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

Donald Reilly: On Getting Accepted to Smith College

Cartoonist Donald Reilly's drawing from the July 24, 1971, issue of The New Yorker is one I find a little unsettling even today.

"I realize acceptance at Smith means little to you at the
moment, dear, but you'll see—you'll meet freaks there
who will be your friends for life."
Donald Reilly
Original art
The New Yorker, July 24, 1971, p. 70

Reilly's use of bold lines and wash works well in the background but also on the figures. He rather expertly contrasts the mother and daughter in dress, hairstyle, and attitude. Finally, the mother's awkward attempt to use her daughter's language gives this cartoon its unusual aftertaste.

"I realize acceptance at Smith means little to you at the
moment, dear, but you'll see—you'll meet freaks there
who will be your friends for life."
Donald Reilly
Framed original art
The New Yorker, July 24, 1971, p. 70

Donald Reilly
Swann Galleries listing of June 5, 2018

https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/Lots/auction-lot/(THE-NEW-YORKER--CARTOON)-DONALD-REILLY-I-realize-acceptance?saleno=2480&lotNo=254&refNo=744911

"I realize acceptance at Smith means little to you at the moment, dear, but you'll see—you'll meet freaks there who will be your friends for life."
Donald Reilly
The New Yorker, July 24, 1971, p. 70

"I realize acceptance at Smith means little to you at the moment, dear, but you'll see—you'll meet freaks there who will be your friends for life."
Donald Reilly
Original art
The New Yorker, July 24, 1971, p. 70

With a spot drawing of books and a cartoon by Donald Reilly

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1971-07-24/flipbook/070/

* * *

The spot drawing is signed, but I can't make out the signature.

Artist Unidentified
Spot drawing
The New Yorker, July 24, 1971, p. 70

04922