Blog Post No. 5,100: Anne and Sergio's Copy of Edward Koren's Are You Happy?

Edward Koren's drawing in Anne and Sergio's copy of Are You Happy?, his 1978 cartoon collection, fills the inside cover and the facing front free endpaper. It depicts a couple playing a duet for violin and piano. They make such beautiful music together. How could they not be happy?

Edward Koren
AbeBooks listing accessed December 26, 2023

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/Happy-Questions-Lovers-Ask-Koren-Edward/31731196066/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

Edward Koren
AbeBooks item description

This sale ended long ago and the price was increased back to $500. The book has since been sold.

05100

W. B. Park: Updating the Relationship Status

W. B. Park's New Yorker cartoon from the December 12, 1994 issue serves to remind us of how we used to update our relationship statuses prior to the days of social media. The original art was sold on eBay in October.

"Did we ever go through with that divorce we were talking about?"
W. B. Park
Original art
The New Yorker, December 12, 1994, p. 101

Detail, left

Detail, right, with W. B. Park's signature

W. B. Park
eBay listing ended October 21, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/196479705197skw=rare+original+the+new+Yorker+published+sign+%26+Fine&itmmeta=01JGA7JXQGCNJME35EQSJ1HTG1&hash=item2dbf1a606d:g:OPAAAOSwwvFmhIvU&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAABEHoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKn5Ham6%2BkldyhFe1AqcR

J7Lp%2FXtjBog8%2Bz45ud8iICXUWawUVhiSc5t7u1WHChKiPbgArZTqU6VZct36KEuK3VtBYFCSkARnPeyCiDeBBP5RGj01aGRs5hlk%2BsndQ37rteiLSgWA9khR9WIplSh7cOcrK1HQFNBJr7Blp%2Fv%2FhCvSOz%2BLfgzckxtWEchG%2Fa2bs4%2FG

koCFj1XhSEQuvFss4fMlwRqorYJtggXtjsxjQLk%2BWs2qLSDBGbfJNFghPjV8eJ55nGQuMOcFoygqD%2FmZYBhO%2F0lNs3l4Jyl0xbPmSeskKbXRldHWKamMrxfMugdKdmgH9kPyjlkrmJLp5Bsx8QJ%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-rby8eCZQ

W. B. Park
eBay item description

[End of eBay listing]

"Did we ever go through with that divorce we were talking about?"
W. B. Park
The New Yorker, December 12, 1994, p. 101

"Did we ever go through with that divorce we were talking about?"
W. B. Park
Original art
The New Yorker, December 12, 1994, p. 101

With cartoons by Edward Koren and W. B. Park

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1994-12-12/flipbook/100/

Edward Koren's cartoon, on the page opposite Park's, ventures into unusual territory in the cultural landscape:

"He's just discovered French Baroque organ music."
Edward Koren
The New Yorker, December 12, 1994, p. 100

 04839

Ronald Searle: Mr. Lemon Hart Conducts

Ronald Searle's 1950's-era British advertising campaign for Lemon Hart Rum was extremely successful. His illustrations featured Mr. Lemon Hart, easily recognized by his elongated limbs and his lemon-colored suit. Original art of Mr. Lemon Hart conducting an orchestra was offered at Sotheby's London on July 18. The lot was given a presale estimate of 2,000 to 3,000 GBP. It did not find a buyer.

Ronald Searle
Sotheby's Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern, July 18, 2023, lot 295

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/books-and-manuscripts-medieval-to-modern/ronald-searle-illustration-for-lemon-hart-rum

Ronald Searle
Sotheby's lot description
"Searle contributed to Lemon Hart Rum advertising campaigns for eleven years, between 1955 and 1962." How's that again? The ads started in 1951.

Note:  For information on the long-running ad campaign, the definitive source is Perpetua, the Ronald Searle Tribute blog, right here. At this writing, the artwork and its corresponding print ad is not included in Matt Jones's comprehensive post. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who can locate a published version.

04485

My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #704

My entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #704 for April 6, 2020 is, as usual, going down. The drawing is by John Klossner.

"Say, you must be our new neighbor."

These captions got off at the wrong floor:

"I hope you practice social distancing."
"We could use a third."
"Are you ready for live elevator music?"
"Take the next one. We're still rehearsing."
"You can rent us until halftime."
"The co-op board won't let us practice in the lobby."
"Oops. We left our sheet music upstairs."
"We also accept tips for not playing."
"Good man, no ear buds."

April 13, 2020 Update:   The Finalists

April 20, 2020 Update:  I voted with Irvington but I liked them all.


April 27, 2020 Update: The Winner

Note:  In last week's Caption Contest, cartoonist Jon Adams took us to a restaurant at feeding time. Remember restaurants? Make a reservation to dine in with Contest #703. Perhaps we can all go back to real restaurants by summer...

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

John Klossner

Music

Elevators

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

All the Above Cartoon Caption Contests and Then Some

Passover

Attempted Bloggery's Tuneful Index

03220

Jean-Jacques Sempé's Sauve Qui Peut Signed with a Musical Drawing

A copy of Jean-Jacques Sempé's Sauve Qui Peut [Every Man for Himself] (1964) is inscribed to pianist John Philips. It has an original 1966 drawing of a harp duet of sorts. The book was sold on eBay for $104.50 on September 25, 2007 by Dunaway Books of St. Louis.

Jean-Jacques Sempé, Sauve Qui Peut,  Denoël, 1964

Signed "Pour John Philips, Sempé, 1966" with a drawing of a woman and man playing either side of a harp in concert while busts of the great composers are mounted high above them.

Note:  Really, who's better than Sempé? Collectors with original works by Jean-Jacques Sempé who want to see them on a stranger's blog should send scans or photos. It's every man for himself.

I'd also love to hear from anyone with knowledge of the pianist John Philips, his friendship with Sempé, and his recordings.

Sauve Qui Peut is an idiomatic expression that roughly translates as Rush to Escape. I chose to translate it as Every Man for Himself, which it has come to mean, but it also has the sense of Get Out While You Can. 


Quick Links to Attempted Bloggery's Archives
Jean-Jacques Sempé
Signed Books with Original Drawings
Harp

Music
St. Patrick's Day

Attempted Bloggery's Escapist Index

02126

Jean-Jacques Sempé's La Grande Panique Signed with a Musical Drawing

La Grande Panique [The Great Panic] is a 1966 cartoon collection by Jean-Jacques Sempé. A copy inscribed to pianist John Philips includes a drawing of a pianist and a harpist preparing for a performance by—what else?—tying back their hair. The unique book was sold on eBay by Dunaway Books in St. Louis for $129.26 in November of 2007.

Jean-Jacques Sempé, La Grande Panique, Denoël, 1966

Inscribed "For John Philips, Sempé" with a drawing of a pianist and harpist tying back their hair on a concert stage

Note:  Cartoons books with original drawings by Jean-Jacques Sempé (and others) are a specialty of the house here at Attempted Bloggery. Please send scans or photos of your own examples of the house special and I'll see what we can put on the menu.

Pianist John Philips, as we have seen, recorded at least one piece by Darius Milhaud in France. His library contained Sempé first editions personalized by the artist over at least two decades. So how did his book collection get to a bookseller in St. Louis? Anyone?


Quick Links to Attempted Bloggery's Archives
Jean-Jacques Sempé
Signed Books with Original Drawings
Piano

Music

Attempted Bloggery's Panicky Index

Beware the Ides of March. And that longhair music.

02124

Jean-Jacques Sempé's Vaguement Compétitif Signed with a Musical Drawing

Jean-Jacques Sempé's Vaguement Compétitif [Vaguely Competitive] was published by Denoël in 1985. In the year of publication, Sempé inscribed a copy to musician John Philips with a drawing of a concert pianist approaching his instrument. The book was sold by Dunaway Books of St. Louis, MO on September 25, 2007 for $90 on eBay.

Jean-Jacques Sempé
Vaguement Compétitif, Denoël, 1985

Inscribed "Pour John Philips, J. J. Sempé 1985" with a drawing of a man walking to a piano
Jean-Jacques Sempé
Vaguement Compétitif, Denoël, 1985

Book recipient John Philips performed in the suite by Darius Milhaud on a 1962 recording.

Messiaen:  Fete des Belles Eaux
Milhaud:  Suite pour Piano et ondes Martenot
J. Charpentier Lalita (pour Martenot et percussion)
Jeanne Loriod, ondes Martenot and musical direction
John Philips, piano
Didier Duclos, percussion
France, 1962

Inscribed "Pour John Philips, J. J. Sempé 1985" with a drawing of a musician walking to a concert piano
Jean-Jacques Sempé
Vaguement Compétitif, Denoël, 1985

Note:  I'm the first to admit that original works by Jean-Jacques Sempé don't appear enough on this blog, so who has something good to share here?


Quick Links to Attempted Bloggery's Archives
Jean-Jacques Sempé
Signed Books with Original Drawings
Piano

Music

Attempted Bloggery's Vaguely Competitive Index

02123

License Plate for the O'Jays?

Just as long as it's groovin'...

"LUVMSIC"
Virginia license plate

"I Love Music" (1975)

The O'Jays

Note:  Feel free to forward photos of creative license plates.


New Yorker cartoonist Michael Crawford passed away last week. See Ink Spill's appreciation here
and a cartoonists' remembrance.

Quick links to this blog:

These New Yorker cartoonists passed away since the time I started writing this blog and all of them have been written about here.
Michael Crawford (1941-2016)

Anatol Kovarsky (1919-2016)

Frank Modell (1917-2016)

William Hamilton (1939-2016)

Joseph Farris (1924-2015)

Charles Barsotti (1933-2014)

Ed Fisher (1926-2013)

Ronald Searle (1920-2011)


More license plates

Attempted Bloggery's uber index

01920

World Premiere: Tim Keyes's The Well

Last night Tim Keyes conducted the world premiere of his oratorio The Well, based on the account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well from the Gospel of John. The music was tuneful and accessible, worthy of widespread performance.

John Caruso, The Well

Facebook

Program

The Tim Keyes Consort

Note:  Princeton is a cultural landmark mentioned from time to time on this blog.

01882

Joseph Farris for the Hollywood Bowl

A postcard found on eBay highlights the musical side of cartoonist Joseph Farris.

Joseph Farris, Hollywood Bowl Ahead 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNUSED-HUMOROUS-POSTCARD-HOLLYWOOD-BOWL-ARTIST-JOSEPH-FARRIS/251817366124?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D28772%26meid%3D05131d777eb44f67bcff6771c384a1fe%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D251788438322

February 9, 2015 Update:  Sold!

Note:  This blog has a good deal more about the late Joseph Farris.

01422

Richard Taylor's Musicians

Richard Taylor's drawing of orchestra musicians relaxing and warming up is a delightful spot drawing created for The New Yorker. It was sold on eBay in March for $249.

Richard Taylor, Musicians, Spot Drawing

Richard Taylor, Musicians, Detail

Richard Taylor, Musicians, eBay Winning Bid, March 17, 2013

 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-NEW-YORKER-Cartoon-by-R-TAYLOR-Musicians-/121079175449?ViewItem=&ssPageName=ADME%3AB%3AWNA%3AUS%3A1123&item=121079175449&nma=true&si=VJo29%252F7WbHpl1SY9gWmnl4%252FkT80%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Richard Taylor, Musicians, eBay Winning Bid, March 17, 2013

 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-NEW-YORKER-Cartoon-by-R-TAYLOR-Musicians-/121079175449?ViewItem=&ssPageName=ADME%3AB%3AWNA%3AUS%3A1123&item=121079175449&nma=true&si=VJo29%252F7WbHpl1SY9gWmnl4%252FkT80%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

This piece previously was offered at auction in February at RR Auctions in Amherst, New Hampshire with an estimate of $100-$200.

Richard Taylor, Musicians, Spot Drawing

RR Auction, February 13, 2013

http://www.icollector.com/Richard-Taylor_i15440598

Richard Taylor, Musicians, Spot Drawing

http://www.icollector.com/Richard-Taylor_i15440598

Note:  I don't know when this appeared in The New Yorker and I've no idea how to search for a spot drawing. If you should come across it in an old issue of the magazine, please let me know where you found it.

0719

Auld Lang Syne

For old long since:

"Auld Lang Syne"

The Morgan Library & Museum

 http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/online/AuldLangSyne/default.asp?id=10

"Auld Lang Syne"

The Morgan Library & Museum

 http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/online/AuldLangSyne/default.asp?id=10

The Morgan Library & Museum

 http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/online/AuldLangSyne/default.asp?id=10

564