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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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| Diseased Chicken |
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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.
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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
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Edward Koren
eBay item description |
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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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