Anne Rosenberg's Copy of The Prince of Wales and Other Famous Americans by Miguel Covarrubias

Catalogue #116 from bookseller James Cummins offered a pencil inscription with a caricature self-portrait by Miguel Covarrubias. The drawing is in a copy of The Prince of Wales and Other Famous Americans (1925), a collection of Covarrubias caricatures.

Miguel Covarrubias
James Cummins, bookseller
Catalogue #116

Scan by David from Manhattan

Video added March 13, 2021

Note:  Thanks to long-time contributor David from Manhattan for his diligence in providing this scan. Today's post marks his twenty-sixth contribution to Attempted Bloggery.

This is the third remarkable leaf from a copy of The Prince of Wales and Other Americans personalized by Miguel Covarrubias to appear on this blog. I would be happy to publish scans of other original drawings or noteworthy inscriptions by the artist in other copies of the book. Remember, not all antiquarian treasures need to stay hidden away.

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Nickolas Muray's Copy of The Prince of Wales and Other Famous Americans by Miguel Covarrubias

Just sold at auction this past fall by Lion Heart Autographs is a signed copy of The Prince of Wales and Other Famous Americans. The book, published in 1925, was inscribed in Spanish by author Miguel Covarrubias to photographer and soon-to-be U.S. Olympic fencer Nickolas Muray in the year following publication. The book includes an original caricature self-portrait of a bearded Covarrubias with an owlish eye.

The Prince of Wales and Other Famous Americans, 1925
Inscribed "Para Nickolas Murray [sic]
de su amigo y  
cuatezón         
Miguel Covarrubias
N.Y. May 10, 1926" with an apparent self-portrait

Miguel Covarrubias
eBay Listing Ended October 25, 2017

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Miguel-Covarrubias-Signed-Book-with-Self-Portrait-Lot-21-/253176910152?ul_noapp=true&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Miguel Covarrubias
eBay Item Description

Miguel Covarrubias
eBay Bid History
Two bidders duke it out in hundred-dollar bid increments.

Despite my apparent worldliness, I am unable to find a translation for matezón.

January 13, 2018 Update:  Cartoonist Felipe Galindo tells me Covarrubias has coined the word cuatezón, not matezón, which can be translated as a superlative for pal.


Note:  Attempted Bloggery is quietly building a virtual collection of signed, inscribed, and ideally drawn-in books by leading cartoonists and caricaturists such as the great Miguel Covarrubias. Let's see if anyone notices. I also seek scanned or photographed images of original works of art by Covarrubias as well as lesser-known published works hidden away in obscure periodicals.


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Frank Crowninshield's Copy of The Prince of Wales and Other Famous Americans by Miguel Covarrubias

Caricaturist Miguel Covarrubias inscribed Vanity Fair editor Frank Crowninshield's copy of The Prince of Wales and Other Famous Americans in 1925, the year of publication. He credited Crowninshield with making the book possible, and included a caricature of himself in profile, alert and forward-leaning. In 1943, the 71-year-old Crowninshield, now retired, sold 1019 works of modern art from his collection at the Parke-Bernet Galleries in New York. His copy of the Covarrubias book may have been included in the sale, or else sold separately around the same time. It was purchased by one Jean B. Webster, who somehow found the author that year and had the book inscribed by him a second time with an updated self-caricature. Covarrubias has drawn himself older, heavier, and wearier. This extraordinary copy of the book today is in the library of collagist and illustrator Stephen Kroninger.

The Prince of Wales and Other Famous Americans, 1925
Inscribed "To Frank Crowninshield
who made this book possible
His friend
Miguel Covarrubias
New York Nov. 2 1925" with a self-portrait
and "For Jean B. Webster
Miguel Covarrubias
N.Y. Oct. 19, 1943" with a self-portrait

Photograph by Stephen Kroninger

Inscribed "To Frank Crowninshield
who made this book possible
His friend
Miguel Covarrubias
New York Nov. 2 1925"
with a self-portrait

Photograph by Stephen Kroninger

Inscribed "For Jean B. Webster
Miguel Covarrubias
N.Y. Oct. 19, 1943"
with a self-portrait

Photograph by Stephen Kroninger

Note:  I am grateful once more to Stephen Kroninger for photographing this gem from his library for Attempted Bloggery.

Miguel Covarrubias is recognized today as an outstanding caricaturist and artist. Images of original works of his are sought from readers for inclusion on this blog.


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