Sondheim also kept many of Dover's excellent Gustave Doré editions.

Looking further down to the next lot, there's The Best of H. T. Webster (on the bottom shelf in blue). On the fine arts side, there's a fair helping on Botero and Van Gogh, among many others.

I do love to sneak the occasional peak into people's libraries. I can't be the only one.

Stephen Sondheim books
Sale of June 18, 2024
It's great that the cataloguer chooses to single out different art subjects than I did.

https://attemptedbloggery.blogspot.com/2012/12/new-yorker-cartoons-at-auction.html

Stephen Sondheim books
Sale of June 18, 2024

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-group-of-art-monographs-177-c-0a341edafc?objectID=189111387&algIndex=archive_lotNumber_asc_prod&queryID=2566416d8973bd6e5738f988024ea071

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Mark Towner's Copy of The Art of Walt Disney by Christopher Finch

Christopher Finch's The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdom (1973) is a classic Disney history. Mark Towner's copy of the 1983 reissue has a full page illustration of Chip by Bill Justice. It is also signed by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, two of Disney's Nine Old Men, but that page doesn't merit a photograph on AbeBooks.

The Art of Walt Disney:  From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdom
AbeBooks listing accessed April 24, 2022

AbeBooks listing accessed April 24, 2022https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=449933956&searchurl=spo%3D30%26sortby%3D17%26kn%3D%2522Bill%2BJustice%2522%26p%3D2%26sp%3D1&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp2-_-image7

Once again, as with yesterday's post on a rare misbound and signed Edward Gorey collection, the seller's price has been discounted over the past two months, here by $225 down to $900. My conjecture, based solely on these two examples, is that booksellers are finding it harder to move big ticket items during the bear market. Thus inflation in consumer staples may result in some deflation on the luxury goods end.

The Art of Walt Disney:  From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdom
AbeBooks listing accessed June 23, 2022
AbeBooks listing accessed April 24, 2022https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=449933956&searchurl=spo%3D30%26sortby%3D17%26kn%3D%2522Bill%2BJustice%2522%26p%3D2%26sp%3D1&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp2-_-image7

Note:  I am a big fan of the 1973 edition of the Christopher Finch book. Much of my knowledge of Disney lore comes from this source.

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Thru The Mirror (1936)

This classic animation layout drawing is from "Thru the Mirror" (1936) and is familiar to many from Christopher Finch's fine book The Art of Walt Disney. As a result of this, perhaps, taken with the presence of a sleeping but very recognizable Mickey Mouse and the finished state of the artwork, the sale price is rather hefty, although well within the published estimate.

Walt Disney Studios

ENLARGE & ZOOM

Price Realized

• £4,375
• ($6,904)
• Price includes buyer's premium

Estimate

£3,000 - £5,000
• ($4,746 - $7,910)

Sale Information

Sale 5570 Lot 18
Popular Culture: Film and Entertainment 
25 November 2010
London, South Kensington
Overview       Features

Lot Description

Walt Disney Studios

Thru The Mirror, 1936

Mickey fast asleep in bed, an animation layout drawing, graphite and coloured pencil on paper, backed on card, unframed
Image -- 8¼x11½in. (21x29cm.)
Sight -- 9x12¾in. (23x32.5cm.)

Condition: good

Accompanied by a document concerning the provenance (2)

Literature

FINCH, Christopher The Art Of Walt Disney, New York; Abradale Abrams, 1983 p.126 

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?pos=7&intObjectID=5374856&sid

"Thru the Mirror" (1936)

Video added December 25, 2011

Note:  My most recent Disney post is here.

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