My Copy of John Cuneo's Coping Skills

John Cuneo is surely one of today's most talented, not to mention provocative, illustrators. His latest book, Coping Skills, has just been published by Fantagraphics. Naturally, I was eager to find myself a very special copy of this volume of "helpful drawings." With as yet no in-person book signings in the offing, I preordered a personalized copy from The Golden Notebook of Woodstock, New York.

https://goldennotebook.indielite.org/pre-order-your-signed-copy-now?fbclid=IwAR2XCyUP5rYoRN84PnIK7xDn_H-LIC3Sf1krRmG7qFGmYFDnrXY0a4tT4pQ

Happily, the book arrived this week, signed and with an original sketch. Here it is, in all its glory:

 

Live Drawing—Uncensored!

John Cuneo with Joe Ciardiello

Society of Illustrators

Note:  On his Illustration Art blog, David Apatoff reviews the book here.

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M is For Magic Signed by Neil Gaiman and Gahan Wilson

Neil Gaiman's M is For Magic (2007) tells eleven short stories.The limited edition is signed on a special limitation page both by the author and by illustrator Gahan Wilson. This special edition consists of 1000 numbered copies and 26 lettered copies. Copy 667 was recently listed on AbeBooks.

Neil Gaiman and Gahan Wilson
AbeBooks Listing as of June 8, 2019

https://www.abebooks.com/M-Magic-Neil-Gaiman-Gahan-Wilson/30341868583/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&cm_ite=readmore

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Neil Gaiman

Gahan Wilson

Signed Books

Limited Editions

Attempted Bloggery's Wireless Index

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Good Omens Signed by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman appeared at Town Hall on May 22 to talk about Good Omens. The 1990 book he wrote with Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) is being promoted again in conjunction with a new Prime original television series of which Gaiman is the screenwriter and showrunner. Tickets for the event included a paperback copy of the TV tie-in edition of the book signed in advance with a silver Sharpie.

http://thetownhall.org/event/neil-gaiman-talks-good-omens

In 2018 Chantrelle (@vampandora) tweeted her wonderful first edition signed by both authors:

https://twitter.com/neilhimself/status/1057281969850081280

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Morticia and Fester at the British Museum

This single large sheet has two drawings of original advertising art by Charles Addams that was created for British Telecom. It features the classic Addams Family characters Uncle Fester and Morticia on holiday at the British Museum. The artwork was offered for sale by Taraba Illustration art in 2009 for $9,600 and was subsequently sold.

"I do hope it's who you think it is, Fester."

"It's all been wonderful, Grandma—and Fester has at last established his ancestry!"

The Charles Addams Listing at Taraba Illustration Art, LLC

http://www.tarabaillustrationart.com/art37.shtml

February 12, 2023 Update:  The original ad is on Tumblr and has been sitting there for eleven years! The British Telecom print ad omits entirely the caption for the mummy cartoon. Thanks to @John_Barach on Twitter for finding this in response to a query from Neil Gaiman, @neilhimself on Twitter and Instagram. Gaiman writes about purchasing the original Addams art when he won the John Newbery Medal here.

“We’re having a wonderful time Grandma, and Fester has finally found out who his mother is.”
When you’ve seen something to write home about, phone.
It’s quick, cheap and very easy to dial America direct.

PHONE HOME. IT FEELS GOOD.

British Telecom International

https://chasaddams.tumblr.com/post/3722462345/charles-addams-family-phone-home-british-telecom

February 13, 2023 Update:  A higher resolution image is provided by John Freeman. On close inspection, it's clear that these two Addams family images are not the same as Neil Gaiman's originals; they're a close variant. Gaiman's are in the upright portrait orientation, as we now call it, whereas the ad's two illustrations are in horizontal or landscape orientation.

Scan provided by John Freeman

October 15, 2023 Update:   Another Addams ad from the BTI campaign, this one in color, appears on Twitter from the collection of H-Bomb, @BeastsOfLuxury.

". . . Oh no Grandma, we're not a bit homesick. The folks Fester and I have met could be part of the Family."
https://twitter.com/BeastsOfLuxury/status/1626996571253493761

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