Peter Arno: Night Club No-No

The young bombshell in Peter Arno's New Yorker cartoon original of April 22, 1939 just can't seem to enjoy a night on the town. Maybe she'll tell us why.

"If I could only stop thinking!"
Peter Arno
Original art
The New Yorker, April 22, 1939, p. 19

The artwork came up for sale in St. Petersburg on Saturday. Auctions give us the opportunity to look at some art that's been hidden away from public view for years, and to dream of being able to acquire it.

Detail

A thoughtful caption

Detail

Peter Arno's signature

Detail

Verso with New Yorker markings

Detail of verso

Verso with stamps

The auction before serious bidding got underway:

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/lg-peter-arno-orig-night-club-cartoon-ink-drawing-1438-c-2434660b51?objectID=176760365&algIndex=upcoming_lots_prod&queryID=e48a68f94c471405a77df72280ee209d

Just like the Arno cartoon of the colonel in his hunting trophy room, the presale estimate was $800 to $8,000 with online bidding starting at $10. As if.

The hammer price of $3,200 brought the total to $4,000 with the buyer's premium. It's a lot of money, but then it's a really fine cartoon.

Here's a little something the auction listing didn't show you:

"If I could only stop thinking!"
Peter Arno
Original art
The New Yorker, April 22, 1939, p. 19

A cartoon by Peter Arno and an illustration of Morris Bishop limericks by Richard Taylor

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1939-04-22/flipbook/018/

"Limericks Long After Lear"
By Morris Bishop
Illustrated by Richard Taylor

04204

An Edward Lear First Day Cover Signed by Ronald Searle

The autograph market is rife with postal covers bearing patently unrelated signatures. The thinking is that if one takes something collectible such as, say, a first day cover, and has some celebrity sign it, a unique rarity has been created. If the signature bears no relation to the cover, though, there's not much point to it. On the other hand, if an astronaut should perhaps sign a cover with a space stamp, the signature and the stamp might have a perceived synergy that could very well make it a sought-after item.

The same might be said for an item sold yesterday by Chaucer Covers and Auctions, a first day cover with four Edward Lear (1812-1888) stamps issued in the UK on the centenary of his death and signed by Ronald Searle (1920-2011). Lear, of course, is known for his nonsense verse and fanciful illustrations, while Searle, who followed him a century later, was a master of humorous illustration. Clearly the combination works and the selling price, 28 GBP ($39.50 US), while not extravagant, is at least a proof of concept.

Edward Lear/Ronald Searle
Invaluable auction accessed May 2, 2021

https://www.invaluable.com/catalog/jj2r9r0owm?rfa=true&size=50&page=1&categories=&searchWithAll=Searle

03632

E. Simms Campbell: In Search of a Smoke

Some calamity apparently has struck the apartment of a well-dressed young man in a February 1937 black and white Esquire cartoon by E. Simms Campbell. The cause may be found in the caption. The man's vest and dark pants emphasize his verticality which contrasts with the many diagonal lines signifying the room's disheveled state.

"I thought sure I had another cigarette!"
E. Simms Campbell
Esquire, February 1937, page 189

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1937-ESQUIRE-MAGAZINE-Comic-Art-Page-I-thought-sure-I-had-another-cigarette/372282051357?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140620075055%26meid%3D09179223566f41389ba9c2371d38b4d3%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D162988731200%26itm%3D372282051357&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850

The reverse of the page is notable for an advertisement featuring a different vice. Otard Cognac's copy includes a double-limerick by Ogden Nash.

Ode to Otard by Ogden Nash
O is for 'Ostess
Otard Cognac Advertisement
Esquire, February 1937, page 190

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1937-ESQUIRE-MAGAZINE-Comic-Art-Page-I-thought-sure-I-had-another-cigarette/372282051357?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140620075055%26meid%3D09179223566f41389ba9c2371d38b4d3%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D162988731200%26itm%3D372282051357&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850

Another rhyming ad from the campaign:

Ode to Otard by Ogden Nash
O is for Otto
Otard Cognac Advertisement, c. 1937

https://www.amazon.com/Schenley-France-Cognac-Alcohol-Beverage/dp/B005DH11VW

Note:  We are now in the home stretch of our survey of the work of E. Simms Campbell (1906-1971). Readers with access to original Campbell art or to rarely-seen published cartoons may submit high-resolution scans or photographs to the blog for inclusion in a future post.

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