Tell me a story about The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #892 from the issue of April 8, 2024. My caption is shown below. The drawing is by P. C. Vey.
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| "Five more minutes and I'll take you for a fly." |
These captions were unrealistic:
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| "Calm down—we'll get to Sendak." "But I'm tired of fantasy and science fiction." |
April 27, 2024 Update: The Finalists
May 5, 2024 Update: I voted for the caption from Burlington.
May 12, 2024 Update: The Winner
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This week, I could scarcely get through my set, let alone through The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #831 from the issue of December 12, 2022. My caption is shown below. The drawing is by Liam Francis Walsh.
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| "You're not helping me to read the room." |
These captions weren't ready for open mic night:
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| "I want to thank tonight's audience for not heckling me." "You do know there's a cover charge?" "I see my five minutes are up." "I'm afraid there's a two-laugh minimum." "Not even a heckle?" |
January 1, 2023 Update: The Finalists
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After Maurice Sendak, the second artist asked to create a cover for a year's run of The Horn Book Magazine was William Steig. His cover had its premiere in the November-December 1986 issue. The magazine's name Horn Book always seemed to refer to Randolph Caldecott's hunting horns, but Steig has a new and amusing take on the title. A signed, limited edition poster of the cover was published as well, shown here.
Note: Images of original art and published rarities by William Steig are desired for future blog posts here.
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Traditionally, The Horn Book Magazine's cover featured an adaptation of an illustration by Randolph Caldecott showing three huntsmen on horseback blowing their—you guessed it!—horns.
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| https://www.abebooks.com... |
Starting with the issue of November-December 1985, the magazine commissioned an annual cover illustration to run for each of six bimonthly issues. The first of these covers was by Maurice Sendak and it featured an image that included Caldecott himself sketching in the park, Caldecott's cat and the fiddle, and, for good measure, a Sendak Wild Thing. A poster of the cover was issued in a signed edition of 300. One of these posters was recently listed on AbeBooks.
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| Maurice Sendak AbeBooks listing accessed February 14, 2021 |
The original art was offered last year through Christie's Private Sale:
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| Maurice Sendak Christie's Private Sale |
Note: Christie's Private Sales don't retain price information, at least not any that I can locate. I'd like to hear from anyone who knows the asking price for this illustration and, if possible, whether it was sold.
Scans of original art by Maurice Sendak are eagerly sought for future blog posts.
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"I don't know what it says, but I know one thing—it's a four letter word!"
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| Verso |
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| Kill notice included |
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| "I can tell you one thing—it's a four letter word—and man! I stay clear of those!" Claude Smith Rough |
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| "I don't know what it says, but I know one thing—it's a four letter word!" |
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| Claude Smith eBay Listing Accessed May 14, 2020 |
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| Claude Smith eBay Item Description |
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| The New Yorker promotional magnet |
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| Danny Shanahan The New Yorker, June 4, 2012, page 62 |
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| Cartoon by Danny Shanahan |
