Ralph Bills's Copy of Homebodies by Charles Addams

Homebodies, a collection of cartoons by Charles Addams, was published in 1954. The Addams Family members on the front dust jacket should look familiar.

Ralph Bills's copy is a first edition, first printing. In the year after publication, Addams provided an inscription and a lovely drawing of Uncle Fester out ice fishing. Those fish seem a little bit familiar too.

"For Ralph Bills                
with admiration and
appreciation for some   
very nice thoughts.      
         Chas Addams
New York             
1955"               

It's just remarkable how many eBay sellers—that's the auction site is where this book is currently listed—don't know how to keep smart phone shadows out of their photographs.

In 1954, the book retailed for $2.95. A bargain, no doubt.

Charles Addams
eBay listing accessed August 13, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/136122449436?_skw=signed+Charles+Addams&itmmeta=01K2K4ZEVMXFB614C9JVCB9PR0&hash=item1fb187be1c:g:svAAAeSwo8RobJ1F&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1f%2FgxL3uh48uHbjaHO15JTO7Qrp30uCIhh1ITxyDDiBNKRXqiQG5xWUcdDq3

g3Eu1nGxuJX9zSHCafAkSJrn9vN5JgiAlGz%2FGWqcIlLRZYQGFZTlD%2F0OsgRWZI0k5RvUfjLKgVhdipMKz6SxBoLfXS8h25%2B6e7H2KVLPXQ4Sruse9rjyneaKfyurVmxFe%2FiJmje%2BEsmGmF0IYGTb%2BlEQlgq7L66qoxC5TtwWxyRWQ1MThM74I3EVHfgSvReQQjnWbc%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_zt_eSUZg

Does this book have its original dust jacket or is an eighth printing of the dust jacket paired with a first printing of the book? This is not entirely clear to me from the item specifics and description.

Charles Addams
eBay item description

[End of eBay listing]

Shortly after I accessed this listing, I was offered a $50 discount.

November 2, 2025 Update:  I received an offer from the seller but I did not act.

Note:  You know the drill. Collectors of books with Charles Addams originals like this one are invited to send images of such drawings here. I can usually be persuaded to post them.

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John Norment: The Compleat Angler

Contributor Jerome Wrinkle has gone all out to provide us with his favorite gag cartoon on the subject of fishing. The drawing is by John Norment (1911-1988) and it was published in the New York Times Book Review, hence its literary angle. Jerome notes that the verso contains an accounting stamp from the Editorial Auditing Department which documents that Norment was paid $50 for his efforts on Saturday, January 3, 1953, "...so I suspect it appeared prior to that."

John Norment
Original art
New York Times Book Review, c. January 1953

Scan by Jerome Wrinkle

Verso

Artist John Norment was paid $50 on Saturday, January 3, 1953

Scan by Jerome Wrinkle

Note:  I thank Jerome Wrinkle for providing the above images. This is Jerome's fifth contribution to the blog, his deepest yet, and there's more on the way tomorrow.

To the best of my knowledge, examples of original cartoon art that appeared weekly in the New York Times Book Review back in the 1950s are quite rare today. I'd like to hear from anyone who possesses such art. I'd also like to hear from anyone with a copy of the Book Review in which this cartoon appeared.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

John Norment

Jerome Wrinkle

Fishing

The New York Times Book Review

Attempted Bloggery's Compleat Index

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