Anyway, there are three old newspaper clippings (one of them is dated March 27, 1949 and I suspect the other two are of a similar time period) about newspaper cartoonists Cliff Berryman (Pulitzer Prize winner and creator of the teddy bear), Ding Darling (also a Pulitzer Prize winner), and Jorge Delano. I suspect that there was once a fourth clipping about Charles Addams that has since been absorbed into the collection, leaving these three clippings, unloved, in a dark and lonesome box.Unloved? We can't have that.
I laughed at the Lorax, "You poor stupid guy! You never can tell what some people will buy." --Dr. Seuss
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Three Old Clippings
Monday, November 25, 2024
My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #923
In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #923 from the issue of November 25, 2024, we have two bears sitting outdoors with two teddy bears. My submission is shown here. The drawing is by Ali Solomon.
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| "Nonsense, Ted—they're named for a president." |
December 9, 2024 Update: I voted for the caption from Sacramento.
December 23, 2024 Update: The Winner
Sunday, October 6, 2024
A Signed Copy of E. D. Ward: A Mercurial Bear by Edward Gorey
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Friday, July 5, 2024
Andrea Wirt's Copy of Teddy! Where Are You? by Ralph Steadman
Teddy! Where Are You? (1994) is the story of Christopher, an old and worn teddy bear who has gone missing. Ralph Steadman is both author and illustrator. The very special copy we see today was created in response to a supposed attorney's letter from one "Mr. Sprocket" of the law office Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel, a firm name obviously borrowed from an old Marx Brothers radio program. This communication, then, alleged that Christopher is modeled too closely on another teddy named Sir Bear. Steadman responded good-naturedly with an original studio illustration in a presentation copy of the book made out to this Sir Bear and his owner, Andrea Wirt. It took Steadman two attempts to get her surname down. It happens.
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| Ralph Steadman AbeBooks listing accessed July 4, 2024 |
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| Ralph Steadman AbeBooks item description |
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Thursday, December 3, 2020
Edward Gorey: Season's Greetings 1996 Bromer Booksellers
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| Signed copy from the edition of 200 |
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| Edward Gorey AbeBooks listing accessed May 2, 2020 |
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| Nieman Marcus 1994 Christmas Book Mercedes McDonald |
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| Nieman Marcus 1994 Christmas Book Mercedes McDonald |
Monday, November 9, 2020
My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #732
Please don't take me to court over my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #732 for November 9, 2020. The drawing is by P. C. Vey.
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| "If it please the court, may I take the defendant home?" |
These captions were dismissed as hearsay:
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| "And what did little Johnny confess to in his sleep?" "Your Honor, permission to treat the witness as cuddly but hostile?" |
November 16, 2020 Update: The Finalists
November 23, 2020 Update: I thought these captions were pretty good. I voted with the Big Apple.
November 30, 2020 Update: The Winner
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Saturday, October 8, 2016
Teddy! Where Are You? Signed by Ralph Steadman
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Note: Usually I like to post complete eBay auctions, but I thought it was worthwhile to get even a glimpse of these books. Anyone—buyers, sellers, lurkers—with better images from these two sales or from other similar copies of this book, please send them along to me. Together we can still make this post better.
I have news. "A Retrospective: Ralph Steadman" is on view in New York at the Society of Illustrators. Catch it while you can.
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