George Booth at "Drawn From The New Yorker: A Centennial Celebration"

Cartoonist George Booth (June 28, 1926-November 1, 2022) was born one-hundred years ago today. He is best known for his work in The New Yorker, a magazine that was one year of age when he was born and that got to celebrate its own centennial last year. The Society of Illustrators held a major exhibition in honor of the magazine, "Drawn From The New Yorker: A Centennial Celebration" curated by cartoonist Liza Donnelly. Three original Booth works were included.

Booth's cover art for the issue of February 16, 1976, has a dog and a cat sitting on an area rug facing away from each other. They are surrounded by ornate interior patterns. The animals do not seem to be paying attention to each other exactly, but then they cannot be said to be unaware of each other's presence. 

 

George Booth
Original art
The New Yorker, February 16, 1976

George Booth
The New Yorker, February 16, 1976

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1976-02-16/flipbook/CV1/

A cartoon from the issue of August 13, 1973, is part of a recurring Booth scenario: a man sits in his bathtub talking about whatever is on his mind while his wife does housework. The home is illuminated by a bare light bulb and filled with cats. 

The artwork reveals Booth's use of patches on both the man and the woman to get their faces just how he wanted them. There is a pencil notation at the lower right that indicates where the signature was moved photographically for publication.

"How about supper in the tub tonight, Hon?"
George Booth
Original art
The New Yorker, August 13, 1973, p. 78

"How about supper in the tub tonight, Hon?"
George Booth
The New Yorker, August 13, 1973, p. 78

With a drawing by George Booth

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1973-08-13/flipbook/078/

Finally, there was a cartoon about making music and making dinner:

"Last call for stuffed peppers or I feed 'em to the dog!"
George Booth
Original art
The New Yorker, September 27, 1976, p. 37
Pussycats Need Love, Too, Dodd, Mead & Co., 1980

"Last call for stuffed peppers or I feed 'em to the dog!"
George Booth
The New Yorker, September 27, 1976, p. 37
Pussycats Need Love, Too, Dodd, Mead & Co., 1980

With a spot by Jeanine[?] and a drawing by George Booth

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1976-09-27/flipbook/036/

Note:  It turns out the stuffed peppers drawing was the subject of a blog post here four years ago for George Booth's ninety-sixth birthday.

In case you were wondering, there's a lot more Booth on the blog here. 

05283

Milt Gross: In Response to a Mislaid Letter

Here's a little souvenir for a fan, Donald, from cartoonist Milt Gross. The AbeBooks seller Peruse the Stacks identifies the two figures as Dave Tchitchik and J.R. the Wonder Dog, characters from Dave's Delicatessen, Gross's newspaper comic strip. (In a Gross animated short, J.R. the Wonder Dog appears with Count Screwloose, from another of the cartoonist's strips.) Dave's Delicatessen ran between 1931 and 1935, allowing us to approximately date this card. Gross apologizes for some delay, as Donald's "letter got mislaid."

"H'ya / Donald /ol' kid/ This is a /little late / but your letter / got mislaid / Sincerely / Milt Gross"

Milt Gross
AbeBooks accessed May 7, 2026

https://www.abebooks.com/art-prints/Original-Cartoon-Dave-Tchitchik-J.R-Wonder/32440806438/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=img

Milt Gross
AbeBooks item description

05260

Michael's Copy of Maurice Sendak's Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life

Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life was published in 1967. A copy of the first edition was signed by Maurice Sendak to one Michael in July of 1979. The author included a sketch of a dog. Let's call her Jennie.

Maurice Sendak
AbeBooks listing accessed March 9, 2026

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/Higglety-Piggletty-Pop-Life-Sendak-Maurice/32404699618/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

Maurice Sendak
AbeBooks item description

05237

George Booth: Laughing Gull Cottage

Welcome to George Booth's Laughing Gull Cottage. His original 1978 art for The New Yorker was sold at Heritage Auctions on November 21. Just try and keep a straight face.

Laughing Gull Cottage
George Booth
Original art
The New Yorker, September 18, 1978, p. 46

The sale was previewed before bidding opened:

George Booth
Heritage Auctions preview accessed November 10, 2025

https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/illustrations/george-booth-the-new-yorker-cartoon-illustration-original-art-new-yorker-1978-/p/322547-89001.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515

It sold for under $1,000 before tax and shipping.

Laughing Gull Cottage
George Booth
The New Yorker, September 18, 1978, p. 46

Laughing Gull Cottage
George Booth
Original art
The New Yorker, September 18, 1978, p. 46

With a cartoon by George Booth

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1978-09-18/flipbook/046/

Note:  There is always a place for original George Booth art on Attempted Bloggery. The more laughs, the better.

05220

Another Signed Copy of They Moved My Bowl by Charles Barsotti

I think we can all agree that any book collecting New Yorker cartoonist Charles Barsotti's dog cartoons is a cause for celebration. The Moved My Bowl, published in 2007, fits the bill. A signed copy was recently offered on eBay, now the second to appear on this blog.

Barsotti boldly signed the book in blue marker on the front free endpaper. It is perhaps not the most perfect signature, the bottom of the last two letters having shifted upwards a bit.

Like the cover cartoon, a number of the drawings take place on psychotherapist's couches. 

Barsotti's line is simple, but his humor can be deeply moving, as with the cartoon set in heaven.

As the title page says, the foreword is by Barsotti's fellow New Yorker cartoonist George Booth, who brings a drawing of a cat along to the festivities. Reproduced after that is a 1990 letter from Peanuts cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, a.k.a. Sparky, which may or may not have set this whole project in motion.

The signature bled through the page a bit.

In 2013, I posted a similar copy of this book after it sold on eBay for $15. This time the asking price was $25—but there was a best offer option.

Charles Barsotti
eBay listing ended January 2, 2026

https://www.ebay.com/itm/277601698683

Charles Barsotti
eBay item description

The eBay seller raised the price from $17.99 to $25.00, then accepted a best offer for $17.50.

05176

A Dog Sketched by James Stevenson

A framed and matted sketch of man's best friend by New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson was sold on eBay in November. The dog changed hands for a best offer of less than $195.

James Stevenson's signature

James Stevenson's signature

James Stevenson
eBay listing ended November 6, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/376000463044?

James Stevenson
eBay item description

05174