Signed by William Auerbach-Levy: Is That Me?

"The first authoritative book by an American on the art of Caricature" proclaims the dust jacket. That's Caricature with a capital C. But what non-American authority got there first? Regardless, caricaturist William Auerbach-Levy has signed this beautiful copy of his 1947 book.

Is That Me?:  A Book About Caricature, signed by William Auerbach-Levy

William Auerbach-Levy.
Is That Me?:  A Book About Caricature, 1947

Here Stephen Kroninger discusses William Auerbach-Levy beginning at 29:50:

Twelve Legendary Caricaturists You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of
The Society of Illustrators, August 26, 2015

Note:  Would you like a glimpse of some of the amazing caricature inside this book? Stephen Kroninger shows you on Drawger.

Then there's my blog post about Auerbach-Levy's Alexander Woollcott caricature.

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An Alexander Woollcott Caricature

An inscribed caricature of author and critic Alexander Woollcott was offered on eBay this month for a $25 starting bid. It did not attract any bidding activity. It was described as an original work by Woollcott, "a caricature drawing he had did of himself" in the seller's own words. It reportedly came out of the estate of playwright and director Moss Hart.

EBay Item Ended April 20, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alexander-Woollcott-Handwritten-lnscription-and-Drawing-/261850655094?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cf783e976&nma=true&si=Zv4PhLp6HocGRC23iqci2JeQ2LI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

EBay Item Description

If the caricature looks familiar, it should. The "drawing" is identical to the image on the cover of Smart Aleck, Howard Teichmann's biography of Woollcott.

Smart Aleck:  The Wit, World and Life of Alexander Woollcott by Howard Teichmann

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Smart-Aleck-the-wit-world-and-life-of-Alexander-Woollcott-by-Teichmann-HCDJ-1976-/231516748754?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e7793bd2&nma=true&si=Zv4PhLp6HocGRC23iqci2JeQ2LI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

But it isn't a drawing. The book explains that the caricature on the cover is actually the work of William Auerbach-Levy. Woollcott was pleased with it and had it engraved on his personal stationery. This eBay lot then is an engraved stationery card rather than an original drawing by Woollcott. It was inscribed by Woollcott "With my compliments" and presented to Moss Hart.

From Smart Aleck:  The Wit, World and Life of Alexander Woollcott by Howard Teichmann

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Smart-Aleck-the-wit-world-and-life-of-Alexander-Woollcott-by-Teichmann-HCDJ-1976-/231516748754?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e7793bd2&nma=true&si=Zv4PhLp6HocGRC23iqci2JeQ2LI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Moss Hart and Alexander Woollcott, the inspiration for the character
Sheridan Whiteside in "The Man Who Came to Dinner."

http://thekaufmanplays.com/works/the-man-who-came-to-dinner/

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