Barbara Shermund: Of Another Stripe

By the Christmas season of 1942, the United States was a full year into the Second World War. Like other cartoonists, Barbara Shermund had adapted her subject matter to meet the moment. Her color cartoon for the December issue of Esquire, for example, has both the holiday season and the war for its setting.

The gag is tame by today's standards, but Shermund's adventuresome young woman still manages to scandalize the staid sales clerk. The original art was sold on eBay in May.

"Do you have any with sergeant's stripes on them?"
Barbara Shermund
Original art
Esquire, December 1942, p. 47

Shermund nicely contrasts the flatness of the pajamas with the roundness of the woman's figure. Compare the sales clerk's big, awkward hands with her petite, gloved ones.  

The fur coat befits the season while establishing her as a woman of means. Note the very different stripes on the pajamas and on the fur.

The salesman reacts with surprise to the woman's request, but his expression isn't overdone.

Pajamas are $4.95—not exactly cheap back then. Perhaps there will be a January white sale.
They are making eye contact.

She has donned makeup and jewelry for her outing.

And, of course, she wears heels as any fashionable woman would.

Barbara Shermund's signature

The December issue drawing received its OK on October 16, 1942.

"Sergeant stripes" became "sergeant's stripes" in print—an improvement.

And let's assume that stamped E is for Esquire.

Barbara Shermund
eBay listing ended May 9, 2026

https://www.ebay.com/itm/137294137303?

Barbara Shermund
eBay item description

Shermund's original works sold in rapid succession.

"Do you have any with sergeant's stripes on them?"
Barbara Shermund
Esquire, December 1942, p. 47

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334479935671

"Do you have any with sergeant's stripes on them?"
Barbara Shermund
Original art
Esquire, December 1942, p. 47

 "Do you have any with sergeant's stripes on them?"
Barbara Shermund
Esquire, December 1942, p. 47

https://classic.esquire.com/article/1942/12/1/do-you-have-any-with-sergeants-stripes-on-them

Note:  Readers can earn their stripes by submitteing orignal art by Barbara Shermund to the blog. 

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Charles Barsotti: New Yorker Cartoon Pajamas from Sleepy Jones

For those still looking for just the right Father's Day gift, Sleepy Jones offers men's pajamas decorated with twelve classic New Yorker dog cartoons by Charles Barsotti (1933-2014). The pajamas are also available in women's style, so everyone can enjoy a good night's reading. It's called the Doggone Henry pajama set and retails for $198.

https://sleepyjones.com/collections/men/products/henry-pajama-set-barsotti-poplin-blue

Note:  Thanks to Tom Bloom for bringing these PJs to my attention. For bookkeeping purposes, we'll call this Tom's eighteenth contribution to Attempted Bloggery.

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Gilbert Bundy and E. Simms Campbell Back to Back in Esquire, April 1937

Esquire's April 1937 issue offers a cheeky color cartoon by Gilbert Bundy. Does Mr. Hartman have any idea what he's being offered? It would appear so.

"Why don't you come over here, Mr. Hartman—then I won't have to bother about getting dressed[?]"
Gilbert BundyEsquire, April 1937, page 70

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1937-ESQUIRE-MAGAZINE-Comic-Page-Why-don-t-you-come-over-here-Mr-Hartman/163028012254?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40971%26meid%3D4c83fbe57c6b40359ec52244ca8d2af2%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D7%26sd%3D163028012270%26itm%3D163028012254&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

That cartoon was immediately preceded by a color cartoon from E. Simms Campbell on the opposite side of the page. Campbell is very skilled at alluding to what his characters directly can observe but which we, the readers, can only imagine. On that score, this cartoon of a father tallying his daughter's assets might just be one of his best: 

"M–m–m—so it isn't daughter's money he's after at all[.]"
E. Simms Campbell
Esquire, April 1937, page 69

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1937-ESQUIRE-MAGAZINE-Comic-Page-Why-don-t-you-come-over-here-Mr-Hartman/163028012254?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D40971%26meid%3D4c83fbe57c6b40359ec52244ca8d2af2%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D7%26sd%3D163028012270%26itm%3D163028012254&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Note:  It's the hottest La Niña year yet. As a public service to readers during this hot summer, Attempted Bloggery is relaxing its usual dress code to allow clothing-optional blog viewing. The usual formalwear requirement is waived for the duration.


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