Leave it to cartoonist Charles Addams (1912-1988) to get invited to the estate of celebrated stage actress Katharine Cornell (1893-1974). Her home, built in 1951, was in Sneden's Landing in the Palisades. Addams thanked the Tony Award winner for her hospitality as only he could: with a personalized copy of his 1957 collection Nightcrawlers. It is inscribed "For Katherine [sic] Cornell/ with admiration/ Chas Addams/ Sneden's/ 1958." Below that, Addams includes an original drawing of the then-unnamed mischievous girl we all now recognize as Wednesday with her pet reptile (Lucifer?). The pair are also seen on the book's dust cover along with other now-famous Addams Family members enjoying some time outdoors in the moonlight.
"Mmmmm—smells good, dear. Who is it?"
"I hope you're not angry, Ed. I just had to see you."
Art from The New Yorker cover of June 22, 1957
The cartoon on the back of the dust jacket cover is set in the Automat:
Charles Addams eBay listing accessed August 15, 2023
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