Lucretia J. Weed's Copy of Omnibooth: The Best of George Booth

Lucretia and Peter Weed of Congdon & Weed, Inc., oversaw the publication of a number of cartoon book collections by some of the New Yorker cartoonists whose work we fondly recollect. They include George Booth, Frank Modell, George Price, Charles Saxon, and James Stevenson—quite possibly others as well. What's interesting about Lucretia's copy of Omnibooth: The Best of George Booth, his 1984 collection, is not so much the inscription but the small archive of letters, clippings, and stationery that accompany it.

Imagine being the recipient of a handwritten letter from Booth. Despite the informal tone, he does talk some business. There is humor here as well.

Isn't it just like Booth to use a Laurel & Hardy stamp?

In 1993, Booth contributed an energetic drawing and some encouraging wordage, both equally unique, to the Smith College Alumnae Fund, of which Lucretia was apparently cochair for the Class of '59. Booth offers "an occasional apology to E. Gorey" which I find baffling. Is he giving a tip of the hat to Gorey for The Curious Sofa (1961)? For this?

Personally, I don't know how anyone threw away this 1987 copy of the New York Times Book Review.

The same thing goes for the "Weekend" section of The Missourian, although I probably don't know any subscribers.

It would have been a blast to see Norene and George's work side by side at the Davis Gallery, no?

The Omnibooth front cover—more is more:

George Booth and cat:

Endpaper extravaganza:

Inscribed, "For Lucretia!
George Booth."

Title page

George Booth
eBay listing ended June 10, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/405533252708?_skw=Omnibooth+signed&epid=5154231&itmmeta=01JZPFPVEMVGN3PSYZQCKHKYGX&hash=item5e6baa5c64:g:P1wAAOSwyx1nqOla&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eduzQWvqbA4jUaVcgNZai3CTA5UaAc0hsxXYASagqJPWmXJCpOLMFqSBUJiT%2FhhXENo3llOlBsUr5pgWmob2a0UFZk%2

BDxWmxjzc%2F0fmzu%2BfbvHuacwtXDEe6h6GB66BCeL4%2B9lEXvI%2Ft9UcXnylS5ODgE4YTLXvMsCo3VnR4mKChQgVZkD7h8Q5rQ%2BYdUj5z0%2FeCah4zqnd03TPN70yw4jc0g%2BuzY%2BCCD%2FEPfJW1NpAm%2FGEeqWrP6LEb2a2yQxMIkq2GgOcYgh%2BgXB1RTCwbjBi1CyxZaFILaHjkYAIyjo0w%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7C328_9ZQ

". . . signed by [editor] Kenneth R. Hine." Are we looking at the same book?
George Booth
eBay item description

August 23, 2025 Update:  The book has now made its way from eBay to AbeBooks, where it is listed by Jan's Collectibles of Bethany, MO. There are far better photographs of the Weekend article and The New York Times Book Review cover which I append below. Oh, and the price for the ensemble is now $400.

George Booth
AbeBooks listing accessed August 23, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/Omnibooth-Best-George-Booth-Congdon-Weed/32275199230/bd

George Booth
AbeBooks item description

September 25, 2025 Update:  Now at ten percent off.

04997

George Booth: A Signed Omnibooth Promotion

Who could pass up an opportunity to enjoy some of George Booth's work? A print promotion for his collection Omnibooth (1984) signed by the cartoonist turned up on eBay where it was sold this summer for $45 despite some prominent sunning at one of the folds on the unsigned side. The eBay seller calls this item a poster, as one side can be displayed unfolded as a banner advertisement for the book. The other side, though, can best be appreciated at reading distance. The small print and the even folds indicate that this was meant to be a promotional brochure which could double as a wall display.

George Booth's signature

An encounter between a cat and an English bull terrier in four panels

"If you ask me, this thing is going to get a whole lot worse
before it gets better."

"You got here just in time, Mr. Lundquist. The boys are ready
to give your transmission the gang gong."

"I have a stuffed chair and a rag rug that are going out
in the spring sunshine today, Elsie!"

George Booth
eBay listing ended July 28, 2021

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324730228988?hash=item4b9b6e10fc%3Ag%3AXqEAAOSwvN9hAFSk&nma=true&si=WEtIFz5%252FkfY9UxP8WWeB%252FCaqeVQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

George Booth
eBay item description

03783

Newton Brand, Jr.,'s Copy of Omnibooth: The Best of George Booth

Newton Brand, Jr., was a Texas banker who, we have seen, collected cartoon books drawn in and signed by preeminent New Yorker cartoonists. It seems likely he built his collection over time from a distance, by mail. His copy of Omnibooth: The Best of George Booth (1984) has just come to light thanks to David from Manhattan, who reports getting it for $115. George Booth is a beloved cartoonist who delights us by populating his world with an endless variety of quirky characters: people, dogs, and cats, sometimes even chickens. In this book, there is a drawing of a somewhat unkempt-appearing codger viewed from behind while he enjoys his pipe.

Photo by David from Manhattan

This cover photo is of a different copy of the book:

https://www.ebay.com/p/5154231?iid=333810248479

Note:  My thanks to David from Manhattan for adding this book to our virtual recreation of the library of Newton Brand, Jr. This is David's forty-second contribution to Attempted Bloggery, give or take.

Any other personalized cartoon books from the library of Newton Brand, Jr., would, of course, be of interest.

Images of other original works by George Booth are sought after here as well. Of course.

03519

Signed and Inscribed by George Booth

A classic 1984 cartoon collection by George Booth with an original signature and inscription sold for a very reasonable price on eBay. One can easily find unsigned copies of Omnibooth selling for more--much more. Allow me to demonstrate:

George Booth, Omnibooth, 1984

George Booth Signature and Inscription

George Booth, Omnibooth, Cartoon

George Booth, Signed Copy of Omnibooth, eBay Listing Ended June 30, 2013

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Yorker-Cartoonist-George-Booth-Omnibooth-Signed-First-Edition-/200936044298?pt=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item2ec8b8b70a

George Booth, Signed Copy of Omnibooth, eBay Item Description, Listing Ended June 30, 2013

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Yorker-Cartoonist-George-Booth-Omnibooth-Signed-First-Edition-/200936044298?pt=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item2ec8b8b70a

Finally, from Summit Read in Summit, New Jersey, we have an unsigned "new" copy selling for more than eleven times the price of the signed and inscribed copy on eBay. I personally have no plans to do any book shopping at this store.

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=10548449003&searchurl=sortby%3D1%26amp%3Btn%3DOmnibooth

George Booth, Omnibooth, 1984, Front Cover

December 22, 2013 Update:  The unsigned Summit Read copy of Omnibooth in new condition is no longer available through Abe Books. Presumably it has been sold.

Note: Today Ink Spill reports that the latest entry in Richard Gehr's Know Your New Yorker Cartoonists column is about George Booth. You can read "George Booth:  Semper Fi" at The Comics Journal here.

Then if you'd care for some of my earlier posts on the extraordinary George Booth, simply look here.

0840