J. C. Leyendecker: Thanksgiving, 1628-1928

J. C. Leyendecker's original cover art for the Saturday Evening Post edition of November 24, 1928, depicts the pilgrim's progress over three-hundred years. Its title is Thanksgiving, 1628-1928. The work was sold at Heritage Auctions in 2015.

This was before television was in the home and radio was only in its infancy. People, at least some of them, were actually attending the games on Thanksgiving Day—as they do today. Very likely someone had to stay home and cook.

It's a very nice piece and it sold for a very nice price.

The published magazine cover is shown here above the orignal art:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DC-L5aFvz7M/?img_index=2

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J. C. Leyendecker: Thanksgiving 1932

On November 14, Heritage Auctions sold the original art to a Saturday Evening Post cover by J. C. Leyendecker from the issue of November 26, 1932. Titled Thanksgiving Crest, it might not be what one is expecting of the artist or the Post. It is from the collection of Michael Dolas.

Bidding started at $75,000. Four days before the sale, no online bids had yet been placed. The estimate was $150,000 to $250,000.

J. C. Leyendecker
Heritage Auctions listing accessed November 9, 2025

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/paintings/a-written-description-will-be-available-soon/a/8231-67008.s?ic16=ViewItem-BrowseTabs-Auction-Open-BrowseAlsoViewed-012417

J. C. Leyendecker
Heritage Auctions item description

The work was sold on November 14 for a hammer price of  $160,000.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187493565061

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Constantin Alajálov: American Co-eds in Naples

Both The Saturday Evening Post and The New Yorker had their cover artists under exclusive agreements. There was to be no overlap between the illustrators on their respective rosters. Constantin Alajálov, though, was the proverbial exception that proved the rule, contributing brilliant covers to both weekly magazines.

His Post cover of August 2, 1958 is called Coed Tourists in Italy by Heritage Auctions, which sold the original art yesterday. The point, though, is that they are Americans abroad, and the local Neapolitan populace is fascinated by these capable, independent, young women getting ready to go back to college in New Haven. The women may indeed be tourists in Italy, but they are also unwitting cultural ambassadors.

Kenneth J. Stuart, Sr., was the art director of the Post from 1944 to 1962. This original cover art was given to Stuart and his wife by the artist.

The presale estimate estimate at Heritage was a healthy $8,000 to $12,000 with bidding set to start at $4,000. As of July 13, almost a month before the auction, no bids had yet been placed. 

Constantin Alajálov
Heritage Auctions listing accessed July 13, 2024

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/mainstream-illustration/constantin-alajalov-russian-american-1900-1987-coed-tourists-in-italy-the-saturday-evening-post-cover/a/8174-71016.s?ic16=ViewItem-BrowseTabs-Auction-Preview-MyTrackedLots-101116#

Constantin Alajálov
Heritage Auctions item description

Sold!

Note:  You may recall that this blog has a history of posting original art by Constantin Alajálov. I've found examples in museums and at auction houses, but I also keep hoping to hear from people who are enjoying his original art quietly in their homes. Go check your walls and see.

If you wish to berate me for the logical contradiction inherent in my use, or misuse, of the phrase "the exception that proves the rule," well, I don't want to hear it. Go write your own blog.

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Gregory d'Alessio: Surveying the Scene

An original Saturday Evening Post cartoon by Gregory d'Alessio was recently listed by Bartleby's Books of Chevy Chase. It depicts a couple strolling together down a city sidewalk of a winter's day, unaware that they are about to collide with a surveyor's transit mounted on a tripod. The caption is unknown. Is the woman telling her man to put on his hat or he could take ill and wind up in the hospital? Is there a caption hidden under the matte? That matte is in poor condition but the artwork itself seems only a bit faded so far as we can see from the area of the image.

Gregory d'Alessio
Bartleby's Books listing accessed December 2, 2023

https://www.bartlebysbooks.com/pages/books/68157/gregory-dalessio-ca/oblivious-couple-walking-into-a-sidewalk-surveyor-and-his-tripod-title-supplied

Note:  This artwork remains available from Bartleby's Books at the time of posting. I am in the market for information about the original publication date and caption. I did contact the 8 Henderson Place Foundation, which celebrates the legacy of Gregory d'Alessio and fellow cartoonist Hilda Terry, his wife, but as yet I haven't heard from anyone.

I am, as ever, happy to post other d'Alessio or Terry artwork submitted by readers.

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