Newton G.Brand, Jr.'s, Copy of Gahan Wilson's America

Texas banker Newton G. Brand, Jr., (1929-2011) corresponded with a number of New Yorker cartoonists, requesting that they personalize copies of their books by mail. Gahan Wilson (1930-2019) was one of those who complied. In Brand's copy of Gahan Wilson's America (1985), Wilson acknowledges with the word again that this is not the only instance that the artist and the collector have come together in this way. The book was inscribed for Brand on November 19, 1991, some six years after publication. It includes an original drawing of hanging dice and a skull, which recalls an idea that appears on the book's dust jacket. 

Gahan Wilson's signature and date

Gahan Wilson
eBay listing ended July 7, 2026

https://www.ebay.com/itm/377307892029_

Gahan Wilson
eBay listing

Gahan Wilson
eBay bid history
There were seventeen bids in very small increments when the final bidder won the book. Who is that guy?

Note:  I remain eager to use this blog to share books inscribed by Gahan Wilson and other New Yorker cartoonists to Newton Brand, Jr., and other collectors.

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National Doctors' Day 2026: Gahan Wilson 1969

Tomorrow is National Doctors' Day. Let's celebrate with a 1969 Playboy cartoon by Gahan Wilson set in a physician's office. The original art was sold by Heritage in the November 4 Illustration Art Signature Auction #8224.

"We may already be too late, Mr. Parker."
Gahan Wilson
Original art
Playboy, June 1969, p. 27

The doctor's eyes are squinting—never a good sign. The patient doesn't show any good signs either.

"We may already be too late, Mr. Parker."
Gahan Wilson
Original art
Playboy, June 1969, p. 27

Verso

Sixteen hours before the live auction, the bidding was already strong. But, unlike the patient, it would get stronger.

Gahan Wilson
Heritage Auctions Mainstream Illustration listing accessed sixteen hours before the sale of November 4, 2025

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/mainstream-illustration/gahan-wilson-american-1930-2019-we-may-already-be-too-late-mr-parker-playboy-cartoon-june-1969/a/8224-71272.s?ic16=ViewItem-Auction-Open-OtherAvailable-081514

Gahan Wilson
Heritage Auctions Mainstream Illustration item description

Sold!

Finally, here's the prognosis as it appeared on the printed page:

"We may already be too late, Mr. Parker."
Gahan Wilson
Playboy, June 1969, p. 27

https://www.blackgate.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gahan-Wilson-We-May-Already-Be-to-late.jpg

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Gahan Wilson: Apparently Every Christmas . . .

In the November 4 sale of illustration art, Heritage Auctions offered an original Gahan Wilson Playboy cartoon that is hardly the usual Christmas fare.

"Apparently, every Christmas he'd take the tree out of storage and add a few more ornaments!"
Gahan Wilson
Original art
Playboy, December 2001

Wilson inscribed the original "For Doc Schiff from" followed by his signature. Playboy's stamps are in place in the upper margin of the art.

"Apparently, every Christmas he'd take the tree out of storage and add a few more ornaments!"
Gahan Wilson
Original art
Playboy, December 2001

Sixteen-and-a-half hours prior to the sale, when I checked in, online bidding was going strong.

Gahan Wilson
Heritage Auctions listing of November 4, 2025 accessed sixteen hours before the live bidding 

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/mainstream-illustration/gahan-wilson-american-1930-2019-apparently-every-christmas-playboy-cartoonmixed-media-on-paper/a/8224-71273.s?ic16=ViewItem-BrowseTabs-Auction-Open-MyTrackedLots-101116

Gahan Wilson
Heritage Auctions item description

And an even better price was achieved when the bidding went live.

Note:  Many thanks to David from Manhattan for identifying the month and year of publication. 

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Twenty by Gahan Wilson

On eastern Long Island two months ago, twenty unpublished works by Gahan Wilson were sold as a group.

Versos

Gahan Wilson
South Bay Auctions, Inc., listing accessed June 6, 2025

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/Gahan-Wilson-American-1930-2019-,-Group-of-20-118-c-04D4526ABC?utm_term=cartoon&utm_source=alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=keywordalerts&utm_content=group-noapp&utm_term=347083

Gahan Wilson
South Bay Auctions, Inc., item description

Sold! With an initial estimate of $200 to $400, the drawings sold for a more impressive $2,200. Still, that's only $105 per unpublished cartoon.

Note:  And there you have it. Those who possess original art by Gahan Wilson are invited to share images of it here.

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Gahan Wilson: At the Barber's

An original Playboy cartoon by the irrepressible Gahan Wilson was sold two weeks ago in East Moriches. The setting is a barber shop.

"The usual, sir?"
"Yes, please."
Gahan Wilson
Original art
Playboy, December 1982

Gahan Wilson's signature

With overlay

Gahan Wilson
South Bay Auctions, Inc., listing of June 18, 2025

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/Gahan-Wilson-American-1930-2019-,-Playboy-Magazi-116-c-6584FCFB46?utm_term=cartoon&utm_source=alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=keywordalerts&utm_content=group-noapp&utm_term=347083

The drawing appears on page 472 of Gahan Wilson: Fifty Years of Playboy Cartoons (2009) which helpfully dates it to the December 1982 issue:

https://archive.org/details/Gahan_Wilson_50_Years_of_Playboy_Cartoons/page/n453/mode/2up

The cartoon can be licensed through CartoonStock. The letters PB stand for Playboy:

https://www.cartoonstock.com/cartoon?searchID=PB400439

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Gahan Wilson: Apocalypse on Fifth Avenue

Gahan Wilson's original cartoon for the New Yorker issue of January 19, 1998, shows a city undergoing an calamity of apocalyptic proportions.

"Still, you gotta admit crime is down."
Gahan Wilson
Original art
The New Yorker, January 19, 1998, p. 57

Gahan Wilson's signature

The mockup, right, suggests the artwork was considered as a New Yorker cover, sans caption. The colors are untrue to the original. Note the addition of the Fifth Avenue signpost, probably as an overlay. The date, January 9, 1998, does not correspond to a published issue of the magazine. Nothing about this seems typical.

This intriguing original art was sold at South Bay Auctions, Inc., of Eastern Long Island on June 18. 

Gahan Wilson
South Bay Auctions, Inc., listing accessed June 12, 2025

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/Gahan-Wilson-American-1930-2019-,-New-Yorker-Car-112-c-11B452BB8E?utm_term=cartoon&utm_source=alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=keywordalerts&utm_content=group-noapp&utm_term=348294

Sold!

When published in The New Yorker as a cartoon, the Fifth Avenue sign seen on the cover mockup was retained.

"Still, you gotta admit crime is down."
Gahan Wilson
The New Yorker, January 19, 1998, p. 57

"Still, you gotta admit crime is down."
Gahan Wilson
Original art
The New Yorker, January 19, 1998, p. 57

With a drawing by Gahan Wilson

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1998-01-19/flipbook/056/

Note:  Original cartoon art by Gahan Wilson is usually a good subject for this blog, whether or not the world as we know it is coming to an end. Please send images of what lies hiddin within your collection.

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