Hugh Hefner's Copy of ffundamental ffolkes

The first book signed and inscribed by cartoonist Michael ffolkes (1925-1988) ever to appear on this blog comes from the library of Playboy founder and publisher Hugh Hefner. Playboy published ffolkes's work regularly. The 1985 paperback, ffundamental ffolkes, is subtitled An Autobiography. On the basis of the cover illustration, it appears to be an unusual one. Ffolkes was the pen name of Brian Davis. Perhaps inevitably, the inscription begins, "ffor Hef..."

Michael ffolkes
eBay Listing Retrieved June 21, 2019

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Michael-ffolkes-FFUNDAMENTAL-FFOLKES-An-Autobiography-Signed-1st-Edition-1985/202634714111?hash=item2f2df85bff:g:4hEAAOSwp~VccJSL

Michael ffolkes
eBay Item Description

Michael who? Compared with "Hef," the cartoonist barely registers on Google's n-gram viewer.

N-gram:  Michael ffolkes and Hugh Hefner

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Michael ffolkes

Signed Books

Attempted Bloggery's Ffolksy Index

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Hugh Hefner's Copy of Peter Arno's Hullabaloo

Hugh Hefner was only four years old when Peter Arno's Hullabaloo was published in 1930. Hefner, a cartoonist himself, eventually became a fan of Arno's and apparently hoped to recruit him as a Playboy cartoonist. Hefner's copy of the book lacks a dust jacket and may very well have been acquired second-hand. It is signed by Hefner with a sketch of a cartoon head which we are told is his "caricature self portrait." The $920 eBay price tag may prove palatable to admirers of Hefner and his magazine, especially if mitigated with the Make Offer option. It is less likely to appeal to fans of Peter Arno.

Peter Arno
eBay listing retrieved June 20, 2019

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Peter-Arnos-HULLABALOO-1930/202634685538?hash=item2f2df7ec62:g:V~kAAOSw91pccF1I&frcectupt=true

Peter Arno
eBay Item Description

N-Gram:  Peter Arno and Hugh Hefner

April 12, 2026 Update:  The new owner of this book writes about it here.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Peter Arno

Signed Books with Sketches

Attempted Bloggery's Dreamlike Index

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Hugh Hefner's Copy of The Dreamer by Will Eisner

Playboy founder and publisher Hugh Hefner may not have gotten to publish cartoonist Will Eisner, but nevertheless he was an avowed fan of The Spirit. Eisner appears willing to indulge the magazine publisher with an inscribed copy of his 1986 graphic novella The Dreamer.

Will Eisner
Royal Books Listing Retrieved June 20, 2019

https://www.royalbooks.com/pages/books/145371/will-eisner/the-dreamer-first-edition-inscribed-to-hugh-hefner

N-Gram:  Will Eisner and Hugh Hefner

N-gram added June 21, 2019

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Will Eisner

Signed Books

Attempted Bloggery's Dreamlike Index

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The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #28

This week I barely got an entry into the Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #28. I'm afraid that, like Rapunzel's hair, my caption is something of a letdown. The drawing is by Jack Ziegler.

"Just drop the key!"

July 3, 2019 Update:  The Winner

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Jack Ziegler

Rapunzel

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

All These Cartoon Caption Contests and Then Some

Attempted Bloggery's Unshampooed Index

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Cape Cod 2019: Sunsets

Cape Cod is a place that's worth experiencing at all times of the day. Still, there's something very special about the sunsets one encounters there. Here are two observed two weeks ago.

Harding Beach

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Cape Cod

Sunsets

Attempted Bloggery's Twilight Index

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #666

I had a full two weeks to devise my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #666 for the weeks of June 10 and 17, 2019, but I wrote it at the last minute anyway. The drawing is by Carolita Johnson. The sofa is by Studio 65.

"Everyone I know just kisses my ass."

These captions weren't garish enough:

"All day long I get nothing but lip service."
"You always seem to know what I need."
"Do you rent out your office for parties?"

June 24, 2019 Update:  The Finalists

July 1, 2019 Update:  I did not vote this week. I like all the captions, but I find the first one disarmingly original.

July 16, 2019 Update:  The Winner

Note:  Two weeks ago Shark Week came a little early with a caption contest from cartoonist P. C. Vey. Swim for your life to Contest #665!

Last week I wrote a short piece about the sofa.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Carolita Johnson

Sofas

Marilyn Monroe

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

All the Above Cartoon Caption Contests and Then Some

Attempted Bloggery's Sensuous Index

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Cape Cod 2019: Monomoy Island National Wildlife Refuge

The Monomoy Island National Wildlife Refuge was established by an act of Congress in 1951. Much of it is inaccessible, at least on foot.

Looking toward Chatham

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Cape Cod

Father's Day

Attempted Bloggery's Wild Life Index

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Cape Cod 2019: Lighthouse Beach

The Chatham Light overlooks Lighthouse Beach, one of my favorite places to visit on the Cape.

The Chatham Light

Flags were at half staff last week to honor victims of the Virginia Beach shooting.

Lighthouse Beach

The Chatham Light and Lighthouse Beach

The Chatham Light, center, as seen from the Monomoy Island National Wildlife Refuge

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

The Chatham Light

Cape Cod

Father's Day

Attempted Bloggery's Guiding Light Index

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Cape Cod 2019: Spring Foliage

Last week in Cape Cod was a great time to view the foliage of late spring, including rhododendrons and irises.

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Flowers

Irises

Cape Cod

Attempted Bloggery's Flowery Index

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Cape Cod 2019: Car Talk

The following cars were seen in and around Chatham on Cape Cod last week. The first has what may be considered a license plate for the phonetically-minded.

Here's a car decal meant for true public servants:

Philosophers and others possessing inquiring minds should consider also possessing a license plate like this one:

You can always tell who owns the store. A license plate outside Ducks in the Window on Main Street gives it away:

The same goes for this license plate outside the Impudent Oyster, a fine restaurant in a converted church:

Finally, the green bumper sticker demonstrates how to appeal, apparently, to the caffeine-conscious pacifist:

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License Plates

Cape Cod

Attempted Bloggery's Automotivational Index

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