Threesome: Allen's Copy of The Wild, Wild Women by Virgil Partch

Claude Haber writes with a photograph of a personalized copy of The Wild, Wild Women (1952) by Virgil Partch, a.k.a. Vip. The book is dedicated to a fan named Allen. It features an original gag cartoon of a man trying to express his appreciation of a well-endowed woman:

"To Allen                          
'You've...you've got that
added little something that
the other girls don't have'
                                    Vip"

Interestingly, Christopher Wheeler's website includes recipient Herb's copy of Man the Beast (1953), also by Vip. This book has a very similar drawing, both compositionally and anatomically, but here the couple is depicted in swimwear. The caption is also similar, even retaining that hesitant repetition of the first word.

"To Herb,                       
'You've...you've just
got that added little
something'
                      Vip"

https://pbase.com/csw62/image/77725923

So, while Vip was generally wildly original in his dedicated book drawings, it is not implausible that he had a few recurring gags at the ready for book signings and such. Would he have given such a drawing to a female fan? It seems doubtful, but it's hard to rule out anything with this cartoonist.

Note:  My thanks to Claude Haber for this exclusive look at his copy of Virgil Partch's book. This is Claude's second contribution to Attempted Bloggery. 

Christopher Wheeler's entire Vip gallery may be seen here. You're welcome.

Am I still looking for books with original drawings by Virgil Partch to post here on the old blog? Why, yes, thank you, I am.

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A Signed Copy of So You're Going to Buy a Book!

J. Davies writes:

Well I’ve been going through some old family books and found a copy of So You’re Going to Buy a Book! by Helen E. Hokinson. Inside the cover was an inscription. Many of these family books had inscriptions, usually on occasion of a birthday/Christmas or the like. This inscription was to my Auntie Mu and it was from the author Helen Hokinson dated Christmas 1931. It was strange to see Auntie Mu’s maiden name (Muriel Davies) in print—most of the inscriptions were usually from her and if she used her last name it was always her married name.

So You're Going to Buy a Book!, published in 1931, was Helen E. Hokinson's first cartoon collection. Photos and scans of the book are provided by J. Davies.

Helen E. Hokinson
So You're Going to Buy a Book! (1931)

Photo by J. Davies

So You're Going to Buy a Book! (1931)

Photo by J. Davies

Inscribed "With Best Wishes to Muriel Davies
Helen E. Hokinson
Christmas 1931"

Photo by J. Davies

Inscribed "With Best Wishes to Muriel Davies
Helen E. Hokinson
Christmas 1931"

Photo by J. Davies

Title page

Photo by J. Davies

Copyright

Photo by J. Davies

Dedication

Scan by J. Davies

Scan by J. Davies

Photo by J. Davies

Photo by J. Davies

Scan by J. Davies

Scan by J. Davies

Photo by J. Davies

Scan by J. Davies

Note:  Oiving?

My thanks to J. Davies for sharing this cartoon book and family history here on the blog.

If you'd like to share your own cartoon book and family history, my email address is readily available on my profile page.

Christopher Wheeler's personal collection of books and art by Helen E. Hokinson makes for an interesting comparison here.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Helen E. Hokinson

Signed Books

Leaving Attempted Bloggery's index is a lot like leaving Bryn Mawr.

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The City Kids of Whitney Darrow, Jr.

Whitney Darrow, Jr.  One of my all-time favorites. Perhaps the best ever at drawing original cartoons in his books as gifts for the recipients.

--Christpher Wheeler

Perhaps indeed. One book recipient, Faith B. Cross, was born in 1923 and reared in Manhattan. She would have been around 20 when Whitney Darrow, Jr. published "You're Sitting on my Eyelashes" in 1943. A copy of the book is dedicated to her with an original color drawing. The drawing shows a girl, a boy, and a dog on the streets of the city. All three appear to be quite happy with their world. Today the recipient is known as Faith Cross Sweeney of Venice, FL and Lake Barrington, IL. Her former copy of the book is now in the collection of cartoonist Ken Krimstein.

Whitney Darrow, Jr.

"You're Sitting on my Eyelashes" (1943)

Inscribed "Best regards to Faith B. Cross from Whitney Darrow, jr."

Photo courtesy of Ken Krimstein

Note:  There is a lot more to be said about Whitney Darrow, Jr. and I for one am not afraid to say it.

Is Christopher Wheeler correct?  Was Darrow the best practitioner of creating original cartoons in his books? Certainly he used color more than Addams, Booth, and Koren, among other masters of the book illuminator's art. Before we jump to any conclusions, though, let's check out this blog's archive of signed books with original drawings. And for good measure save some time for Chris Wheeler's site too. Then you can report your scholarly findings in the comments section. Who might your favorite be?

Does your personal library have hidden treasures by New Yorker artists that deserve to be shared with the world? You know I'd be happy to be of assistance.

Thanks to Ken Krimstein for his kind permission to use this image.

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George Booth's Skippy

Here is George Booth's rendition of a dog named Skippy, inscribed in 1976 to one Ellen and signed twice:

George Booth, Skippy, 1976

In a copy of Dogs (1976) by Henry Morgan and George Booth
Collection of Christopher Wheeler

http://www.pbase.com/csw62/image/71868501

Note:  My last post on cartoonist George Booth was very patriotic, don't you think?

0263