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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Sight Unseen: Kings Don't Carry Money by Charles Barsotti

Occasionally I report on my penchant for buying books which are described enticingly by booksellers but which are not accompanied by the photographs I would need to make a fully informed decision. In other words, this is my personal style of gambling. For example, a copy of Charles Barsotti's 1981 collection Kings Don't Carry Money is signed and inscribed by the author "with a drawing of a singing bird." That book listing sounded promising. The stock image which appeared on AbeBooks wasn't all that helpful:

Charles Barsotti
AbeBooks Listing Accessed February 29, 2020

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=22487279321&searchurl=bi%3D0%26ds%3D30%26bx%3Doff%26sortby%3D17%26an%3DCharles%2BBarsotti%26recentlyadded%3Dall%26sgnd%3Don&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title1

The price seemed reasonable. I've reported on a similar copy of this book—songbird and all—previously, so the decision to go ahead and buy this copy sight unseen wasn't a difficult one. Here's what I received:

Note:  That similar copy of this book I mentioned above appeared on Attempted Bloggery in 2015 here.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Charles Barsotti

  
Signed Books with Original Drawings

Sight Unseen

Attempted Bloggery's Index with a Song in Its Heart

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Kings Don't Carry Money Signed with a Drawing by Charles Barsotti

Who doesn't love the work of Charles Barsotti (1933-2014)? The late cartoonist was fond of drawing kings, pups, and business men carrying about large bags of money. A copy of his 1981 book Kings Don't Carry Money was just sold on eBay. It is signed and inscribed by the cartoonist with a small but charming drawing of a songbird.

Charles Barsotti, Kings Don't Carry Money. New York:  Dodd, Mead & Co., 1981. Front cover.

Charles Barsotti, Kings Don't Carry Money. New York:  Dodd, Mead & Co., 1981.
Inscribed with a drawing of a songbird
"December 1981/To Don,/Merry Christmas!/C. Barsotti/&/Rae Barsotti"

Charles Barsotti, Kings Don't Carry Money. New York:  Dodd, Mead & Co., 1981. Title page.

EBay Listing Ended January 12, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kings-Dont-Carry-Money-Charles-Barsotti-Hardcover-signed-with-drawing-/331438185027?pt=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item4d2b415a43&autorefresh=true

EBay Item Description

EBay Bid History

Image added January 24, 2015

Charles Barsotti Remembered by Brian Williams on NBC Nightly News

Note:  I do have just a few posts here about the late Charles Barsotti.

Signed books with drawings have been a staple of this blog. By the way, I'm always looking for new examples to share.

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