More Cartoon Books from the Collection of Newton Brand, Jr.

Back on September 25, we saw the copy of Warren Miller's Prince and Mrs. Charming (1970) that belonged to Texas banker Newton Brand, Jr. (1929-2011). It is signed and inscribed by Miller with an original drawing related to the title cartoon. The note that was included in the eBay listing suggests that this book had been mailed new to the cartoonist and subsequently personalized and returned.

An additional six cartoon books from Brand's collection, each signed by New Yorker artists—five of them with original drawings, were auctioned last week by a different eBay seller than the one who handled the Miller book. The cartoonists are Edward Koren, James Stevenson, Charles Barsotti, William Steig, George Booth, and Dana Fradon. Each book was sold, receiving between one and three bids. Without further ado, let's have a look at them.

We start with Edward Koren's Are You Happy? This is the fourth copy of this book we've seen on the blog and, one hopes, not the last.

Are You Happy? And Other Questions Lovers Ask (1978)
Edward Koren

James Stevenson's top-hatted gent is pretty classy. We've seen only one other copy of this book, and it had a drawing of a Stevenson bum.

Let's Boogie! (1978)
James Stevenson

The book by Charles Barsotti, Kings Don't Carry Money, does not bear the recipient's name, but it is listed in the same weekly grouping by the same eBay seller and is of the same exceptional quality as the other books. The other two copies of this collection we've seen here on this blog had drawings of songbirds. Inexplicably, this is the book that received only one bid.

Kings Don't Carry Money (1981)
Charles Barsotti

William Steig's The Agony in the Kindergarten (1950) is two decades older than the Miller book, and over a quarter century older than the other five books, which date from 1976 to 1981. Steig is the only artist who did not provide a drawing, but that was typical for him.

The Agony in the Kindergarten (1950)

William Steig

George Booth is the only cartoonist to include the date of his inscription and drawing. Therefore we know that he personalized his book four years after the date of publication. The drawing of a "Diseased Chicken" has a little bit of added color. The bidding was most aggressive for this book.

Diseased Chicken

Rehearsal's Off! (1976)
George Booth

Finally, Dana Fradon includes a self-portrait with his inscription. This is the third copy of this book we've seen here on the blog and the second with a self-portrait.

Insincerely Yours, (1978)
Dana Fradon

I'll include the full auction listing for the Koren book only, followed by the prices realized on eBay for each of the books.

Edward Koren
eBay listing ended January 16, 2021

https://www.ebay.com/itm/EDWARD-KOREN-NEW-YORKER-CARTOONIST-SIGNED-amp-INS-ORIGINAL-DRAWING-/233853425076?item=233853425076&ViewItem=&nma=true&si=0VRLNXcwB1AfKyLn9IovVbXUwvE%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Edward Koren
eBay item description

Edward Koren
eBay bid history
Three bidders compete and the highest bid, placed five minutes earlier than the last bid, gets it.

Note:  Attempted Bloggery would like to post images of other signed cartoon books from the library of Newton Brand, Jr., in the event there are any more. Any book with an original drawing by William Steig would be welcome; I don't think I've ever seen one. As for the other New Yorker artists, books that are uniquely inscribed or drawn upon are always eagerly sought after for future installments of this blog.

Has anyone else tried mailing books to cartoonists for signing? I would assume one sends them to the publisher.

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Charles's Copy of Insincerely Yours by Dana Fradon

Charles's copy of the late Dana Fradon's cartoon collection Insincerely Yours, 1978, is inscribed with the same words as Marjorie and Mastin's copy:  "I hope you enjoy/ my book!/Sincerely yours,/ Dana," although here he signs his first name only. Instead of the redrawn cartoon he created for Marjorie and Mastin, he provides Charles with a self-portrait. The book is offered by History for Sale for $162 with a Make-an-Offer option.

Dana Fradon
History for Sale Listing Retrieved October 9, 2019

https://www.historyforsale.com/dana-fradon-inscribed-original-art-signed-1978/dc9053

Dana Fradon
History for Sale Item Description

Note:  Original artwork by cartoonist Dana Fradon is eagerly sought here. Readers are encouraged to forward scans or photos of original Fradon art.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Dana Fradon (1922-2019)

Signed Books with Original Drawings

Attempted Bloggery's Sincere Index

  

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Marjorie and Mastin's Copy of Insincerely Yours by Dana Fradon

Cartoonist Dana Fradon, who passed away last week in Woodstock, New York, was born in Chicago in 1922 and had his first cartoon published in the New Yorker in 1948. His signature collection, Insincerely Yours, was published in 1978. A copy of this book, personally inscribed by him with an original drawing, was sold on eBay in 2015.

His approach to this souvenir drawing is unusual: he has provided the recipients with a redraw of a cartoon which appears in the collection. He even cites the page number (35) for ready reference. The cartoon depicts a courtroom scene in which the judge throws the book at the guilty party with the words "Lock him up and throw away the key!" It was originally published in 1973 as the Watergate scandal was coming to a full boil. We have no way of knowing whether the artist chose to make the drawing on his own or whether the recipients requested it.

Dana Fradon
eBay Listing Ended May 28, 2015
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dana-Fradon-Insincerely-Yours-first-edition-Signed-and-Doodled-New-Yorker-/231576904853?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35eb0f2495

Dana Fradon
eBay Item Description
For the record, the book is not a "collection of comics." It is a collection of cartoons.

The buyer offered $35.99 and the seller responded with a counteroffer of $39.99, which was accepted.

https://archives.newyorker.com/?i=1973-09-10#folio=044

Note:  Considering how prolific a cartoonist Dana Fradon was, this blog has come across relatively little of his original art. Readers are invited to remedy the situation and honor a great cartoonist by submitting scans or photos of original Fradon work.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Dana Fradon (1922-2019)

Signed Books with Original Drawings

Attempted Bloggery's Judgmental Index

  

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