Attempted Bloggery: shopping

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Monday, May 6, 2024

My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #895

Aliens walk among us in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #895 from the issue of May 6, 2024. My caption is shown below. The drawing is by E. S. Glenn.

"But what is the planet?"

May 15, 2024 Update: The Finalists

May 25, 2024 Update: I voted for the caption from Calgary, which is really a much better version of my own submission.

June 2, 2024 Update: The Winner

04639

Friday, April 26, 2024

New Neighbors: Charles E. Martin Original New Yorker Cover Art

Postwar real estate development provided the inspiration for a number of New Yorker covers including the one that graced the issue of May 26, 1960. The artist was Charles E. Martin, who signed his work CEM. His original artwork was sold on Tuesday at Heritage Auctions. The auction house's listing calls the piece New Neighbors, which is an excellent title for it.

Charles E. Martin
Original art
The New Yorker, May 26, 1962

Martin's colors are darker in the foreground and brighter in the distance.

Charles E. Martin
Framed original art
The New Yorker, May 26, 1962

The backing reveals that the work was previously owned by artist Thomas George (1918-2014). Thoughtfully-preserved printing instructions indicate that the strap, or left-sided edge of the cover, was to be printed just as Martin painted it, and the magazine's logo was to be colored yellow, matching the plants in the foreground. (Heritage's first photo did not include the strap, an inexcusable practice in the proper presentation of New Yorker cover art.)

Charles E. Martin
Heritage Auctions listing of April 23, 2024

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/mainstream-illustration/charles-martin-american-1910-1995-new-neighbors-the-new-yorker-magazine-cover-may-26-1962gouache-on/a/8161-71082.s?ic16=ViewItem-Inventory-BuyNowFromOwner-JumpLot-081514

Charles E. Martin
Heritage Auctions item description

Charles E. Martin
The New Yorker, May 26, 1962

Charles E. Martin
Original art
The New Yorker, May 26, 1962

04629

Monday, May 3, 2021

My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #753

All ashore for The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #753 from the double issue of April 26 and May 3, 2021. Captain Ahab and Moby-Dick are both grocery shopping in a supermarket. My water-logged entry may be seen below. The drawing is by Benjamin Schwartz.

"I don't share your taste for Cap'n Crunch."

May 10, 2021 Update: The Finalists

May 23, 2021 Update: I voted for the caption from Washington.

May 25, 2021 Update: The Winner

03615

Monday, July 29, 2013

Economy Shipping

Apparently some 16 mm prints of Walt Disney's short "The Mail Pilot" (1933) carry the title "The Dizzy Pilot." It's not close to a good alternate title, and it ignores the direct references to "The Mail Pilot" in the cartoon short's lyrics. So be it.

The eBay seller, supposedly endeavoring to learn more about it, has listed it with a shipping cost of $90,014.67. Why? Ostensibly "just to get your attention, to see if others have some input or information and to encourage a reasonable offer." How does an unreasonable shipping charge encourage a reasonable offer? We aren't told.

Apparently no reasonable offers came in, so the Buy It Now price was lowered from $500 to $100. But the economy shipping rate remains $90,014.67. OK, eBay seller gepetto3, you have my attention. This print is not unique. WorthPoint, which archives some old eBay sales for price research by its subscribers, has recorded several 8 mm and 16 mm print sales of this odd title.