National Doctors' Day 2026: Gahan Wilson 1969

Tomorrow is National Doctors' Day. Let's celebrate with a 1969 Playboy cartoon by Gahan Wilson set in a physician's office. The original art was sold by Heritage in the November 4 Illustration Art Signature Auction #8224.

"We may already be too late, Mr. Parker."
Gahan Wilson
Original art
Playboy, June 1969, p. 27

The doctor's eyes are squinting—never a good sign. The patient doesn't show any good signs either.

"We may already be too late, Mr. Parker."
Gahan Wilson
Original art
Playboy, June 1969, p. 27

Verso

Sixteen hours before the live auction, the bidding was already strong. But, unlike the patient, it would get stronger.

Gahan Wilson
Heritage Auctions Mainstream Illustration listing accessed sixteen hours before the sale of November 4, 2025

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/mainstream-illustration/gahan-wilson-american-1930-2019-we-may-already-be-too-late-mr-parker-playboy-cartoon-june-1969/a/8224-71272.s?ic16=ViewItem-Auction-Open-OtherAvailable-081514

Gahan Wilson
Heritage Auctions Mainstream Illustration item description

Sold!

Finally, here's the prognosis as it appeared on the printed page:

"We may already be too late, Mr. Parker."
Gahan Wilson
Playboy, June 1969, p. 27

https://www.blackgate.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gahan-Wilson-We-May-Already-Be-to-late.jpg

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Gahan Wilson: Apparently Every Christmas . . .

In the November 4 sale of illustration art, Heritage Auctions offered an original Gahan Wilson Playboy cartoon that is hardly the usual Christmas fare.

"Apparently, every Christmas he'd take the tree out of storage and add a few more ornaments!"
Gahan Wilson
Original art
Playboy, December 2001

Wilson inscribed the original "For Doc Schiff from" followed by his signature. Playboy's stamps are in place in the upper margin of the art.

"Apparently, every Christmas he'd take the tree out of storage and add a few more ornaments!"
Gahan Wilson
Original art
Playboy, December 2001

Sixteen-and-a-half hours prior to the sale, when I checked in, online bidding was going strong.

Gahan Wilson
Heritage Auctions listing of November 4, 2025 accessed sixteen hours before the live bidding 

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/mainstream-illustration/gahan-wilson-american-1930-2019-apparently-every-christmas-playboy-cartoonmixed-media-on-paper/a/8224-71273.s?ic16=ViewItem-BrowseTabs-Auction-Open-MyTrackedLots-101116

Gahan Wilson
Heritage Auctions item description

And an even better price was achieved when the bidding went live.

Note:  Many thanks to David from Manhattan for identifying the month and year of publication. 

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Eldon Dedini: Season in the Sun

Out of the Playboy Archives comes an original color cartoon by Eldon Dedini. It was published in the issue of December 1970. Set, one assumes, in Los Angeles at a swimming pool overlooking the Valley, it offers a stunning view.

"I still can't get used to a Christmas without snow."
Eldon Dedini
Original art
Playboy, December 1970

Caption and Eldon Dedini's signature
Playboy, December 1970

The piece was sold by Julien's Auctions of Gardena on August 26. The presale estimate was $800 to $1,200.

Eldon Dedini
Julien's Auctions listing for August 26, 2025

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/Playboy-Eldon-Dedini-Cartoon-Illustration-97-c-DD3461A947?utm_term=cartoon&utm_source=alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=keywordalerts&utm_content=group-noapp&utm_term=354156

Eldon Dedini
Julien's Auctions item description

The published cartoon looks similar to the artwork:

"I still can't get used to a Christmas without snow."
Eldon Dedini
Playboy, December 1970

https://pipeandpjscomics.wordpress.com/tag/howard-shoemaker/

"I still can't get used to a Christmas without snow."
Eldon Dedini
Original art
Playboy, December 1970

05146

Gahan Wilson: At the Barber's

An original Playboy cartoon by the irrepressible Gahan Wilson was sold two weeks ago in East Moriches. The setting is a barber shop.

"The usual, sir?"
"Yes, please."
Gahan Wilson
Original art
Playboy, December 1982

Gahan Wilson's signature

With overlay

Gahan Wilson
South Bay Auctions, Inc., listing of June 18, 2025

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/Gahan-Wilson-American-1930-2019-,-Playboy-Magazi-116-c-6584FCFB46?utm_term=cartoon&utm_source=alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=keywordalerts&utm_content=group-noapp&utm_term=347083

The drawing appears on page 472 of Gahan Wilson: Fifty Years of Playboy Cartoons (2009) which helpfully dates it to the December 1982 issue:

https://archive.org/details/Gahan_Wilson_50_Years_of_Playboy_Cartoons/page/n453/mode/2up

The cartoon can be licensed through CartoonStock. The letters PB stand for Playboy:

https://www.cartoonstock.com/cartoon?searchID=PB400439

04989

Rowland B. Wilson: An Alternative to Women's Lib

A Playboy cartoon from 1972 pokes fun at the women's rights movement and offers a more promiscuous alternative. Rowland B. Wilson's original art was sold this week at Heritage Auctions.

"Don't count on me for the revolution, girls—I've decided
to work for change within the system."
Rowland B. Wilson
Original art
Playboy, February 1972

Playboy and Wilson walk a fine line here since a liberated woman may be liberated sexually as well. Two of the signs are anti-male, to make the liberated women less sympathetic. One woman holds a paintbrush in her teeth, hardly an attractive pose. All the women protesters wear muted colors. But the bombshell walking in through the door is a stereotype herself, dating a wealthy older man who drives about town in a chauffeured limousine. Playboy, of course, takes the side of the overtly sexualized woman, but how much can its young male readers profit from this laugh?

"Don't count on me for the revolution, girls—I've decided
to work for change within the system."
Rowland B. Wilson
Original art
Playboy, February 1972

Rowland B. Wilson
Heritage Auctions listing ended June 25, 2025

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/pin-up-and-glamour-art/rowland-b-wilson-american-1930-2005-women-s-rights-playboy-cartoon-february-1972watercolor-and-pencil-on-paper/a/15251-18047.s?ic2=mytracked-lotspage-lotlinks-12202013&tab=MyTrackedLots-101116

Rowland B. Wilson
Heritage Auctions item description

"Don't count on me for the revolution, girls—I've decided
to work for change within the system."
Rowland B. Wilson
Playboy, February 1972

https://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/?p=2119

"Don't count on me for the revolution, girls—I've decided
to work for change within the system."
Rowland B. Wilson
Original art
Playboy, February 1972

04985

George Booth: Forging Behind

On Thursday, original cartoon art by George Booth from Playboy magazine was sold at auction by Leighton Galleries.

"Well, if it won't do for a plowshare what are the chances of shaping it back into a sword?"
George Booth
Original art
Playboy, July 1973

Booth is taking advantage of the singular ability of the word plowshare to evoke one specific quotation we all know. 

"Well, if it won't do for a plowshare what are the chances of shaping it back into a sword?"
George Booth
Framed and matted original art
Playboy, July 1973

George Booth's signature

Caption

The back of the frame

George Booth
Leighton Galleries listing sold June 5, 2025

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/george-booth-new-york-1926-2022-51-c-2db4b19b01?objectID=197219216&algIndex=undefined&queryID=e5c65dc70ffc4f8762d1b02b899288c7

George Booth
Leighton Galleries item description

In March, this and another Booth Playboy cartoon (featured in yesterday's post, don't you know?) with estimates of $800-$1,200 failed to find buyers.

The current sale lowered the estimates to $300-$400, with bidding starting at $150.

May 26, 2025

Both cartoons were sold:

Note:  Surely one day the word bloggery will be as recognizable as plowshares. Until then, please remember Attempted Bloggery when choosing a site to host images of your original George Booth cartoon art.

04964

George Booth: Tunnel Tool

 George Booth's original art from the September 1973 issue of Playboy magazine was sold at auction yesterday by Leighton Galleries of Waldwick, New Jersey. 

"Screwed any good light bulbs lately, Ed?"
George Booth
Original art
Playboy, September 1973

"Screwed any good light bulbs lately, Ed?"
George Booth
Framed and matted original art
Playboy, September 1973

George Booth's signature

Caption

George Booth
Leighton Galleries sale of June 5, 2025

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/george-booth-new-york-1926-2022-52-c-ddc4372a5b?objectID=197219217&algIndex=upcoming_lots_prod&queryID=1391529a3248803b42c106f9129c8ae2

George Booth
Leighton Galleries item description

The presale estimate for this piece and one other was $300 to $400 with an opening bid of $150.

Three months ago, when the estimate was $800 to $1,200, the work did not sell at all.

Note:  Motivated collectors can share images of their original George Booth art right here on this very blog. Specialized tools optional.

04963