Attempted Bloggery

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Claude's Pram Scam

This original 1949 artwork by Claude Smith for The New Yorker is on eight sheets of paper, one sheet for each panel. It was listed on eBay, but I don't believe a sale was ever completed.

Claude Pram Scam eBay Item Description

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&hash=item2a1cdf2eab&item=180873014955&nma=true&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&rt=nc&si=Zv4PhLp6HocGRC23iqci2JeQ2LI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_1550wt_1180
[End of eBay Listing]

Claude Smith
The New Yorker, July 16, 1949, pp. 18-19

Note: My previous post on the original cartoon art of Claude Smith can be found here.

0746

As a young boy, I was always excited to see the Goodyear blimp from my window as it floated towards and away from Flushing Airport. Even then, I felt extremely privileged to have such a superb vantage point. I also had the Manhattan skyline to enjoy and I knew that was quite special. The Flushing Airport was closed in 1984, but I had moved to the suburbs long before then.

This Kodachrome slide of the blimp is from the 1960's and shows an airfield in a warmer location with palm trees. The original image is from a listing on eBay. While I wasn't paying attention, it apparently became very easy to make digital images from slides. That's a good thing to know, right?

The Goodyear Blimp

Kodachrome Slide

http://www.ebay.com/itm/262-Orig-Vintage-Slide-1960s-shot-of-the-Goodyear-Blimp-Kodachrome-/300891829140?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item460e8cf394

0745

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Two Steinberg Drawings

Two untitled drawings by Saul Steinberg are being offered together at Sotheby's New York in the June 7 Contemporary Art sale. The drawing of the cat is far better known, and deservedly so.

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2012/contemporary-art-n09004/lot.205.html

Sale price added June 7, 2013

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2012/contemporary-art-n09004/lot.205.html

Saul Steinberg, The New Yorker, January 28, 1967

March 30, 2014 Update: The cat drawing is currently with the Adam Baumgold Gallery in New York.

http://www.adambaumgoldgallery.com/

0744

Friday, May 24, 2013

Yelena Bryksenkova: Girl Reading Lettres a L'inconnue

Yelena Bryksenkova's signed print of Girl Reading Lettres a L'inconnue, is being offered in an online auction by ABFFE. It's a lovely image, but I admit to having difficulty assessing the value of prints in editions of unstated size. Bidding will conclude early on Saturday morning.

Yelena Bryksenkova, Girl Reading Lettres a L'inconnue, Signed Print

Image added May 25, 2013

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yelena-Bryksenkova-GIRL-READING-/281107434694?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item41734f0cc6&nma=true&si=VJo29%252F7WbHpl1SY9gWmnl4%252FkT80%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

On her blog, Ms. Bryksenkova mentions one of my favorite authors, Alain de Botton, in her discussion of this piece.

http://ybryksenkova.blogspot.com/2013/02/linconnue.html

Unsuccessful bidders may want to take a look in the artist's Etsy store where one copy of the signed print is available for considerably less.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/123229456/linconnue-print?ref=shop_home_feat

Note: Another eBay auction by ABFFE with original artwork by Sofia Alvarez Rojos is mentioned here.

0743

Memorial Day Weekend at Last

Memorial Day weekend is upon us at last. Finally?

FINALLI
New Jersey License Plate

Photograph taken August 31, 2007

0742

Seuss Stationery

A number of hand-written letters by Dr. Seuss on his Cat in the Hat stationery can be found on eBay. The printed stationery allowed him to include an appealing picture of the Cat in the Hat with his correspondence. He could use the stationery to provide fans with autographs or souvenirs.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dr-Seuss-signed-page-autographed-auto-personal-Cat-in-the-Hat-stationery-/251264927234?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a808e8602&nma=true&si=VJo29%252F7WbHpl1SY9gWmnl4%252FkT80%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

It seems he was quite willing to accommodate requests for signing books or other memorabilia.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dr-SEUSS-LETTER-AND-SIGNED-CAT-IN-THE-HAT-STATIONARY-/230957572195?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c624e063&nma=true&si=VJo29%252F7WbHpl1SY9gWmnl4%252FkT80%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Here Dr. Seuss added a heaping plateful of pancakes to his letter for Troop 106:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DR-SEUSS-CAT-IN-THE-HAT-Sketch-Signed-/350765923473?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&nma=true&si=VJo29%252F7WbHpl1SY9gWmnl4%252FkT80%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

The above item is an example of the time-honored practice of buying something cheaply on eBay and reselling it at a higher price. Here's the earlier sale from April 3. With the shipping costs included, the markup is 144%.

May 26, 2013 Update: The price has been reduced to $400.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dr-SEUSS-LETTER-AND-SIGNED-CAT-IN-THE-HAT-STATIONARY-/321100984649?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac31c3149&nma=true&si=VJo29%252F7WbHpl1SY9gWmnl4%252FkT80%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

A spiffy souvenir for a high school:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DR-SEUSS-CAT-IN-THE-HAT-Sketch-Signed-/350801011107?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51ad5ea1a3

Again as an aside, the above item was just sold on eBay in early April and is now being turned around for a quick profit. The earlier listing showed the original envelope this was mailed in. Here you can see why the letters had to be folded in half.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dr-SEUSS-LETTER-AND-SIGNED-CAT-IN-THE-HAT-STATIONARY-/321100984272?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac31c2fd0&nma=true&si=VJo29%252F7WbHpl1SY9gWmnl4%252FkT80%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

For Lt. Duffy:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/THEODORE-S-GEISEL-DR-SEUSS-AUTOGRAPHED-LETTER-SIGNED-ON-CAT-IN-THE-HAT-/380370559849?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588fda2369

There are a series of letters from the good Doctor to one Julie Olfe, whom the seller identifies as a former employee.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180600195828?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dr-Seuss-Autograph-Letter-Signed-Cat-Hat-Stationery-/200751441559?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ebdb7e697

On a more serious note:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dr-Seuss-Autograph-Letter-Signed-Cat-Hat-Stationery-/180870992749?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1cc0536d

July 14, 2013 Update: A sheet of Seuss stationery inscribed "Hi, Trina" is being offered by eBay seller historydirect. In general, this is the most expensive and the least interesting of the examples available. But if your name happens to be Trina....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/THEODOR-DR-SEUSS-GEISEL-INSCRIBED-CARTOON-SIGNED-/370085119023?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item562acac42f

September 8, 2013 Update: Here is another find on eBay. It seems to me that Ted Geisel has gone to the effort to alter his Cat in the Hat's characteristic printed smile to a frown.