The New Yorker Album of Drawings 1975-1985 Signed by Three

Evolving Lens Bookseller of Kingston offers a thrice-signed copy of The New Yorker Cartoon Album 1975-1985.

Unlike the personalized and well-decorated copy we saw here yesterday, this one has just three cartoonist signatures—belonging to Edward Koren, art editor Lee Lorenz, and Danny Shanahan—with no other scribbles. While the book certainly could have been signed at an event, it's rarity suggests to me that it's one of just a few copies signed almost at random on look day, the morning cartoonists traditionally brought their work in to show the art editor, later the cartoon editor.

But this conjecture of mine raises its own questions. Why was it signed by only three cartoonists? If it was look day, why couldn't  a dozen cartoonists represented in the collection have signed? Was the book meant for a corporate client of the magazine? Nearly forty years have passed, the book's signers are all gone, and it may be hard to find anyone who has the answers.

The book is priced at $275.

The New Yorker Cartoon Album 1975-1985
Evolving Lens Bookseller listing accessed July 10, 2024

https://www.evolvinglensbookseller.com/pages/books/17129/new-yorker-magazine-staff/the-new-yorker-cartoon-album-1975-1985

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Blair's Copy of The New Yorker Cartoon Album 1975-1985

The year 1985 was the sixtieth anniversary of The New Yorker. The 1975-1985 cartoon album collected cartoons that appeared in the pages of the magazine over a decade. Rare Book Cellar of Pomona has by far the best signed copy of this book we've yet to see here on this blog. It belonged to someone named Blair and the inscriptions tell us she worked for the British humo(u)r magazine Punch when she visited The New Yorker. She wasn't there alone, either.

The cartoonists who signed are an impressive group. Mick Stevens draws a cat's head. Sidney Harris seconds the motion but doesn't draw anything. Jack Ziegler serves up a cat of his own. Sam Gross chimes in, but he  doesn't draw anything himself. Roz Chast presents an amusing still life.

Then Edward Koren's drawing knocks it out of the park. It could very well be that the artists from The New Yorker had lunch with the contingent from Punch. That would make this probably a look day crowd rather than a public signing event. 

Cartoonist and art editor Lee Lorenz also signed Blair's book. His dedication sounds as if it is written to not just Blair, but other members of "the Punch Bunch."

"For the Punch Bunch
from Tilley's Toilers
with warmest best
regards————
Lee Lorenz"

Punch came to an end in 1992. It was revived in 1996 and came to an end again in 2002. 

Today the book is discounted by 20%. That means this beautiful signed volume is available for only $1,200.

The New Yorker Cartoon Album 1975-1985
Rare Book Cellar listing accessed July 9, 2024

https://www.rarebookcellar.com/pages/books/174063/new-yorker-magazine-staff/the-new-yorker-cartoon-album-1975-1985-signed

  

Note:  Do other members of the "Punch Bunch,"  whoever they are, have similarly signed books in their possession? Were there any public books signings for the 1985 collection? Attempted Bloggery's mission—well, one of them—is to document New Yorker books signed by one or more New Yorker artists. Not wishing to discriminate, I would also post Punch books signed by Punch artists, although they seem to be invisible on my side of the Atlantic. The bottom line is I'd love to hear from readers with New Yorker or Punch cartoon collections which, like Blair's book, have fine original drawings.

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Edward Koren Mousing Around

Cartoonist Edward Koren made this full-page original drawing of a mouse in a copy of The New Yorker Cartoon Album 1975-1985. Tomorrow the long-time New Yorker cartoonist is to be appointed the State of Vermont's new Cartoonist Laureate. Vermont is the only state with a Cartoonist Laureate; Alaska had one a few years back, but hasn't kept up the appointment. The idea, when you first hear it, seems so obvious it's brilliant. Even more obviously brilliant is the choice of Ed Koren. They really know how to govern up in Vermont.

Edward Koren
Drawing of a mouse inscribed "For/Sherry Seymour,/Best/Ed. Koren"
in The New Yorker Cartoon Album 1975-1985

The New Yorker Cartoon Album 1975-1985

Cartoons by Jean-Jacques Sempé, George Booth, Donald Reilly, and Edward Koren.
The New Yorker Cartoon Album 1975-1985

Edward Koren
Drawing of a mouse inscribed "For/Sherry Seymour,/Best/Ed. Koren"
in The New Yorker Cartoon Album 1975-1985

Note:  I have more posts about cartoonist Edward Koren here.

Other examples of signed books with original drawings may be seen here.

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George Booth's Birthday and Murchison's Theory

Cartoonist George Booth celebrates his 86th birthday today. Last week Bonhams offered his "Murchison's theory..." drawing at auction. It did not sell, perhaps because of some pronounced fading. It's hard to judge without having the actual artwork in front of you, but this sheet of paper appears to have undergone a lot of discoloration in its first thirty years.

George Booth's originals frequently demonstrate a lot of cutting and pasting and they can almost look like a collage with skilfully rendered animals expertly pasted all over. That's how he gets so many splendid dogs and cats into so many drawings, and how he maintains the vitality present in his rough sketches.

George Booth, "Murchison's theory is that it's dog hair in your fuel line."
Original artwork published in The New Yorker, February 22, 1982
The New Yorker Cartoon Album 1975-1985

19 Jun 2012 1 p.m. New YorkFine Books and Manuscripts

Auction 20009

3318

BOOTH, GEORGE.

Cartoon, pen and ink with some watercolor on paper, 398 x 224 mm, signed ("Booth"), [1981], with New Yorker label on verso, matted and framed, visible images evenly toned, Booth's corrections, editor's marks to margins and verso.

Booth's caption for this New Yorker comic reads:"Murchison's theory is that it's dog hair in your fuel line."

Estimate:    US$ 800 - 1,200

£510 - 770

€640 - 960

Unsold

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20009/lot/3318/

George Booth, "Murchison's theory is that it's dog hair in your fuel line."
The New Yorker, February 22, 1982

George Booth, "Murchison's theory is that it's dog hair in your fuel line."
The New Yorker, February 22, 1982

George Booth, "Murchison's theory is that it's dog hair in your fuel line."
Original artwork published in The New Yorker, February 22, 1982
The New Yorker Cartoon Album 1975-1985

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20009/lot/3318/

November 6, 2012 Update:  This lot was offered in the U.S. at Bonhams San Francisco on August 18, 2012 where it sold for $437 including the buyer's premium.

Note:  George Booth's drawing of Skippy is here.  When I first published this I had misplaced my source, but now it is properly attributed.

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