Blog Post No. 5,100: Anne and Sergio's Copy of Edward Koren's Are You Happy?

Edward Koren's drawing in Anne and Sergio's copy of Are You Happy?, his 1978 cartoon collection, fills the inside cover and the facing front free endpaper. It depicts a couple playing a duet for violin and piano. They make such beautiful music together. How could they not be happy?

Edward Koren
AbeBooks listing accessed December 26, 2023

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/Happy-Questions-Lovers-Ask-Koren-Edward/31731196066/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&ref_=pe_aep_AEP_wants_buyer-wants&cm_ite=viewbook

Edward Koren
AbeBooks item description

This sale ended long ago and the price was increased back to $500. The book has since been sold.

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Jean-Jacques Sempé: Life and Art

Few cartoonists have taken more delight in depicting musicians than Jean-Jacques Sempé (1932-2022). His untitled 1981 drawing of a violinist walking home was sold at auction yesterday in Berlin.

The sophisticated man is sensibly dressed for winter. Only his hair is unkempt. He carries a bag of groceries and a violin case. He's got everything he needs to sustain himself, body and soul.

Jean-Jacques Sempé
Bassenge Auctions listing accessed four days before the sale

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/sempe-jean-jacques-ohne-titel-geiger-mit-einkaufs-7295-c-59f4884bf9?utm_source=egemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lot_abandonment&utm_content=&utm_content=day2

Sold!

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Charles M. Schulz: Peanuts Piano Dance

The first Peanuts Sunday strip was drawn by Charles M. Schulz early in 1952. Six years later, the original art seen here was produced:

Peanuts, February 16, 1958
Charles M. Schulz
Original art

The characters in the February 16, 1958 strip are Lucy, Schroeder, and Snoopy. Snoopy and Schroeder play a duet for violin and piano with Snoopy standing on the piano. As they play, the beagle breaks into his happy dance. Schulz produced any number of great strips. This one is a masterpiece.

Peanuts, February 16, 1958
Charles M. Schulz
Original art

The original art was sold at Heritage Auctions on August 4. I stopped by about a day before the sale to check on it. The online bidding was spirited, but the one could dream this superb comic strip was almost within reach.

Charles M. Schulz
Heritage Auction listing accessed April 2, 2024 one day before the auction

https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/comic-strip-art/charles-schulz-peanuts-sunday-comic-strip-snoopy-lucy-and-schroeder-original-art-dated-2-16-58-united-feature/a/7413-92168.s?ic16=ViewItem-Auction-Open-MostActive-Thumbnail-112917

Charles M. Schulz
Heritage Auction item description

Sold!

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Saul Steinberg: Santa Playing the Violin

Santa Playing the Violin is a black and white Christmas card by Saul Steinberg published by the Museum of Modern Art. The museum published annual Steinberg Christmas cards from 1945 through 1951, according to the Saul Steinberg Foundation's website. In 1952, he signed a more lucrative contract with Hallmark, yet MoMA was to publish this final card in 1953. The cards are scarce, indicating they've never been reissued despite their timeless appeal. This example was sold in 2018 for a reasonable $9.95. 

https://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-2958374/1953-saul-steinberg-christmas-card-%E2%80%93-santa-playing-the-violin--unused.html

Note:  Thanks again to David from Manhattan, who wrote yesterday's post and guided me down the path to today's. 

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The CartoonStock Caption Contest #129

I've been busy practicing for the CartoonStock Caption Contest #129. My three entries may be seen below. The musical drawing is by Carolita Johnson. 

"Please hear out my overture."
"I'm about to sweeten the deal."
"What if I were to throw in a sparkling rendition of the Kreutzer Sonata?"

June 19, 2021 Update:  The Winner

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Four Souvenir Sketches by Niculae Asciu

Four souvenir sketches on colored index cards by cartoonist Nicolae Asciu (1942-2013) were offered for sale on eBay in 2015. Two of them are gags about stethoscopes, one is about the violin, and one is about boating. All four sketches are dated September 19, 1982 and since they were sold together they might be inscribed to members of a single family or possibly medical practice. Initially offered at $49 each, one was sold at an undisclosed Best Offer price at which point the other three were reduced to opening bids of $8.99.

Nicolae Asciu
eBay Listing Ended November 11, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NICULAE-ASCIU-NEW-YORKER-CARTOON-ARTIST-SIGNED-ORIGINAL-SKETCH-3X5-INDEX-CARD-BL-/321911954905?hash=item4af3729dd9%3Ag%3AtNYAAOSwu-BWOo3t&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Nicolae Asciu
eBay Item Description

Nicolae Asciu
eBay Listing Ended November 11, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NICULAE-ASCIU-NEW-YORKER-CARTOON-ARTIST-SIGNED-ORIGINAL-SKETCH-3X5-INDEX-CARD-YW-/371480505430?hash=item567df6ac56%3Ag%3AUR4AAOSwAYtWOo3p&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Nicolae Asciu
eBay Item Description

Nicolae Asciu
eBay Bid History
One bid is placed in the final four minutes of the auction.

Nicolae Asciu
eBay Listing Ended November 11, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NICULAE-ASCIU-NEW-YORKER-CARTOON-ARTIST-SIGNED-ORIGINAL-SKETCH-3X5-INDEX-CARD-PK-/371480509196?hash=item567df6bb0c%3Ag%3ApPYAAOSwhcJWOo3u&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Nicolae Asciu
eBay Item Description

Nicolae Asciu
eBay Listing Ended August 18, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NICULAE-ASCIU-NEW-YORKER-CARTOON-ARTIST-SIGNED-ORIGINAL-SKETCH-3X5-INDEX-CARD-GN-/321747027820?hash=item4ae99e076c%3Ag%3AS58AAOSw3ydVsnqN&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Copied November 8, 2015

Note:  Nicolae Asciu is new to Attempted Bloggery. I would love to receive scans or photos of original works by the artist.


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