Barbara Shermund: Trophy Wall

An original color cartoon by Barbara Shermund changed hands on eBay three months ago for $700. It depicts two men, one proudly showing off his fishing trophies to the other. The wall display includes a mounted mermaid. I confess I can't make out a word of the caption, but the keen-eyed seller apparently can.

"And there's one, my boy, that gave me quite a battle!"
Barbara Shermund
Original art
Pictorial Review, released November 9, 1947

It's a little dark, no?

Barbara Shermund's signature

Verso
PR indicates Pictorial Review.
Release date November 9, 1947

My, my. This drawing has seen the auction block before.

Barbara Shermund
eBay listing ended July 1, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/266886852787?_skw=Yorker+signed&itmmeta=01J8GYN4WRJA45XQ2V0HPPNTDG&hash=item3e23b230b3:g:IcYAAOSw6e1mCCbN&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnJJj7Ls5uzbz9NWBywR8NdDRYDq7VwCuPwLZ8y0FdPRdzx1IzR9ujYFwzByWKc2RnF%2B3xs0vfiIH

qRjV5%2FlEcpgNHQVt2FQEMq6Fp1ZtkaV8S8x9LGwFT93DeNYXeH10ubPvfbV8CmphinSRe6m4XvQGAxEc0ShQM%2Bqjg4fJl6MBxw1PotY1SzOhTlGeuzdNtUqpiuUZXuDcR9QYXp5AGD9bzrvAPhWiQuC2jbxAUlPmfeXhpj4CiDeswi61ln%2FmY%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR77O1J7EZA

Barbara Shermund
eBay item description

This original was one of five Shermund items related to angling presented by the artist in August 1949 "To Al Mayer, the champ fisherman of Todd's jetty" in Seabright, New Jersey. They were sold together at Doyle in 2002. The present cartoon is here referred to only as The Prize. (The scarcely-readable caption is hidden behind the matte.) The drawing has since lost its frame.

Barbara Shermund
Doyle, European and American Paintings, December 10, 2002, lot 161

https://www.doyle.com/auction/lot/lot-161---barbara-shermund-1910-1978-i-fishermans/?lot=845676&so=4&st=Shermund&sto=0&au=&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=1&pp=96&pn=1&g=1

Within a few hours of my posting this cartoon, Jeff Nelson came through with an image of the Shermund's Sallies page. It's in black and white because it had been stored on library microfiche sans color and uploaded thus to the newspapers.com website. I have now corrected, slightly, the eagle-eyed eBay seller's caption.

"And there's one, my boy, that gave me quite a battle!"

* * *

"I just proposed to Henry, Father—has he your blessing?"

Barbara Shermund

Shermund's Sallies

Pictorial Review, November 11, 1947, Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph

Newspapers.com image provided by Jeff Nelson

Note:  I'd still love to see how this page appeared in color. Please get in touch if you have the corresponding November 9 (or later), 1947 issue of Pictorial Review in your archive. I'm fresh out.

It would be so great to get a better look at Barbara Shermund's sketchbook from the Doyle auction. Would the present owner please step forward?

For that matter, all sorts of original art by Shermund are of interest to the readers (and the writer) of this blog. I would be only too happy to post some more images here of Shermund creations. Please send along what you've got, my boy.

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Phil's Copy of Big George by Virgil Partch

It's a little hard to make out from the suboptimal eBay photos, but Virgil Partch, also known by his signature Vip, dedicated a copy of Big George, his 1962 collection of newspaper panel cartoons, to one Phil. He also drew for Phil a cartoon complete with caption. The drawing spans two adjacent endpapers, and shows just how lost at sea men may sometimes find themselves. Partch is one of those many cartoonists who seems to have been adept at working quickly and quite generous when personalizing books.

                                   "To Phil
  "Sam, which one would you choose?"                                                                               
                                                                                                                                          Vip" 

 "Sam, which one would you choose?"     

Virgil Partch
eBay Listing Accessed August 13, 2020

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VIP-Virgil-Partch-Big-George-Original-Comic-Art-2-pages-Rare-Book-1st-Edition/320195239263?hash=item4a8d1f9d5f:g:M1AAAOSweW5VDe8~

Virgil Partch
eBay Item Description

Note:  At the time of this posting, the Vip book remains available on eBay.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Virgil Partch

Signed Books with Drawings

Mermaids

Attempted Bloggery's Decisive Index

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Richard Oldden's Nursing Mermaid

Richard Oldden's drawing of a nursing mermaid was sold on eBay in January for $79. It is from the collection of Jackie Mack, a "Laguna Beach Legend" I haven't heard of. It was sold with another Oldden drawing of a mermaid, so with any luck the pair will remain together.

Richard Oldden, Drawing of a nursing mermaid, c. 1980

Richard Oldden, Drawing of a nursing mermaid, c. 1980

Richard Oldden's signature and embossed stamp

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dick-Oldden-Original-Illustration-Mermaid-Nursing-by-Famous-New-Yorker-Artist-/230959357730?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&nma=true&si=VJo29%252F7WbHpl1SY9gWmnl4%252FkT80%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Richard Oldden, Drawing of a nursing mermaid

Note:  See more mermaids here.

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Richard Oldden: Fighting Over a Fish

An alert mermaid armed with a fly swatter is prepared to defend her fish from marauding seagulls in this original drawing by cartoonist Richard Oldden. It was originally folded and mailed in a letter-size envelope. For the record, that is not really an ideal way to deliver a finished drawing, but it is expedient. The drawing and a companion drawing were sold on eBay only when the price was lowered to $79.

Richard Oldden, drawing of a mermaid and gulls

Richard Oldden, drawing of a mermaid and gulls

Richard Oldden, drawing of a mermaid and gulls

Richard Oldden's signature and embossed stamp

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dick-Oldden-Original-Illustration-Mermaid-vs-Gulls-by-Famous-New-Yorker-Artist-/230976115617?pt=Art_Drawings&hash=item35c73fd3a1&nma=true&si=VJo29%252F7WbHpl1SY9gWmnl4%252FkT80%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Richard Oldden, drawing of a mermaid and gulls

Note:  Mermaids have been spotted before on this blog here.

01108

The Waterproof Whitney Darrow, Jr.

Whitney Darrow, Jr.,'s mermaid loves the water but she also appreciates keeping her Premium Saltines dry. Or, as she puts it, "I may be all wet but my PREMIUM SALTINES stay dry in the re-closable, moisture-proof packets. And--dry in the packet means crisp to your taste!" The advertisement dates from 1955. I give Darrow a lot more credit here than the uninspired advertising copy writer.

Whitney Darrow, Jr., Premium Saltines advertisement.

"I may be all wet but my PREMIUM SALTINES stay dry in the re-closable, moisture-proof packets. And--dry in the packet means crisp to your taste!"

NATIONAL BISCUIT COMPANY

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-mermaid-cartoon-by-Whitney-Darrow-Premium-Saltines-cracker-vintage-print-ad-/310903031315?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item486343c613&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Note:  Click here for more blogfare on Whitney Darrow, Jr.

For another mermaid, this one bookish, click here.

For more posts about advertising, check this out.

01107

Nathan Hale's Mermaid Tales

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression is selling an original illustration from Nathan Hale's forthcoming book Hale's Hazardous Tales: Donner Dinner Party (2013). I'm really not sure I want to know how the "Donner Dinner Party" relates to this illustration, but never mind. Bidding on eBay for this bookish mermaid ends Saturday morning.

Nathan Hale, Mermaid

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nathan-Hale-ORIGINAL-pen-and-ink-illustration-/281108779471?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item41736391cf

Image added May 25, 2013

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nathan-Hale-ORIGINAL-pen-and-ink-illustration-/281108779471?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item41736391cf

myworld.ebay.com/abffe

Here's a poster promoting the Hale's Hazardous Tales: Donner Dinner Party from Mr. Hale's own website:

Nathan Hale, Poster for Hale's Hazardous Tales: Donner Dinner Party, 2013

http://spacestationnathan.blogspot.com/2013/05/hazardous-trails-monday.html

June 5, 2013 Update:  In the comments section, illustrator Nathan Hale himself notes that the lovely mermaid drawing is not from the Donner Dinner Party book. The eBay listing was simply incorrect. (I wish I had a dollar for every time that happened!) Things here are starting to make some sense now.

Note:  A silkscreen by Christoph Niemann from the same silent auction was shown here in yesterday's post.

0737