William James, Jr.'s, Copy of Conclusive Evidence by Vladimir Nabokov

 Vladimir Nabokov's memoir Conclusive Evidence retailed for $3.00 when it was published in 1951. Chapter 6 is "Butterflies," which was originally published in The New Yorker. In 1952, the author, a lifelong lepidopterist, signed a copy for William James, Jr., and added a detailed drawing of a butterfly. This exquisite copy of the book, with James's printed name and Cambridge address, isavailable today from Whitmore Rare Books, Inc., of Pasadena, for $35,000.

Vladimir Nabokov
AbeBooks listing accessed March 10, 2026

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/Conclusive-Evidence-Inscribed-original-butterfly-artwork/32402485628/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook_high

Vladimir Nabokov
AbeBooks item description

Chapter 6 got its start in The New Yorker of June 12, 1948.

With a cartoon by Robert Day, left, and then a spot drawing of a mailbox by Esther Pressoir on the first page of "Butterflies" by Vladiimir Nabokov

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1948-06-12/flipbook/024/

April 19, 2026 Update:  Sold, apparently.

Note:  Peter Kuper pays tribute to Nabokov's passion for butterflies in Insectopolis: A Natural History (2025). I photographed the original Nabokov artwork at his Society of Illustrators show here.

05224

Barry Humphries's Copy of Sempé à New York

Sempé à New York—known here as Sempé in New York for those who need a translation—shows cartoonist Jean-Jacques Sempé's love for a great city even though it is not Paris. 

The book was published in 2009. Barry Humphrie's copy was personalized by the artist in 2010 with an inscription and a drawing of a saxophonist playing to the canyons of Manhattan.

Humphries was the Australian comic actor and author best known for his portrayal of Dame Edna Everage. He was a lifelong bibliophile and art collector.

Sempé was deft at balancing the city's overwhelming scale with the people who inhabit it.

I believe I am sensing a trend toward moderation in the prices booksellers are asking. Yes, $575 is a lot of money, but this is an outstanding copy of this book.

Jean-Jacques Sempé
AbeBooks listing accessed November 2, 2025

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Sempe-New-York-Inscribed-Copy-Sketch/32334226764/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

Jean-Jacques Sempé
AbeBooks item description 

Note:  For more on Barry Humphries's exquisite collection, see Christie's.

If you'd like to know what cartoonist Charles Addams thought of a Humphries performance as Dame Edna, you need only to dive into this blog's archives.

I personally have been loathe to purchase anything from the U.K. since the August 29 repeal of the de minimus tarriff exemption for packages under $800. 

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Bill Hand's Copy of Brother Sebastian At Large by Chon Day

Brother Sebastian At Large (1961) is the third and final book collecting Chon Day's Brother Sebastian cartoons. The panels originally ran in Look magazine between 1954 and 1971.

Front Cover

Back Cover

A copy inscribed to one Bill Hand is embellished with a drawing of the monk holding up a model sailing ship. Hand's hobby may have been sailing—or model shipbuilding?


The bookplate indicates the library of another Hand:

Title page

Chon Day
eBay listing accessed September 10, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304832913498?_skw=signed+chon+day&itmmeta=01K4TWS2Z0TFYGTTX89C84EDXD&hash=item46f975205a:g:0QcAAOSwgFZkCgLr&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eiBT5YS9uwIxLaE%2FbkfFN3%2Fti%2BE56mP2MsXZUo8zRDTBihdvcCrF1sjM1%2FoUcSNM3ruIHf3a1WfP9Ug5KsvAh%2B

BxI1E4c713YbSgDzSSULqwtFrODD8iqDJ89S2mPozKooA4wSc0qYA0u%2BNSmUmhW6SmnOJOkasfWfdj7tcrQAgOiCOjv%2BVNdpPmkO1hm7WrXm8c9OK8TeAmGGfTVrfCE31Bjyn2aNnzBk3BYmS1yrlki6jaX3a9MFW8nLX7TzMOASFfYddGec%2BXL2lSUvoh5zZrjoD1MYrt0Jwmv0OVdpdg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR86v5NymZg&pfm=1

Chon Day

eBay item description

05061

Edward Koren: An Autograph Drawing on a Bookplate

I find it hard not to be delighted by a simple autograph drawing on a bookplate by New Yorker cartoonist Edward Koren (1935-2023). I can find no fault with whomever obtained it and then declined to paste it into a Koren book; it could just as easily be framed and admired on a wall. The $25 eBay price (plus tax and $5 shipping) just goes to show that there is something by New Yorker artists for every budget.

"Famous for his furry humanoids in The New Yorker."

Edward Koren
eBay listing ended November 7, 2023

https://www.ebay.com/itm/196062145625?hash=item2da636ec59:g:BBwAAOSw6-JlQ-sw&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwAu6wsdKaxSgoX3jOImtzrdoJuQcxWSrCF01UbbgFAnIBRQ4UNclAX0bORFGnIXDatX5lbaJIsw3G5iDBySXp%2FmuSv6BPsvGtrOmk5v9zZVEwA2vosuG7feWONwU4wZ6yr

%2BsNEQM57dHnzvZEDByaX%2Fk%2FHD9jYNmbFSEIIECiR1mqWEnmHSuKt3uPc4SYgLTLT1Jp8li7AWBJd%2BJGOJudtQ%2BlH64mXbxgFdYuegHy%2B%2FG6yulHfreXeE95yXX%2BZX%2BhQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_T7mPehYw

Edward Koren
eBay item description

Edward Koren
eBay bid history
The lone bidder nevertheless waits till the last minute before bidding.

July 12, 2024 Update:  The item has been resold on eBay at thrice the price.

Edward Koren
eBay listing ended May 19, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/296422439979?itmmeta=01J2MY74RAXH50AZE1MQNSXMW9&hash=item4504277c2b:g:aaoAAOSw8aBmPX8s&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4CpoSSohkn6zrZzxjmCk02hp8lfyDltYXKrC94e%2BE9XkhkmIqlaZrotwVTKC0SztTFtyB0oKxNSpD%2Fn902U2cQbmwPrb8TfLNelrjVq8mrXBE

9AE5G0fTH7hbtCOfN8V%2FlyJNshDwt7r4DM2XMXGqd9LajXexMc89PW%2B1Kof80DqHp04Dof4aqcMlZiyiXLEgsu1J0itWMX8OaiZYqDeKjzGTxsya0UEfglzBvRmiHUS1abfl3qMLw%2BEOtiGLIAMkPhPKjdLIztPsDPFz2dKeWxMJMHUjL8hQBVRQ2aRi3EY%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5jMnJ6VZA

Edward Koren
eBay item description

Edward Koren
eBay bid history
One very early bid is placed.

04559

Edward Koren: A Bookplate

An original bookplate signed by cartoonist Edward Koren is currently being offered by AbeBooks seller Daniel Montemarano. The bookplate is inscribed with an delightful original sketch of a bird. It is priced at $40.

Edward Koren
AbeBooks listing accessed July 18, 2023

https://www.abebooks.com/SIGNED-BOOKPLATE-CARD-Koren-Edward/30619862075/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&cm_ite=viewbook

 04385

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

03994