Ronald Searle: From the Collection of Paul P. Goldberg

Paul P. Goldberg's request for an autograph sketch from cartoonist Ronald Searle was in all likelihood received by the artist's New York agent John Locke and then forwarded to Paris. Searle not only granted the collector's request, he even affixed the proper French postage. Air mail, no doubt.

Ronald Searle
eBay listing accessed January 6, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176150137538?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160811114145%26meid%3Dae4305fa14b94f09adc055c9be42e9a7%26pid%3D100667%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D176150137538%26itm%3D176150137538%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2351460&_trksid=p2351460.c100667.m2042

Ronald Searle
eBay item description 

Ronald Searle
eBay bid history
The last bid wins it. Again.

The bidding with three days to go seemed very manageable:

Sold!

Note:  The winning bidder has gone public with this purchase on Facebook. Those who are friends with the new owner may see it here.

04617

Dana Fradon: From the Collection of Paul P. Goldberg

Who wouldn't applaud the industry of comic art collector Paul P. Goldberg, who requested sketches from leading cartoonists over some three decades, maybe more? Dana Fradon, who eventually was to publish almost 1,400 cartoons in The New Yorker, is one of the many who took time out to return Goldberg's postcard. He included a 1978 self-portrait, an ink and wash sketch showing off his period sideburns and bushy eyebrows. He also wished Goldberg good luck, never a bad thing for a serious cartoon collector to have.

Dana Fradon
eBay listing ended January 10, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176152785167?itmmeta=01HV0BRR6XG51AGSV6JHYWF3JF&hash=item290386310f:g:yVoAAOSwDP5lkZk4

Dana Fradon
eBay item description

Dana Fradon
eBay bid history
There's only one bid. Placing it very late discourages competitive bids.

04616

Sid Harris: From the Collection of Paul P. Goldberg

Is the end finally nigh, or is a cartoonist merely sending greetings to collector Paul P. Goldberg? The year is 1972 and Sidney Harris responds to Goldberg's request for a sketch on a self-addressed postcard by drawing a prophet parading a large sign. The sign, simply enough, reads, "Hi, Paul! Sidney Harris." Harris's cartoon signature appears at the prophet's feet.

"Hi, Paul!
Sidney Harris"

Sid Harris
eBay listing ended January 10, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176152782470?itmmeta=01HV0BRR6X1H39Z8EVY7NZJJFG&hash=item2903862686:g:CCAAAOSwZbtlkZfI

Sid Harris
eBay item description

Sid Harris
eBay bid history
Three bids are placed in the final five seconds. For once, the last bid is not the winning bid.

04615

Robert Day: From the Collection of Paul P. Goldberg

In an autograph drawing from 1966, cartoonist Robert Day depicts himself sending friendly greetings from his drawing table. He also wishes a happy birthday to collector Paul P. Goldberg, who may have departed slightly from his usual request by mail to mention the big day.

"Hi, Paul!
Best wishes
for your birthday.
/        
Robt
Day
May 29
1966"

Robert Day
eBay listing ended January 9, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176150128865?itmmeta=01HV0AAP4YH2CGWFDMQ9V74ZYZ&hash=item29035da8e1:g:PBgAAOSwxWZllLLS

Robert Day
eBay item description

Robert Day
eBay bid history
Two bidders place two bids. The one who bides his time gets it. Maybe you know him.

04614

Walt Kelly: From the Collection of Paul P. Goldberg

Paul P. Goldberg wrote to a great many prominent cartoonists from the 1950s to the 1970s, amassing a collection of autograph drawings generously sent to him on self-addressed postcards. The cartoons are numerous enough to overwhelm just about anyone trying to follow them as they make their way through eBay—including, one assumes, potential buyers, the seller, and a certain less-than-diligent blogger. One of the more desirable postcards has Walt Kelly's drawing of his popular comic strip character Pogo.

"Here's to Paul—
with thanks
—Walt Kelly"

"Here's to Paul—
with thanks
—Walt Kelly"

Walt Kelly
eBay listing ended January 9, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176150062956

Walt Kelly
eBay item description

Walt Kelly
eBay bid history
The drawing goes to the last bidder—by three seconds!

04612

Ed Arno and Warren Miller, et al., From the Collection of Paul P. Goldberg

One has to admire the zeal of collector Paul P. Goldberg, who sent out hundreds of self-addressed blank postal cards to a great many of the cartoonists of his day. The present set of twenty date from the years 1966 to 1974, a time when Goldberg moved from Philadelphia to Plymouth Meeting. There are two New Yorker names here. Ed Arno's drawing may or may not predate his first appearance in the magazine in 1969, which was permitted only after the passing of his near-namesake Peter Arno in 1968. Warren Miller is represented as well with a bold and bearded self-portrait.

Well-known panel cartoonists Lawrence Lariar and George Dole are included; neither ever had their work appear in The New Yorker. Jean-Claude Suares, the first art director of The New York Times's Op-Ed page, has drawn his nose as a pen nib much as Arnold Roth did elsewhere in the Goldberg collection. One wonders, with this assortment of talented cartoonists, what proportion of the sale price of $135.50 owes to the presence of Brad Anderson's big dog Marmaduke.

Twenty cartoonists
eBay listing ended December 17, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176094313816?itmmeta=01HPTDN7ZC6KWM14VY3HT1XR63&hash=item290009fd58:g:~uEAAOSw3dBlddBR

Twenty cartoonists
eBay item description

Twenty cartoonists
eBay bid history
This time the second-to-last bidder wins it.

Note:  I don't make any of this up. Michael Maslin's "The Two Arnos" from 2008 appears online at The New Yorker's website here.

04587