Sight Unseen: Edward Gorey's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats

You've seen me play this game before. A bookseller offers something seemingly too good to be true It's tantalizing, but without the benefit of a photo who knows what the item really looks like? I make an educated guess and, if inclined, I take the bait. I report on the results here.

T. S. Eliot died in 1965, so we know he couldn't have signed the 1982 edition of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. It's almost certainly got to be illustrator Edward Gorey who signed this hardcover edition, but could such a thing really be selling for just $15, even from an outfit called Half Price Books, Inc., of Dallas? The listing on AbeBooks furnished only a stock photo of an edition marketing this book as the inspiration for Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats: The Musical" (1981). Seeing, as they say, is believing, and I would have to see this one for myself. I placed my order.

Edward Gorey
AbeBooks listing accessed June 15, 2022

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Old-Possums-Book-Practical-Cats-Eliot/31217539199/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&cm_ite=viewbook_low

The book arrived in yesterday's mail. Here it is:

The book is indeed signed by Gorey on an illustrated "Mystery!" bookplate, a nice one. I would have thought a book dealer would want to mention such a thing. Anyway, the book is well worth the price, I believe.

And I'm not alone. AbeBooks lists another copy, also bookplate signed. Check out the price:

Edward Gorey
AbeBooks listing accessed June 21, 2022

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31127712521

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #681

Grab a hold of my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #681 for the issue of October 14, 2019. The drawing is by Hartley Lin, who is new to this blog.

"Why did I ever think you'd do in a pinch?"

This caption didn't amuse anyone in my household except me:

"Why don't you just go and scuttle across the floors of silent seas?"

October 21, 2019 Update:  The Finalists

October 28 2019 Update:  I voted with Burien, although I do admire the ingenuity of Isleton.

November 4, 2019 Update:  The Winner

Note:  Last week cartoonist Danny Shanahan gave us a sopping wet bear taking a restaurant order. Towel off before reading Contest #680.


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Ralph Steadman's Author Etchings

Ralph Steadman is no mean printmaker. Some of his prints, of course, are simply reproductions of his well-known and exceedingly popular black-and-white illustrations in signed limited editions in the hundreds marketed to his legions of fans. Those are well and good, but even more impressive are those small editions of lithographs and etchings especially created for their respective mediums. Steadman has etched a number of spectacular images—there must be several dozen—depicting great writers. His penchant for detail and bold graphics make him especially well-suited to the medium. The edition size is usually 20, although William Shakespeare naturally merits 30. Four such etchings from this series are currently offered on eBay, and many others may be seen and purchased on the artist's website.

T. S. Eliot 1

William Shakespeare

Ernest Hemingway

Samuel Beckett 3

eBay Listing as of October 18, 2016

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Ralph-Steadman-Signed-T-S-Eliot-Etching-Old-Possums-Book-of-Practical-Cats-/252588135343?hash=item3acf6d13af:g:MKcAAOSwT4lWTyQs

eBay Item Description

eBay Listing as of October 18, 2016

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Ralph-Steadman-William-Shakespeare-etching-print-rare-signed-numbered-ed-/252588134922?hash=item3acf6d120a:g:4wQAAOxycmBS2Wmz

eBay Item Description

eBay Listing as of October 18, 2016

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Ralph-Steadman-Signed-Ernest-Hemingway-etching-/252569346724?hash=item3ace4e62a4:g:q78AAOSwcdBWR1a9

eBay Item Description

eBay Listing as of October 18, 2016

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Ralph-Steadman-Signed-Samuel-Beckett-etching-/252569346072?hash=item3ace4e6018:g:GqIAAOSwvt1WR1Ww

eBay Item Desciption

Note:  Browse Ralph Steadman's etchings.

There's a Ralph Steadman retrospective in town—popularly known as "A Retrospective:  Ralph Steadman"—and it's coming to a close on October 22. Catch it if you can at the Society of Illustrators in Manhattan.

I don't ask for much. For those in possession of a particular book, let's say, with an original sketch by Ralph Steadman, or perhaps some original published art or something equally rare or unique, I do request an image or two suitable for blogging. Let the artist's fans all over the world see what's in your collection.


Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

Ralph Steadman

T. S. Eliot

William Shakespeare

Etchings

Attempted Bloggery's Writerly Index

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You Win Some...

"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." So goes the old adage. It pays to be cautious, but then how can one be sure one isn't passing up a great bargain? To use an example from real life, what do you do when you find a listing on AbeBooks like this?

AbeBooks Listing by Wonderland Books of Cleveland Heights, OH

These days it has become very easy to overpay for Edward Gorey's signature. Opportunities to get a bargain are quite rare and $35 is a very good price. Gorey's signature is pretty distinctive and, in its way, elegant. In a book he generally crosses out his printed name and signs it instead. This is especially quirky in that his printed name, like all the text in his books, is generally derived from Gorey's own hand-lettering. Here's an example of his signature in a book:

Edward Gorey's signature

http://www.purplehousepress.com/sig/gorey.htm

So that's what we're hoping to find here. In addition, the 1991 calendar is rather uncommon, making this seem like a good deal all around. But is it too good?

In making the decision of whether to purchase, it might help to have a decent photograph. The bookseller has not provided one. The only way to buy this calendar is sight unseen unless you happen to be in Cleveland Heights. One could ask the bookseller a question or request a scan, but that might only serve to alert the seller that the item is of interest and possibly underpriced. So what's the best strategy here?

Well, without a reliable image, I decided to gamble. I figured there was at least a fair chance the calendar was described accurately, and if it weren't I might possibly be able to return it. I thought it was worth the risk and I went ahead and ordered it. Here's what I received:

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats T. S. Eliot Calendar for 1991
Edward Gorey

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats T. S. Eliot Calendar for 1991
Signed by Edward Gorey

Well, I got lucky. The calendar is in good condition, it's what the seller says it is, and it appears to be authentically signed. Furthermore, it really was a good deal. There is only one other copy of this calendar on AbeBooks right now and it is not signed. Myrna R. Bishop, Bookseller of Linwood, KS is offering it for $120:

AbeBooks Listing by Myrna R. Bishop, Bookseller of Linwood, KS

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=13092569397&searchurl=tn%3DOld+Possum%27s+Book+of+Practical+Cats+T.S.+Eliot+Calendar+for+1991%26sortby%3D13%26an%3DEliot%2C+T.S.%26ds%3D30

Note:  Wouldn't you just know it? This blog offers further reading on Edward Gorey and on signed books (and calendars).

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