James Geraghty's Copy of Thurber Country

James Thurber inscribed a copy of his 1953 collection Thurber Country to James Geraghty, The New Yorker's art editor from 1939 to 1973. The handwriting appears very loose and poorly controlled. By this time Thurber had lost almost all of his vision, but evidently not his spirit. The book is now on the market via the estate of New Yorker cartoonist Claude Smith. The AbeBooks seller James Cummins mentions—but does not reproduce in the listing—a note from Smith describing how he acquired the book from Geraghty.

"For Jim
from Jim
Happy Times"

James Thurber
AbeBooks listing accessed July 4, 2022

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=1420489655&searchurl=kn%3DYorker%26sortby%3D1&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp6-_-image18

Note:  Images of books personalized by James Thurber for other New Yorker writers, artists, and staff are eagerly sought after here for future blog posts. 

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Daise Terry's Copy of Thurber Country

New Yorker office manager Daise Terry's copy of Thurber Country (1953) is signed by the author James Thurber in the year of publication. As is the case in her copy of Men, Women and Dogs (1943), Ms. Terry is addressed simply as Terry. Thurber inscribes the book to her with just three words that show his obvious affection. Thurber's handwriting has deteriorated significantly over the intervening decade along with his eyesight.

James Thurber
AbeBooks Listing Accessed July 10, 2020

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=5849304315&searchurl=kn%3DDaise%2BTerry%26sortby%3D17&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title7

Note:  At the time of this posting, this Thurber book remains available from the bookseller.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

James Thurber

Daise Terry

Attempted Bloggery's Passionate Index

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Thurber's Passport

James Thurber, the celebrated American author and cartoonist, is shown here in a 1955 passport photo at age 60. Thurber lost an eye in a boyhood accident in which his brother shot him with an arrow. His wife Helen describes his condition in this document with the words "left eye missing." At this point, he was virtually blind and no longer able to draw. Even his familiar signature is barely recognizable.

With this passport, James Thurber travelled to the Netherlands, France, and England. The question is, did he ever leave Thurber Country?

James Thurber's 1955 U.S. Passport

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19427/lot/5212/

James Thurber, Thurber Country, 1953

http://www.ebay.com/itm/THURBER-COUNTRY-James-Thurber-1st-Printing-HC-DJ-VG-VG-/190900006696?pt=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item2c7286ef28

Note:  There is more on this great man of letters here.

See a passport that once belonged to Groucho Marx here.  Now, does anyone have a real passport that belonged to Saul Steinberg? That might be interesting....

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