Bob Mankoff: What Women Want

Before Bob Mankoff was the New Yorker's cartoon editor, he had a two-decade career cartooning for the magazine. Here's a great example of his art from 1990, selling, it would seem, for a song.

Bob Mankoff, original art, The New Yorker, February 26, 1990, page 43
"Women want more these days, Bill—it's not enough
just to be a jerk anymore."

Detail showing the underlying pencil marks

Bob Mankoff's signature

The back of the frame

Bob Mankoff

http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/robert-mankoff-american,-20th-21st-century-498-c-6dc447b9e9

Bob Mankoff, The New Yorker, February 26, 1990, page 43
"Women want more these days, Bill—it's not enough
just to be a jerk anymore."

http://archives.newyorker.com/?i=1990-02-26#folio=042

Note:  Attempted Bloggery is always looking for original art by Bob Mankoff to share with an increasingly humorless world.

As of tomorrow, Emma Allen will be the New Yorker's new cartoon editor. For those who wish to view this change in its proper historical perspective, I present the magazine's complete roster of art editors and cartoon editors since 1925.

From Mr. Geraghty's time to 1993, the art editor was responsible for covers and cartoons. Since 1993, the art editor has been responsible only for covers and the cartoon editor has been responsible only for cartoons.

Rea Irvin, art supervisor, 1925-1939; art director, 1939-1951

James Geraghty, art editor, 1939-1972

Lee Lorenz, art editor, 1973-1993; cartoon editor, 1993-1997

Françoise Mouly, art editor, 1993-

Bob Mankoff, cartoon editor, 1997-2017

Emma Allen, cartoon editor, 2017-


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Rea Irvin

James Geraghty

Lee Lorenz

Françoise Mouly

Bob Mankoff

Emma Allen

Original New Yorker Cartoon Art

Attempted Bloggery's Woman-Pleasing Index

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Shannon Silveira's Copy of The Art of the New Yorker 1925-1995

When The Art of The New Yorker 1925-1995 by Lee Lorenz was published in 1995 it was promoted not only in New York on the East Coast but in Los Angeles on the West Coast. Four New Yorker cartoonists made a rare appearance together at Storyopolis in the courtyard of the Pacific Theatre. Mr. Lorenz was joined by Edward Koren, Bob Mankoff, and Victoria Roberts. Invitations to the event directed that RSVP's be phoned to Shannon Silveira, once an employee of Condé Nast, and it is her copy of the book, apparently, that was sold on eBay two years ago.

Shannon Silveira's copy of The Art of The New Yorker 1925-1995 by Lee Lorenz
Elaborately inscribed "Shannon/Edward Koren"
Inscribed "For Shannon, Best, Victoria Roberts" with a drawing of a purse-carrying bird
Inscribed "For Shannon/My Tablemate/Bob Mankoff" with a drawing of a man in a tweed suit

Shannon Silveira's copy of The Art of The New Yorker 1925-1995 by Lee Lorenz

Inscribed "For Shannon (2 N's)
Best wishes,
Lee Lorenz"

Detail of drawings by Victoria Roberts and Bob Mankoff

The invitation

EBay Listing Ended January 24, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Art-of-the-New-Yorker-1925-1995-Lee-Lorenz-SIGNED-by-4-ARTISTS-1st-printing-/351292352698?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51caa7e8ba&nma=true&si=MY%252BVlM1DDf4MNMNGGnCdh3m%252FHQQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

EBay Item Description

Note:  Yesterday, a different copy of the very same book was shown here and then mentioned on Ink Spill! Check it out, why don't you?

This is the seventh copy of The Art of The New Yorker 1925-1995 to be presented here on the old blog, but there's room for plenty more. Books of all sorts containing original drawings by New Yorker cartoonists are always welcome here at Attempted Bloggery. Send photos or scans and your book could become famous—virtually.

Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

Signed Books with Original Drawings

The Art of The New Yorker 1925-1995

Edward Koren

Lee Lorenz

Bob Mankoff

Victoria Roberts

The New Yorker

Attempted Bloggery's West Coast Index

02043

My Entries in the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest for May/June 2015

I submitted a total of three entries in the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest for May/June 2015. As in the past, the drawing is by Bob Mankoff, cartoon editor of the New Yorker.

"I see Congress is in recess again."
"Isn't it time you boys graduated?"
"Let's break for work."

Fortunately, one of these was selected as a finalist:

Moment Cartoon Caption Contest Finalists May/June 2015

So here are the latest statistics. My caption has made it to finalist status in ten out of the twelve contests I've entered over these two years. My previous caption did not win the March/April Contest, meaning that I have won only two of the nine completed contests in which I have been a finalist, a winning percentage of 22%, where the law of averages says I should be at 33%. So paradoxically, while I have demonstrated a disarming 83% rate of making it to finalist status, my captions are only two-thirds as likely to be voted the winner as the laws of probability would suggest. Put another way, I write some first-rate second-rate captions.

September 12, 2015 Update:  Winning Caption

Moment Cartoon Caption Contest Winning Caption for May/June 2015

Note:  Let's have a go at it again! Please vote for your favorite caption in the May/June contest until on or about August 24. You'll have to decide what's funniest:  educational theories, husbands, or the U. S. Congress. I'll plead the Fifth.

While you're at it, you yourself can enter the July/August Caption Contest. For the first time, the Moment Caption Contest cartoon is by Benjamin Schwartz. Personally, I don't deal well with this sort of change.

So why the change in cartoonist? Frankly, I don't think Bob Mankoff has been comfortable with the Moment contest since he made that glaring error while inscribing my personal copy of his memoir. These things can take their toll on one's psyche, you know.

Cartoon caption contests have become a major focus of this blog over the past couple of years. Unlike most other people who subject themselves to these contests, I publish copious notes of my caption hits (Moment) and misses (The New Yorker) for all to see. These blog posts in toto make up a cautionary tale for anyone foolish enough to don the mantle of captioneer. Trust me, we should all just leave humor to the professionals.

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Bob Mankoff: Enron Recycled Paper Products

Enron employees were shredding documents at the company's Houston offices as recently as last week, a former executive said yesterday. Her statement was the first indication that documents were destroyed at Enron amid investigations of the company's collapse by Congress and the Justice Department and followed reports of document shredding by accountants at Enron's auditor, Arthur Andersen.

EX-OFFICIAL SAYS ENRON EMPLOYEES SHREDDED PAPERS 

By JONATHAN D. GLATER and MICHAEL BRICK

The New York Times, January 22, 2002

Enron's financial collapse was sudden and calamitous. Company employees shredded many documents, it was soon learned. Surely there was nothing funny about the whole sordid episode. Or was there? Bob Mankoff's cartoon about the Enron fiasco ran in the New Yorker on February 4, 2002. The original artwork is currently being offered on eBay.

Robert Mankoff, Enron Recycled Paper Products
Original art, The New Yorker, February 4, 2002, page 4

Robert Mankoff, Enron Recycled Paper Products
The New Yorker, February 4, 2002, page 4

Cartoon Bank Certificate of Authenticity signed by Robert Mankoff

EBay Listing Ended March 20, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Enron-Where-Has-All-The-Paper-Gone-/221712088631?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item339f11fe37&nma=true&si=Zv4PhLp6HocGRC23iqci2JeQ2LI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

EBay Current Listing March 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221720689818?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&fromMakeTrack=true

EBay Item Description

December 6, 2016 Update:  Price reduced, still unsold.

Note:  The blog archives already contain all you need to know about Bob Mankoff. It's just a click away.

Other examples of original New Yorker cartoon art are on view here too 24/7.

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The New Yorker 75th Anniversary Cartoon Collection : Return to Bob Mankoff

A copy of The New Yorker 75th Anniversary Cartoon Collection with a signed drawing by Bob Mankoff was sold on eBay last month for an undisclosed price. Whatever the value of the book, Mr. Mankoff's self-portrait sketch is inscribed with an interesting proviso of dubious legal merit.

The New Yorker 75th Anniversary Cartoon Collection, 1999
Cover illustration by Michael Witte
With contributions from James Thurber, William Steig, George Booth, Peter Arno, Charles Barsotti, Sam Gross, Roz Chast, James Stevenson, and others.

Bob Mankoff,
Self-Portrait inscribed in a word balloon
"Jody, If this drawing makes this book very valuable, I'd like it back"
Signed and dated 2/29/00 in The New Yorker 75th Anniversary Cartoon Collection, 1999

The New Yorker 75th Anniversary Cartoon Collection, 1999
Back Cover by Michael Witte
Inset artwork by Roz Chast, Peter Steiner, Bob Mankoff, Charles Barsotti, Charles Addams, Peter Arno, George Booth, and Jack Ziegler

Basball cartoon by Dana Fradon

Cartoons by Garrett Price, Leo Cullum, Danny Shanahan, Edward Sorel, and George Price, pp. 160-161

EBay Listing Ended January 11, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/THE-NEW-YORKER-75TH-ANNIVERSARY-CARTOON-COLLECTION-1st-Ed-Signed-by-Bob-Mankoff-/371228994469?pt=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item566ef8eba5

EBay Listing Ended February 10, 2015
Best Offer Accepted

http://www.ebay.com/itm/THE-NEW-YORKER-75TH-ANNIVERSARY-CARTOON-COLLECTION-1st-Ed-Signed-by-Bob-Mankoff-/121566692711?nma=true&si=Zv4PhLp6HocGRC23iqci2JeQ2LI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

EBay Item Description 

Note:  There are plenty more posts about Bob Mankoff where this came from. On Monday he received my endorsement as a Presidential candidate, yet the news media chose to cover only Ted Cruz's announcement. Go figure.

The last time a copy of The New Yorker 75th Anniversary Collection appeared on this blog, it had a drawing by Arnie Levin. If you have an interesting copy of this book or even of some other book, do share it here! I'm not so particular.

You just might enjoy other signed books with original drawings in the blog archives. Or maybe you're just hard to please.

01472

Bob Mankoff for President

Four years ago this blog neglected to endorse a Presidential candidate. That moral lapse will not be repeated in the current election cycle. Today Attempted Bloggery is proud to lead the national conversation by endorsing a Presidential candidate who has been quietly getting his name out there in cartoon books since at least 2007. Here's the sort of creative campaigning we need to see a lot more of:

Bob Mankoff, Bob Mankoff for President
Signed drawing in The New Yorker Cartoon Yearbook 2007

Bob Mankoff, for those who don't know, has been biding his time as cartoon editor of the New Yorker since 1997. He was publishing cartoons in the magazine for 20 years prior to that. Thus he is uniquely qualified to comment with insight and humor on the most pressing issues of our time.

In light of my early endorsement and the extraordinary publicity it is bound to engender, I have consented to be interviewed. My initial press conference found the members of the local press to be unavailable on short notice, so the interview has been conducted by the latest version of Siri. Bob Mankoff for President!

***

Siri:  So you are endorsing Bob Mankoff as a Presidential candidate, Doc.

Docnad:  Yes, Siri, I am unconditionally endorsing Bob Mankoff for President. You give a tough interview.

Siri:  Is he indeed running for President then?

Docnad:  Of course he is. Take a look at his drawing.

Siri:  What is Mr. Mankoff's party affiliation?

Docnad:  Well, I think that's his business, Siri. Either party would be lucky to have him. Or both. We could put an end to the coming contentious campaign today if both parties were simply to draft him.

Siri:  Doc, I don't think both major parties would choose the same Presidential candidate. Think of what would become of the debates.

Docnad:  We could still hold the debates. Bob Mankoff could debate himself. And if he wants, he could choose a different Vice President for each party.

Siri:  Would that be helpful?

Docnad:  No, Siri, but it might be funny.

Siri:  Has he informed you of any of his political views?

Docnad:  I don't speak for him, Siri. I met him only once. All I can tell you is that Bob Mankoff is a true American patriot whom I believe would make an outstanding Commander in Chief. And, to his credit, he did not sign that Senate letter to the leaders of Iran.

Siri:  But don't you think it's time we had a woman President?

Docnad:  I see where you're going with that. By all means, we should elect the most qualified candidate to be our President. But let me add that I'm pretty sure Bob Mankoff does not maintain a private email server in his laundry room.

Siri:  Doc, don't you stand to benefit personally from this endorsement? Isn't there a quid pro quo?

Docnad:  Sorry, Siri, I don't speak Latin.

Siri:  Might your endorsement, for example, earn you favorable treatment in the Caption Contest?

Docnad:  Have you seen my captions? I don't believe so.

Siri:  Come on, Doc. The voters deserve to know. What if first you endorse Bob Mankoff for President, then suddenly your captions become his little darlings for the next four years.

Docnad:  The Presidency is  an office of vital importance to our nation. I don't think he'd be able to continue his caption-judging responsibilities while in the White House. And I don't think you're taking his candidacy seriously.

Siri:  Well, would you agree then that the international situation is a serious, even a paramount, issue? Would Bob Mankoff be able to stand up to Vladimir Putin, for example? Could he take on the Iranians?

Docnad:  Siri, Bob Mankoff deals every day with disappointed cartoonists, some of whom experience repeated rejection, becoming emotionally unbalanced and even unstable. Ipso facto I'm sure he can handle a couple of fanatical Iranian clerics who want to build nukes.

Siri:  I thought you didn't speak Latin.

Docnad:  Next question.

Siri:  Doc, concerning your blog--

Docnad:  Oh, you've seen my blog?

Siri:  Yes, it's so sweet the way you've kept it up after the rest of the world has moved on. It's almost quaint.

Docnad:  Thank you. I think.

Siri:  Your blog shows you possess a number of books signed by Mr. Mankoff. If Bob Mankoff does become President, don't you stand to profit greatly as your personal library increases astronomically in value?

Docnad:  Oh, I see we're out of time. Siri, I'd just like to say how much I've enjoyed this interview. Let's do it again soon.


Note: Attempted Bloggery has long been following the political career of Bob Mankoff, the first Presidential candidate to be endorsed here.

Signed books with original drawings are a popular topic around here.

01470

Bob Mankoff Self-Portrait Signing

Cartoon editor Bob Mankoff signed this copy of The New Yorker Cartoon Yearbook 2007 and drew himself signing for good measure. So this is an autographed self-portrait of Bob Mankoff signing his autographed self-portrait. Furthermore, he made drawings in many copies of this book, including each of the three shown here. Has anyone seen a copy he hasn't signed and drawn in?

Bob Mankoff, Self-Portrait Signing
Signed drawing in The New Yorker Cartoon Yearbook 2007

The New Yorker Cartoon Yearbook 2007
Three signed copies with original drawings by Bob Mankoff

Note:  This blog has a number of posts which mention Bob Mankoff. Some of them include quick self-portrait sketches such as this one.

01468

My Entries in the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest for November/December 2014

Here I present my six entries in the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest for November/December 2014. The Moment cartoon is always by New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff. Last go-round one of my turtle cartoon captions was perhaps too much of a cliché and the other maybe a little too racy for Moment. This time around I submitted more captions in order to maximize my chances of making it back to finalist status. I also kept it pretty clean, thank you. The strategy worked, I became a finalist, and once more I am able to bring glory to my obscure little town. For those keeping score, to date I have reached finalist status in seven of the nine Moment contests I entered. Of these, I won the contest once, my sole victory in what is now almost two years of writing captions for other people's cartoons.

"Frankly, no, I don't pine for the outdoors."
"Remember when we had a life?
"That settles it.  I'm booking the lobby for my vacation."
"If we'd leased this floor to another insurance firm, we wouldn't have all these potential new customers."
"Now watch how I blend in."
"Agreed.  Tomorrow we wear Speedos."

Moment Cartoon Caption Contest Finalists for November/December 2014

March 30, 2015 Update:  Winning Caption

Moment Cartoon Caption Contest Winning Caption for November/December 2014

Note:  Am I not turtley enough for the Turtle Club? See why my entries in the September/October 2014 Moment Cartoon Contest were not up to speed.

You may vote for your favorite caption in the November/December contest until on or about February 10. Then feel free to join me in entering the January/February contest yourself. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that I would have a real chance at the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest if only it had the same number of entries as Moment.

It's true. Bob Mankoff made a mistake inscribing my personal copy of his bestselling memoir. Yet if I can somehow win the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest a total of four times, it will be automatically corrected without using any white-out.

Cartoon caption contests have taught me a lot about the mechanics of writing captions, but they haven't taught me much about how to win cartoon caption contests. Go ahead and read the whole dossier if you like.

As cartoon editor of the New Yorker, Bob Mankoff is fair game for this blog. Click the link and see what I mean.

01411

The New Yorker Book of New York Cartoons with a Bob Mankoff Self-Portrait

In a copy of The New Yorker Book of New York Cartoons sold on eBay, cartoon editor Bob Mankoff has merged his signature with his self-portrait. The B in Bob forms a part of his right-facing profile. Bob Mankoff draws a lot of these self-caricatures, but I don't recall seeing one with this letter-play before.

The New Yorker Book of New York Cartoons, 2004. Cover illustration by Michael Witte.

Front free endpaper signed with self-portrait by Bob Mankoff

Back cover with "Miracles on 34th Street" by Roz Chast

EBay Listing Ended November 19, 2014

http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-New-Yorker-Book-of-New-York-Cartoons-Signed-First-Edition-/331377993469?nma=true&si=MY%252BVlM1DDf4MNMNGGnCdh3m%252FHQQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

EBay Item Description

A single bid was placed in the final three seconds of the auction.

Note:  These days it seems Bob Mankoff has become a media star. Blog posts here count as media too.

I just love to peruse signed books with original drawings so I've posted a whole bunch of them here on the blog. Enjoy.

I said yesterday I wouldn't link to any more of my Christmas posts this year and I'm sticking to my guns.

01379