Charles Addams: The Royal Canadian Mountie Gets His Man?

Collectors of original art by Charles Addams were presented with an unusual opportunity at Doyle New York yesterday. A drawing of his is set at a picnic in the Canadian mountains. A Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman comes by with an apprehended prisoner. The publication history of the drawing was initially unknown to the auction house, but that was corrected prior to the sale. The drawing illustrated "The Royal Canadian Mounted: The magnificent story of one of the great police forces on earth" by James Warner Bellah in Holiday magazine for June 1958. It was collected in Black Maria, Addams's 1960 collection. So it's technically a story illustration, but in style it's more of a typical Addams cartoon.

Charles Addams
Holiday, June 1958, p. 76
Black Maria, 1960, p. 28

There is a condition issue. As Doyle describes it, "The sheet with a hard central fold that has cracked the backing of the illustration board, although the surface paper with the drawing is merely creased. Corners a bit bumped." This drawing is in need of a paper conservator.

The drawing is from the estate of Harry Lowe (1922-2021, the art professor and Smithsonian curator). The auction house estimate was $1,000 to $1,500, set before the publication history was known. It's on the conservative side, but not unreasonable given the condition issues.

The revised listing, accessed November 6, now has the publication history provided by H. Kevin Miserocchi of the Tee & Charles Addams Foundation:

An eBay listing shows the 1958 Addams illustration in Holiday and the first page of the accompanying article.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/235039994169

Charles Addams's Black Maria (1960) with a spread of drawings without words, from another eBay listing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/364223758221

Sold!

Note:  My thanks to Charles Addams memorabilia expert Joel Jacobus for his guidance.

If the purchaser of this drawing chooses to restore it, I would be happy to post an image of the refreshed art afterwards.

Collectors of original Addams art are welcome to submit images of their holdings to this blog. 

04495

Richard Oldden: A Trout Stream

Another lot of four original cartoons by Richard Oldden were sold on eBay in early May. These drawings are all shaded finishes circa the 1970s. Their publication history is unknown. They may not all be as funny as some of Oldden's other gag cartoons, but they are certainly good looking drawings. It's hard to think the buyer didn't get a great deal: all four for $66.

"Hey! Would you mind holding it down a bit over there?"                  Picnic visitor             

     "You should never have let it go this long."     "Need I remind you that this is supposed to be a trout stream."

Versos with a numbering system and New York or Laguna Beach addresses

Richard Oldden
eBay listing ended May 3, 2023

https://www.ebay.com/itm/374659771772?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=WEtIFz5%252FkfY9UxP8WWeB%252FCaqeVQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc

Richard Oldden
eBay item description

Richard Oldden
eBay bid history
Three bidders, four bids. The one placed in the final five seconds wins the lot.

Note:  Please let me know if you find where any of these drawings by Richard Oldden appeared in print. 

04323

My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #757

It seems the weather did not cooperate with The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #757 from the issue of May 31, 2021. My caption is shown below. The drawing is by Carolita Johnson.

"I always feared the cloud could be hacked."

I'm saving this caption for a rainy day:

"At least we won't have to deal with ants."

June 13, 2021 Update:  The Finalists

June 19, 2021 Update:  I voted for the caption from New York.

June 26, 2021 Update:  The Winner

03643