William Steig: Mystery in the Making

Neil and Susan Sheehan owned several wonderful New Yorker cartoon originals by William Steig. This one, from 1964, sold quickly, as did the others.

                        "A perfect night for a murder."
William Steig
Framed original art
The New Yorker, November 28, 1964, p. 54

William Steig's signature

William Steig
eBay listing ended May 16, 2026

https://www.ebay.com/itm/318307590972?_skw=William+Steig&itmmeta=01KRRZPWHC9ZSYA95FTBHZJ6RT&hash=item4a1c9c633c:g:AAQAAeSwEv9qByrr&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA0GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xBPeiliTW06%2BiyNO8If%2FE3WxqmX%2BUuRSzLM7CoFc8Q0Rs79VgvoXajedz%2B0z1XhLD7n9QxV%2F6

zpnDscA%2FfYs9Dg3qNzQdFV7AlBb7YjRiWeSRfX2tMzD9l9wiimOiyxGaWfEOIZL%2BG8gEDIOoIt%2FVN2Xr%2BORAYGGA9kcyXDD9o%2BeAJ23mjBbQ%2B79SSgCwMS8%2FSsDDB4YdeqKovenr3RUz8OjsqotrAG6fvSK%2BHi4xChf777JpdT74%2F%2B27y9sJYKbrM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-7I25_GZw

William Steig
eBay item description

Here it is in the magazine, which Susan Sheehan worked for, by the way:

                        "A perfect night for a murder."
William Steig
The New Yorker, November 28, 1964, p. 54

                       "A perfect night for a murder."
William Steig
Framed original art
The New Yorker, November 28, 1964, p. 54

With Cartoons by William Steig and James Stevenson

* * *

James Stevenson's cartoon, printed on the page opposite, has a sleek corporate look which sets off the gloomy, atmospheric Steig.

                      "I went through chintz, stripes, flowers, and God    

knows what all till I finally found something I really liked."    

James Stevenson
The New Yorker, November 28, 1964, p. 55

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National Doctors' Day: Making the Diagnosis With P. C. Vey

Today on National Doctors' Day we honor physicians for the essential work they do. P. C. Vey's original cartoon art for The New Yorker is presented here in acknowledgement of this noble tradition. The drawing was consigned to Swann Auction Galleries by Cartoon Collections in 2019 for the December Illustration Art sale.

"Oh, I do love a mystery."
P. C. Vey
Original art
The New Yorker, September 21, 2015, p. 72

P. C. Vey
Hammer price
Swann Auction Galleries Illustration Art sale of December 10, 2019, Lot 275

https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/Lots/auction-lot/THE-NEW-YORKER-PC-VEY-I-do-love-a-mystery?saleno=2526&lotNo=275&refNo=766383

Price realized with buyer's premium

The cartoon in the present lot was published by The New Yorker in 2015.

"Oh, I do love a mystery."
P. C. Vey
Original art
The New Yorker, September 21, 2015, p. 72

A cartoon by P. C. Vey

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/2015-09-21/flipbook/72/

Those who purchased a Cartoons from The New Yorker 2018 calendar may also recall the drawing, which was featured prominently on the front of the box.

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Shannon Wheeler: Murder Mystery

In 2019, Cartoon Collections (now CartoonStock) consigned a number of pieces of original New Yorker cartoon art to Swann Auction Galleries for their semiannual Illustration Art sale. Among them was this gem from Shannon Wheeler:

"Any clues?"

Shannon Wheeler

Original art

The New Yorker, January 30, 2012, page 39

Original New Yorker art by P. C. Vey, Shannon Wheeler, and Jack Ziegler were offered in the sale. These were consigned by Cartoon Collections, which also represented other New Yorker cartoonists in the sale.

Original New Yorker cartoon art by P. C. Vey, Shannon Wheeler, and Jack Ziegler on display at Swann Auction Galleries in 2019 before the sale

Shannon Wheeler
Hammer price
Swann Auction Galleries Illustration Art sale of December 10, 2019, Lot 277

https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/Lots/auction-lot/THE-NEW-YORKER-SHANNON-WHEELER-Any-Clues?saleno=2526&lotNo=277&refNo=766374

Price realized with buyer's premium

The cartoon was published in The New Yorker in 2012:

"Any clues?
Shannon Wheeler
Original art
The New Yorker, January 30, 2012, page 39

A cartoon by Shannon Wheeler

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/2012-01-30/flipbook/038/

04273

Syd Hoff: People You Could Murder

The feature is called People You Could Murder. You have the means. You have the motive. You have the opportunity. And no jury would convict. Allow cartoonist and defense counsel Syd Hoff to illustrate:

Syd Hoff
 People You Could Murder
The American Magazine, September 1946, page 75

Note:  I am much obliged to Dick Buchanan for providing us with this unpremeditated scan. Dick's ready-made alibi, not that he needs one, is that he's hard at work scanning the storied Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files. When he's not doing that, he contributes regularly to Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently a post entitled, "From the Dick Buchanan Files: William Steig Gag Cartoons 1946 - 1965." That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Doing forty to life? Even if you aren't, you probably still have enough time to brush up on cartoonist Syd Hoff. Visit the Syd Hoff website here including The American Magazine page here, Ink Spill here, or Christopher Wheeler's Cartoon(ist) Gallery here. Syd Hoff was just turning 34 when this guilty little pleasure was published.

Dick believes People You Could Murder was a recurring series that may have appeared in The American Magazine throughout 1946. I have no independent recollection, but I do know there's a lot more fine work out there. Attempted Bloggery is ready to pass judgment on your scans or photos of original art by Syd Hoff as well as published rarities (gag cartoons, illustrations, advertisements, and recurring features) not otherwise available to law-abiding citizens. Needless to say, other installments of People You Could Murder would be welcomed, no questions asked.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Syd Hoff

Dick Buchanan

The American Magazine

Attempted Bloggery's Second-Degree Index

Attempted Bloggery supports net neutrality.

02435

Charles Addams for Christie's

In a 1978 print advertisement for Christie's auction house, cartoonist Charles Addams takes us to the home of a wealthy art collector who has just been murdered. The murder weapon is still visible, but planning for the future is already underway. So how soon is too soon to cash in?

"Perkins, you call my lawyer, and I'll call Christie's."
Charles Addams
Print advertisement for Christie's, 1978

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-Charles-Addams-Rich-Widow-Cartoon-Christies-Auctioneers-promo-print-ad-/391222572941?hash=item5b16aeb78d

August 16, 2015 Update:  One more:

"We're on our way to Christie's,
they're auctioning off the family estate in the afternoon."
Charles Addams
Print advertisement for Christie's, 1978

Image added August 16, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-Charles-Addams-graveyard-ghosts-cartoon-Christies-vintage-print-ad-/361365633613?hash=item542311fa4d

Note:  The great Charles Addams has inspired many a blog post around these parts.

Some really cool advertising has been collected on this blog as well and most of it has nothing to do with cold-blooded murder. Take a look!

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