William Steig: Mystery in the Making

Neil and Susan Sheehan owned several wonderful New Yorker cartoon originals by William Steig. This one, from 1964, sold quickly, as did the others.

                        "A perfect night for a murder."
William Steig
Framed original art
The New Yorker, November 28, 1964, p. 54

William Steig's signature

William Steig
eBay listing ended May 16, 2026

https://www.ebay.com/itm/318307590972?_skw=William+Steig&itmmeta=01KRRZPWHC9ZSYA95FTBHZJ6RT&hash=item4a1c9c633c:g:AAQAAeSwEv9qByrr&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA0GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xBPeiliTW06%2BiyNO8If%2FE3WxqmX%2BUuRSzLM7CoFc8Q0Rs79VgvoXajedz%2B0z1XhLD7n9QxV%2F6

zpnDscA%2FfYs9Dg3qNzQdFV7AlBb7YjRiWeSRfX2tMzD9l9wiimOiyxGaWfEOIZL%2BG8gEDIOoIt%2FVN2Xr%2BORAYGGA9kcyXDD9o%2BeAJ23mjBbQ%2B79SSgCwMS8%2FSsDDB4YdeqKovenr3RUz8OjsqotrAG6fvSK%2BHi4xChf777JpdT74%2F%2B27y9sJYKbrM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-7I25_GZw

William Steig
eBay item description

Here it is in the magazine, which Susan Sheehan worked for, by the way:

                        "A perfect night for a murder."
William Steig
The New Yorker, November 28, 1964, p. 54

                       "A perfect night for a murder."
William Steig
Framed original art
The New Yorker, November 28, 1964, p. 54

With Cartoons by William Steig and James Stevenson

* * *

James Stevenson's cartoon, printed on the page opposite, has a sleek corporate look which sets off the gloomy, atmospheric Steig.

                      "I went through chintz, stripes, flowers, and God    

knows what all till I finally found something I really liked."    

James Stevenson
The New Yorker, November 28, 1964, p. 55

05268

A Dog Sketched by James Stevenson

A framed and matted sketch of man's best friend by New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson was sold on eBay in November. The dog changed hands for a best offer of less than $195.

James Stevenson's signature

James Stevenson's signature

James Stevenson
eBay listing ended November 6, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/376000463044?

James Stevenson
eBay item description

05174

Bob Hemminger's Copy of Let's Boogie! by James Stevenson

For those keeping score, this is the second copy we have seen on this blog of the cartoon collection Let's Boogie! (1978) by James Stevenson personalized by the artist for a single person, Bob Hemminger, with an included sketch. This one from Space Cadets Collection reportedly comes out of the estate of comics historian Bill Bush, as did the Charles Saxon book in yesterday's post also made out to Hemminger. We have also seen a book from Edward Koren dedicated to the same individual with a superb drawing. It's possible, then, that Hemminger collected these by mail, sending a book (or two?) and requesting a signature and drawing from the artist, but there are other possibilities. Brilliant. 

Space Cadets, I may have mentioned yesterday, is selling much or all of its inventory for 25% off this weekend only. So while this very loose self-portrait may not be the best Stevenson drawing I've seen in one of his books, the price is right.

James Stevenson
eBay listing accessed November 28, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304950122737?itmmeta=01KB33A6Q44BNWMN4KCJD31CK7&hash=item47007198f1:g:v8QAAOSw6oJkUcpI

James Stevenson
eBay item description

05140

Lucretia J. Weed's Copy of Let's Boogie! by James Stevenson

James Stevenson inscribed a copy of Let's Boogie!, his 1978 cartoon collection from Dodd, Mead, to Lucretia J. Weed, publisher at Congdon & Weed. He included an inscription and a drawing of a bear, presumably the tee-shirted one from the cover. The book is no longer available.

Dedication to New Yorker cartoonist Frank Modell

"It's me again."

It's just going to continue and continue

James Stevenson
eBay listing accessed July 10, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/405533342966?_skw=cartoon&itmmeta=01JZVRRE9XZXCWPPSQSDEAJPVK&hash=item5e6babbcf6:g:0zgAAOSwJgpnqPWb

0499x