John Held, Jr.: Flapper in Steel

This painted steel cut-out figure of a dancing flapper is no-doubt based on a drawing by John Held, Jr. Over six feet tall, it's a bit of an unusual piece and did not find a buyer last year at Illustration House.

John Held, Jr. (after), Flapper girl dancing 

Illustration House, June 15, 2013, Lot 57

http://www.illustrationhouses.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/exhib/a45/a45pages/a45_057.html

Note:  John Held, Jr. was insanely popular in the 1920's. So why not check out my posts about him?

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Life Magazine: John Held, Jr., Michelangelo of the Flapper

The Most of John Held, Jr. was published in 1972 and a book review appeared in Life magazine. The review identifies the medium seen in yesterday's post as linoleum block prints, which raises the question of whether each print was unique, created solely for the purpose of being reproduced in a magazine, or whether a number of prints were pulled for each image. Joel Sayre's review states these were made exclusively for the New Yorker. Is it possible they could have appeared in College Humor as well?

Life, November 24, 1972, page 20

http://books.google.com/books?id=3FQEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The book review appears in this issue:

Life, November 24, 1972

http://books.google.com/books?id=3FQEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Note:  Illustrator John Held, Jr. embodied the spirit of the 1920's. No doubt someone should dedicate an entire blog to him. From me you get just a few odd posts.

The Golden Age by Mr. Door Tree has a beautiful post on John Held, Jr. It's great stuff.

John Held, Jr., "When the Theatre was Fraught with Romance
Anna Held's Milk Bath
Engraved by John Held Jr Who is No Relation"

 The New Yorker, September 20, 1930

http://thegoldenagesite.blogspot.com/2013/12/john-held-jr-1889-1958.html

I have a few more posts about Life magazine including for some reason the old Life which is not at all the same thing.

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"Engraved" by John Held, Jr.

"Sexual freedom was a mania and it strikes me only now that for the past fifty years every generation is convinced that it was the pioneer in breaking with Victorian morals. That breakthrough, as an historical fact, occurred in the Garden of Eden."

--"Alistair Cooke's America" (1973)

These four "engravings" by John Held, Jr. are from the estate of H. N. Swanson and were in all likelihood published in Swanson's College Humor magazine. In general, they lampoon the supposed repressed sexuality of a previous generation. Possibly they date from the late 1920's. Held published drawings in a similar woodcut print style in The New Yorker.

Whatever these are, they are not true engravings. They could, of course, be a very nice set of linoleum block prints, but they may indeed be unique creations skillfully executed in the style of Victorian woodcuts. All four were sold on eBay this past March, nicely framed, for just $53--a veritable "sock in the eye!"

John Held, Jr., "The Interrupted Love Scene
A situation as old as the pyramids. But much funnier
Eng. by John Held Jr"
 Original art for College Humor?

John Held, Jr., "The Interrupted Love Scene
A situation as old as the pyramids. But much funnier
Eng. by John Held Jr"
 Original art for College Humor?

John Held, Jr., "The Interrupted Love Scene
A situation as old as the pyramids. But much funnier
Eng. by John Held Jr"
 Original art for College Humor?

John Held, Jr., "There is No Moment Like the One When Your
Hair Comes Tumbling Down
Eng by John Held Jr an old hair Tousler himself"
 Original art for College Humor?

John Held, Jr., "There is No Moment Like the One When Your
Hair Comes Tumbling Down
Eng by John Held Jr an old hair Tousler himself"
 Original art for College Humor?

John Held, Jr., "There is No Moment Like the One When Your
Hair Comes Tumbling Down
Eng by John Held Jr an old hair Tousler himself"
 Original art for College Humor?

John Held, Jr., "'He Who Lays his Head on a Woman's Bosom
Must Beware of a Sock in the Eye'
Eng. by John Held Jr. who is still a boy at heart."
 Original art for College Humor?

John Held, Jr., "'He Who Lays his Head on a Woman's Bosom
Must Beware of a Sock in the Eye'
Eng. by John Held Jr. who is still a boy at heart."
 Original art for College Humor?

John Held, Jr., "'He Who Lays his Head on a Woman's Bosom
Must Beware of a Sock in the Eye'
Eng. by John Held Jr. who is still a boy at heart."
 Original art for College Humor?

John Held, Jr., "Victorian Honeymooners Pretending That
There is No Such Thing as a Bed
Engraved by John Held Jr. that early American humanist"
 Original art for College Humor?

John Held, Jr., "Victorian Honeymooners Pretending That
There is No Such Thing as a Bed
Engraved by John Held Jr. that early American humanist"
 Original art for College Humor?

John Held, Jr., "Victorian Honeymooners Pretending That
There is No Such Thing as a Bed
Engraved by John Held Jr. that early American humanist"
Original art for College Humor?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Original-John-Held-Jr-Framed-Woodcut-Engravings-New-Yorker-College-Humor-Art-/151261701931?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2337e6672b&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

"Alistair Cooke's America," Episode 11 (1973)

The quotation is at 23:34 followed by

a selection from The New Yorker.

Note:  There's more to see here of the work of John Held, Jr.

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Tales of the Jazz Age

It's hard to tell what's more appealing about this book, the fact that it's a first edition from 1922 by F. Scott Fitzgerald or the incredible dust jacket by John Held, Jr. These two giants of the Jazz Age should add exponential value to this rare and desirable volume when it comes up for sale today at Swann Galleries in New York.

John Held, Jr..  Tales of the Jazz Age (1922) by F. Scott Fitzgerald, First Edition

John Held, Jr..  Tales of the Jazz Age (1922) by F. Scott Fitzgerald, First Edition

Swann Galleries November 18, 2014, Lot 100

http://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=2366+++++100+&refno=++696885&image=0

Sold!

Hammer Price $5,600

Note:  I have a little bit more on John Held, Jr.

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The Adventures of Mickey Mouse

The first appearance of Mickey Mouse in book form occurred in 1931. Presumably this was Minnie Mouse's first book appearance as well, and Donald Duck's too. The cover of The Adventures of Mickey Mouse, Book I shows the talented Mickey serenading Minnie with a one-stringed ukelele. Their tongues are far too prominent, but otherwise these are the classic pie-eyed Mickey and Minnie of the 1930's.

Walt Disney Studios, The Adventures of Mickey Mouse, Book I. Philadelphia:  David McKay, 1931

Walt Disney Studios, The Adventures of Mickey Mouse, Book I. Philadelphia:  David McKay, 1931

Swann Galleries, November 18, 2014, Lot 37

http://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullcatalogue.asp?salelot=2366++++++37+&refno=++696683&image=0

November 18, 2014 Update:  Sold!

Hammer Price $4,400

Note:  There are more Disney posts to be enjoyed.

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Rowland Emett's Solar Power

Rowland Emett's fuel-economy train from 1949 is an open-air affair that apparently relies on the skillful use of mirrors for solar-powered steam propulsion and the concurrent use of umbrellas to protect engineers and passengers from the blazing English sun. It scarcely resembles any train in existence, but nothing is too farfetched for Mr. Emett's imagination. Annals of a Branch Line was a series that ran in Punch. The original artwork is in "The Illustrators 2014" show at the Chris Beetles Gallery.

Rowland Emett, Annals of a Branch Line II--Example of Fuel-Economy System in Operation
Punch, June 8, 1949, page 623

Chris Beetles Gallery:  "The Illustrators 2014"

http://www.chrisbeetles.com/gallery/cartoons/annals-branch-line-no-11-example-fuel-economy-system-operation.html

Number XI from the same series:

Rowland Emett, Annals of a Branch Line XI--The evening train arrives at Smugglers' Reach
Punch, June 15, 1949, page 651

Note:  You can find a bit more herein about Punch cartoons.

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The Illustrators 2014 at Chris Beetles

The Chris Beetles Gallery is offering its annual outstanding selection of illustration art. As in previous years, the show is accompanied by a lavishly-produced catalogue. The cover illustration is called "Fairy Stories" and is by Helen Jacobs. Not surprisingly, the original art has already been sold. The exhibition and sale opened today and runs through January 3, 2015.

Chris Beetles Gallery:  "The Illustrators:  The British Art of Illustration 1800-2014"

Helen Jacobs, "Fairy Stories"

Chris Beetles Gallery:  "The Illustrators: 2014"

http://www.chrisbeetles.com/gallery/fairy-fantasy/fairies/fairy-stories.html

Note:  Perhaps I can interest you in a few other posts about the Chris Beetles Gallery.

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #450

Here is my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #450 for November 10, 2014. The drawing is by David Borchart.

"We got the Zumba account, whatever that is."

Here's an earlier, slightly more forced captioning attempt:

"Come up if you want to get down."

November 17, 2014 Update:  The Finalists

December 1, 2014 Update:  Winning Caption

Note:  Last week's Cartoon Caption Contest featured an unusual home renovation drawn by Jack Ziegler. Who wouldn't interject some bathroom humor? See the unstoppable results of Contest #449.

See my previous Caption Contest entries for David Borchart's drawings.

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Wally Skinner's Copy of The Art of the New Yorker 1925-1995

John Wallace "Wally" Skinner was a Cleveland dealer in books and prints who had the good sense to attend the signing event for Lee Lorenz's The Art of The New Yorker 1925-1995. Besides Mr. Lorenz, some dozen cartoonists and others including George Plimpton were on hand to sign the books and personalize them with inscriptions and drawings. Mr. Skinner requested drawings of frogs from the artists, and many of them complied.

Why frogs? Apparently Mr. Skinner was once associated with the Windham Free Library in Connecticut where he learned the tale of the Windham Frog Fight of 1754. Very briefly, the entire town was startled late one night during the French and Indian War by an unearthly loud noise. Some residents thought they were under attack. Some thought the trumpets of Judgment Day were being sounded. The entire town was petrified until the source of the sound was identified as--local frogs. The area subsequently celebrated their frogs on currency and today there is even a Frog Bridge commemorating the event.

Windham Bank One Dollar Note

http://www.mansfieldnumismaticsociety.org/frogs.htm

Windham Bank $5 Note

http://www.philadelphiafed.org/education/teachers/publications/symbols-on-american-money/

Willimantic Frog Bridge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willimantic,_Connecticut#mediaviewer/File:Willimantic_Frog_Bridge_1.jpg

Willimantic Frog Bridge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willimantic,_Connecticut#mediaviewer/File:Willimantic.JPG

So then, with that as background, let's move on to the recent listing on eBay. Here's how a group of New Yorker cartoonists approached the subject of frogs in 1995:

Wally Skinner's Copy of The Art of the New Yorker 1925-1995 features warm inscriptions and drawings mostly of frogs.

Wally Skinner's copy of The Art of The New Yorker 1925-1995. A dealer in books and prints, John Wallace "Wally" Skinner knew to save the cocktail napkin!

The back cover of The Art of The New Yorker 1925-1995 with a drawing by Saul Steinberg

Of the eleven drawings here, seven are of frogs.

On the inside front cover, six New Yorker cartoonists made drawings. They are Arnold Roth, Jack Ziegler, Arnie Levin, Robert Weber, Frank Modell, and Danny Shanahan. All drew frogs except Weber, who drew a dog. He had the dog say, "Hey Wally/I don't do/frogs but/good luck/anyhow!"

The front free endpaper has original frogs drawn by Edward Koren and George Booth. Bob Mankoff and Roz Chast stick to faces. If that were an Edward Sorel drawing in this book as I first thought, it would be something of a rarity, but more than likely the man with the pipe is by Bob Mankoff and Sorel only signs his name. Victoria Roberts falls back on her Australian background and draws a crocodile, which isn't really like a frog. Ed Fisher signs but does not draw.

"For Wally Skinner--/With best regards./Lee Lorenz"

"For Wally/Very best wishes/George Plimpton." No, those aren't frogs.

This promotional bookmark contains a wealth of information about the signing party. Cartoonist Robert Mankoff's attendance is here confirmed, but he confused me no end by signing his name Rob Mankoff instead of today's more familiar Bob. Marketing Director Diane Vaughan's name appears here as the contact person. Her personal copy of this book was shown on this blog last week. The event was held in conjunction with the New York is Book Country weekend. Author Lee Lorenz is called the magazine's art editor here, which he was indeed from 1973 to 1993 when he selected the covers and the drawings. By 1995, though, his official title was cartoon editor. Françoise Mouly was the magazine's art editor in 1995 and she had jurisdiction over the covers. Still, "former art editor" just wouldn't sound right.

EBay Listing Ended October 30, 2014

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151458522602?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

EBay Item Description

"Like Charles Addams." That's marketing for you.

Note:  This is the fifth copy of this wonderful book to appear on the blog, and the third that was from the signing event of September 15, 1995. See the other copies here. Each seems fairly unique so far, and there are many more signed and personalized copies out there. Of course, I'd love to see one or two of these hidden copies. Can you help me out, Tina Brown?

If you like the idea of a book full of frog drawings, see what happens when you ask a group of New Yorker cartoonists to make drawings of porcupines in your book. I kid you not.

Books with original drawings in them are one of the great recurring themes of this blog. If you're not already familiar with what's here, I invite you to explore.

Alas, New York is Book Country is no more. I have collected a treasure trove of promotional posters from the event. You won't believe how spectacular they are.

The Town of Windham Seal

http://www.allaboutfrogs.org/gallery/logos/index.html

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