Tony's Copy of George Sprott 1894-1975 by Seth

Last year, I noted a very expensive copy of Seth's George Sprott 1894-1975 which was graced with an original drawing dated 2009, the year of publication. I pointed out that its $500 asking price meant it was some ten to twenty times pricier than the other similarly signed and embellished copies I had previously documented here.

This year, the book can still be found on eBay, $10 more expensive but otherwise none the worse for wear. It now boasts a PSA DNA letter of authenticity although there was never any question it was the real McCoy. Has the book been priced so high there is no one to buy it? Or is the seller just waiting for the market to come to terms with a new paradigm?

To be sure, signed copies of the oversized 2009 book have become less readily available. As a few copies trickle into the market, should we expect them to be in the $50 range as they were before, or in the $500 range, as this one is?

Well, both, actually. On AbeBooks there recently was listed a copy dedicated to one Karen selling for $50, and on eBay a copy made out to a Tony in 2019 priced at $429. The thinking of the eBay seller of Tony's book must be to try to profit from the higher pricing scheme while still undercutting the other eBay seller. It could very well work.

Seth
eBay listing accessed 8/31/2022

https://www.ebay.com/itm/115341737240?hash=item1adae73d18:g:sb4AAOSwKNliVNI1&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoGQqEzRUxFD%2BA6Xv1OXec039Qm%2F8QiJpkY8JXTSUN63RTPvPwIVz74s3ekhG8AdAQxNINASGLcNIdhUiDgOa1hzkLBPEyFRwOqlAFB7nadZQSTXvCZSH%2BXacNVSEBqg42VsA9Ku5XZ7OsoJhRy2ba5vmjkFVflMbNc8tl2IiQKDmLRCVzuZEBvEPLd4zmrBk9m01KUy97RvQkxezvl8MUCM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5y6ipTeYA

Seth
eBay item description
"Signed by George Sprott..."

Note:  Just yesterday I purchased that $50 copy of Seth's George Sprott 1894-1975 that once belonged to Karen. There was no photograph of the drawing, alas, so I will report on it soon in one of those Sight Unseen posts I love to do.

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Inflation Watch: Original New Yorker Covers

Collectively, covers of The New Yorker magazine represent some of the finest achievements in illustration over the past ninety-seven years. New Yorker covers consist of art with superimposed logo, date, and price; unlike most magazines, there are no blurbs competing with the cover art. The published covers may be beautiful, thought-provoking, collectable, and framable. A New Yorker cover may be priceless. But is a New Yorker cover worth $2,795?

That's the price eBay seller Pacific Vintage Paper of Newberg, Oregon, is asking for its vintage paper products. These include a wide selection of printed New Yorker covers to be sure, but also Good Housekeeping covers and print advertisements. The price is the same for covers from 1934 or 2008, for covers by Saul Steinberg or Seth, for covers without or with mailing labels.

So is this a sign of runaway inflation? Is it an avaricious play for obscene profit? Not necessarily. Pacific Vintage Paper has 100% positive feedback on eBay and offers unhappy customers full refunds. The seller writes, "I am a historian and educator by trade and deal in paper as a hobby. 100% of all profits from my eBay sales are donated to children's non-profit organizations for kids to be involved in their community and go to summer camps." Could it be that the magazine covers and other vintage paper are intended to be attractive tokens of appreciation for donors? All the sales have Make Offer options. It could be that all reasonable offers are accepted, essentially allowing buyers to set the level of their financial support. But it might prove difficult for these buyers to claim a tax deduction.

Gretchen Dow Simpson
The New Yorker, April 24, 1978

Gretchen Dow Simpson
eBay listing accessed September 2, 2022

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333641787814?hash=item4dae99a9a6:g:mJ8AAOSwFnVe~TeU

Gretchen Dow Simpson
eBay item description

Never leave out the Dow in Dow Simpson.

For that kind of money, it's Ronald Searle.

There's no difference in price between New Yorker covers, Good Housekeeping covers, and print ads.

Should one buy a Murad Turkish cigarette ad or a New Yorker cover? It's the buyer's choice. Unfortunately, the cover by Abe Birnbaum is folded down the middle, as is the case with a number of the other covers offered.

For what it's worth ($2,795), I prefer The New Yorker's covers to Good Housekeeping's.

04065