Books: The Sixth New Yorker Album and My Life and Hard Times by James Thurber

Readers of The World of Books, a section of the Courier-Journal of Louisville on Sunday, November 19, 1933, were treated to front page reviews of two books related to the world of The New Yorker. The first of these is The Sixth New Yorker Album illustrated with three cartoons—by William Steig, Peter Arno, and James Thurber—situated around the page with other reviews. The second is Thurber's My Life and Hard Times.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/107233823/

The review of The Sixth New Yorker Album is by someone identified here only as B. B. Some readers might detect possible hints of a certain attitude towards the greatest city in the world and its greatest cartoons.

Kathryn Browder reviewed My Life and Hard Times, as Thurber's autobiographical volume is known everywhere but in this review.

If you were fortunate enough to have $2.50 to spare back in the Great Depression (a hefty $57.53 today), a pristine copy of The Sixth New Yorker Album would have been a fine, if pricey, acquisition. The book has been out of print for decades, but you can still find a good copy sans dust jacket for far less than $57. Finding one in splendid condition with a nice dust jacket, on the other hand, might become quite the quest. Similarly, if you had $2.00 back in 1933 (a not insignificant $46.03 now), then the Thurber book was yours to own. Many inexpensive editions are available nowadays, but a first edition with dust jacket could cost big bucks these days.

Note:  B. B. and Kathryn Browder's reviews are not the last word on these books. In recent times, on his indispensable blog Ink Spill, New Yorker cartoonist Michael Maslin writes about The Sixth New Yorker Album (a copy complete with dust jacket!) here and about James Thurber's My Life and Hard Times (a first edition!) here.

Another indispensable blog, A New Yorker State of Mind, has this to say about My Life and Hard Times.

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Arthur Glickman's Copy of Homebodies by Charles Addams

Charles Addams's cartoon collection Homebodies was published in 1954. Two years later, the artist dedicated a copy to Arthur Glickman, including an original ink and wash illustration of the characters known today as Uncle Fester and Wednesday, both of the Addams Family. The page has some unfortunate foxing which does not affect the artwork. Estimated before the sale at $1,000 to $1,500, the book sold for a strong $2,400—plus a $600 premium for the auction house.

Charles Addams
Potter & Potter Auctions, Inc., February 16, 2023, Lot 126

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/addams-charles-1912-1988-an-original-ink-and-wash-126-c-9fb403b8b0?objectID=176871502&algIndex=undefined&queryID=926f5ba4817fb73fdbe0c9f0a33df457

Note:  I'm tempted to identify book dedicatee Arthur Glickman as the well-known sculptor, but I can't be certain without also identifying Jane Glickman, whose purported copy of Favorite Haunts, another Addams book, was sold by the auction house in the same sale. Arthur Glickman's memorial obituary, here, makes no mention of a relative named Jane. Perhaps readers in the know can help me out with this. 

With demand robust, souvenir drawings by Charles Addams could very well be released to the market in increasing numbers. People with Addams originals in their private libraries might also consider releasing images along with their stories to Attempted Bloggery. There's no remuneration involved, but owners get to keep their wonderful originals.

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #838

Gather 'round the campfire for The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #838 from the issue of February 13 & 20, 2022. My caption is shown below. The drawing is by Mick Stevens.

"But you haven't known real fear till you've set foot in Hollywood."

These captions weren't creepy enough:

"Who knew the nuclear bomb which awakened me would lead to such a successful franchise?"
"Then I went to the scariest place of all—Tokyo!"

February 27, 2023 Update:  The Finalists

March 12, 2023 Update:  I voted for the caption from Toronto.

March 13, 2023 Update:  The Winner

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Arthur Glickman's Copy of Black Maria by Charles Addams

Arthur Glickman's copy of Black Maria (1960) was inscribed in the year of publication by cartoonist Charles Addams with Christmas greetings. There is also an original drawing of the boy we know as Pugsley, although he was not to be given that name until the creation of "The Addams Family" television show in 1964. Here he stands proud and forgoes his usual striped shirt for solid orange to welcome in the new year of 1961.

The Chicago auction house priced this book at $600 to $800, and that was about half right. It sold for an impressive $1,400 plus a $350 premium. What would Addams have made of this?

Charles Addams
Potter & Potter Auctions, Inc., February 16, 2023, Lot 127

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/addams-charles-1912-1988-an-original-ink-and-wash-127-c-c8c43e3bc8?objectID=176871503&algIndex=undefined&queryID=df917409dca3d06f78fb867d0b6427ef

June 11, 2023 Update:  After more than sixty-two years, this drawing has been removed from Arthur Glickman's former copy of Black Maria and framed, with the signature visible but the inscription either hidden by the matte or perhaps trimmed away entirely. The asking price is now more than 150% above the price at auction with premium, $1,750 versus $4,495.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256098591225?hash=item3ba0aa61f9:g:yiIAAOSwycFke7tW&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4ARqC4rZDN023uFzvnDc06Mvha8k8szvAdFfbNee8hQWJOAwWJGKLLM8fej6lfUH%2FgZUInKnzmAPdg061claFLCHeI
ddHwbggV9UqibXVl%2BtO4qfG9j%2FiS33zWYBIGadymvhWfMaM2vqAlRtly50N8BtUTpXJSZeWem1HUv%2BCoFNLp0tjG2Br72acZG223nBstkvALI%2FwwSs1BsjNyeIFOhUhw
m1m0bGz85kjfg9ypIB5cBtu4pJZV7bMBxSQOiZo5aOHbrHae3T3DH8IsLxEz24i04MjjxRzzjB0DqP3EtP%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR46QsSVYg

September 14, 2025 Update:  There is a certain similarity here between the Black Maria drawing made for Arthur Glickman and the New Yorker cover illustration with which Charles Addams was to welcome in the New Year of 1961. These two must be roughly contemporaneous.

Charles Addams
The New Yorker, December 31, 1960

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1960-12-31/flipbook/CV1/

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Jane Glickman's Copy of Favorite Haunts by Charles Addams

With all the souvenir drawings cartoonist Charles Addams has left for his many admirers to enjoy, it wasn't until yesterday, at least on this blog, that we saw him place Wednesday and Pugsley Addams together. Today we see Addams Family sister and brother sharing the page again, and from the very same February 16 sale at Potter & Potter Auctions, Inc., of Chicago. The 1977 drawing made for, we are informed, one Jane Glickman in her copy of Favorite Haunts (1976) shows a rather hefty Pugsley holding Wednesday, seated, on his shoulder. In addition, Addams has to contend with a bit of smudged ink, for which he improvises a creature called a blot.

With a presale estimate of $1,000 to $1,500, the book sold for an impressive $2,200, not including of course the $550 buyer's premium, tax, and shipping. It isn't only Pugsley who chooses to do some heavy lifting.

Charles Addams
Potter & Potter Auctions, Inc., February 16, 2023

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/addams-charles-1912-1988-an-original-ink-and-wash-129-c-9e549ffb72?objectID=176871505&algIndex=undefined&queryID=df917409dca3d06f78fb867d0b6427ef

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Jerry Granat's Copy of Monster Rally by Charles Addams

In November of 1975, autograph collector Jerry Granat was very specific about what he wanted from Charles Addams when he sent the cartoonist a copy of Monster Rally (1950) for a signature. "In keeping within the pattern of my other books signed by artists, please don't forget to include a sketch or drawing within. I will appreciate this because, as I previously wrote you, an original drawing by the artist is making my book collection an exciting one, as opposed to an ordinary autograph collection." I fully agree with the sentiment, although I've never had the nerve to request such a thing so blatantly. But then, Jerry figured out how to get his copy of Monster Rally drawn in by Addams, and I didn't.

It's an unusual personalized book. Addams's drawing is not in the front of the book, but on page 83 under a cartoon of Uncle Fester on the road. It depicts a shirtless Pugsley flexing his biceps to try and impress a doubtful Wednesday. So Jerry obtained a drawing with two Addams Family characters for his efforts.

Addams's note, included with the lot, is dated prior to Jerry's typewritten letter, so it may refer to a different book he only signed.

This lot was offered yesterday with a presale estimate of $1,000 to $1,500. Early bidding was already at $700 two weeks before the sale.

Charles Addams
Potter & Potter Auctions, Inc., listing accessed c. January 29, 2023

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/addams-charles-1912-1988-an-original-ink-and-wash-128-c-c294939a52?objectID=176871504&algIndex=upcoming_lots_prod&queryID=d1244e1b45f3b29896a71764e0b8e573

The book sold for a $1900 hammer price, well above the high estimate, plus there's that $475 buyer's premium:

April 8, 2023 Update:  The book is now being offered by Neverland Books of Waalre, Netherlands for $5,000, a markup of about 100%, possibly more, depending on tax and shipping costs.

Charles Addams
AbeBooks listing accessed April 8, 2023

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31472122247&searchurl=an%3Dcharles%2Baddams%26sgnd%3Don%26sortby%3D100%26tn%3Dmonster%2Brally&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title2

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"Ringo" Daniel Funes: New York, New York

To make a movie called "New York, New York" with a "New York" number that isn't the one you go into the cinema humming is rather like writing a children's book called "Alice in Wonderland" which is about another Alice.

—Penelope Gilliatt

The New Yorker, July 4, 1977

The artist "Ringo" Daniel Funes markets himself as a protege of Andy Warhol's assistant Steve Kaufman, who was later a pop artist in his own right. On Sunday, Robinhood Auctions of Las Vegas offered two of Funes's one-off silkscreens on canvas, both apparently entitled New York, New York. They differ mainly in their use of color and both have similar double appropriations relating to New York City in the latter half of the 1970s.

The first appropriation on the top of the prints are the familiar song lyrics to the "Theme from 'New York, New York.'" This is not Fred Ebb's original version but Frank Sinatra's from the popular recording, with his interpolations of "A-number one" two times—no self-respecting lyricist would sanction that. The typography is uninspired and perhaps appropriated from somewhere as well. Below the words is an anemic-looking, cropped, monochrome version of Saul Steinberg's celebrated New Yorker cover of March 29, 1976, usually called View of the World from 9th Avenue. The famous map illustration here is presented with offset printing dots, as if it were copied not from the actual magazine cover but from a cheap reproduction. Perhaps it was.

Among the many indignities suffered by the art here, the magazine's logo is eliminated, as are Japan and Russia. The avenues have lost their names, and the words Pacific Ocean are mostly obliterated, although fragments of letters do remain. Chicago and Canada are gone too as is most of the top right of the illustration. Steinberg's name is missing letters. The version with the color over the lyrics and in the right middle-ground retains more of Steinberg's labels and his signature:

Ringo's two silkscreens—even his name sounds like an appropriation—did not find any takers. The auction listings don't mention the names Fred Ebb or Saul Steinberg anywhere. Here's the rest of both unsold lots:

Detail

"Ringo" Daniel Funes
Robinhood Auctions, February 12, 2023, Lot 200

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ringo-daniel-funes-protege-of-andy-warhols-appren-200-c-f4248efa9c?objectID=177383422&algIndex=undefined&queryID=13f01ae97f5de9d7ca8b9d80c7248151

Detail

"Ringo" Daniel Funes
Robinhood Auctions, February 12, 2023, Lot 756

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ringo-daniel-funes-protege-of-andy-warhols-appren-756-c-74742299d1?objectID=177383978&algIndex=undefined&queryID=8656ecc2d740026adcde3e4df51a759d

After encountering these dispiriting silkscreens, it's a good idea to go back to the original song and illustration. In the 1977 movie "New York, New York," Liza Minelli sang Kander and Ebb's original version of the song they wrote for her:

Sinatra's version took unauthorized liberties with the lyrics, adding "A-number one" twice, but it is now the version everyone knows.

Steinberg's New Yorker cover in its original state maintains its vibrancy despite the many ways people find of altering it:

Saul Steinberg
The New Yorker, March 29, 1976

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1976-03-29/flipbook/CV1/

February 18, 2023 Update:  There are numerous additional variations on the same theme.

Detail

"Ringo" Daniel Funes
Robinhood Auctions, February 12, 2023, Lot 375

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ringo-daniel-funes-protege-of-andy-warhols-appren-375-c-bc24f4995a?objectID=177293888&algIndex=undefined&queryID=c69689713aaa35b2e26a6950a1de601c

Detail

"Ringo" Daniel Funes
Robinhood Auctions, January 29, 2023, Lot 320

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ringo-daniel-funes-protege-of-andy-warhols-appren-320-c-7214c90979?objectID=177094275&algIndex=undefined&queryID=c69689713aaa35b2e26a6950a1de601c

Detail

"Ringo" Daniel Funes
Robinhood Auctions, January 10, 2023, Lot 594

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ringo-daniel-funes-protege-of-andy-warhols-appren-594-c-4ef45af9ef?objectID=176678352&algIndex=undefined&queryID=c69689713aaa35b2e26a6950a1de601c

Detail

"Ringo" Daniel Funes
Robinhood Auctions, December 8, 2022, Lot 867

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ringo-daniel-funes-protege-of-andy-warhols-appren-867-c-bb74ae98dd?objectID=175934618&algIndex=undefined&queryID=c69689713aaa35b2e26a6950a1de601c

Detail

"Ringo" Daniel Funes
Robinhood Auctions, October 25, 2022, Lot 434

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ringo-daniel-funes-protege-of-andy-warhols-appren-434-c-38c4deba46?objectID=174710832&algIndex=undefined&queryID=c69689713aaa35b2e26a6950a1de601c

"Ringo" Daniel Funes
Robinhood Auctions, September 15, 2022, Lot 834

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ringo-daniel-funes-protege-of-andy-warhols-appren-834-c-3204a728c0?objectID=173655105&algIndex=undefined&queryID=c69689713aaa35b2e26a6950a1de601c

Detail

"Ringo" Daniel Funes
Robinhood Auctions, January 4, 2022, Lot 272

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ringo-daniel-funes-original-mixed-media-on-canvas-272-c-cb346068d8?objectID=167510202&algIndex=undefined&queryID=444ec29ebc3fc4a813b0e33593e16443

You get the idea:

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ringo-daniel-funes-protege-of-andy-warhols-appren-21-c-2e84f81b2e?objectID=172642504&algIndex=undefined&queryID=444ec29ebc3fc4a813b0e33593e16443

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ringo-daniel-funes-protege-of-andy-warhols-appren-839-c-d0e4ecfb23?objectID=172393578&algIndex=undefined&queryID=444ec29ebc3fc4a813b0e33593e16443

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ringo-daniel-funes-protege-of-andy-warhols-appren-353-c-bf442a58d2?objectID=169832025&algIndex=undefined&queryID=444ec29ebc3fc4a813b0e33593e16443

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/ringo-daniel-funes-protege-of-andy-warhols-appren-790-c-f10430ba12?objectID=165657915&algIndex=undefined&queryID=444ec29ebc3fc4a813b0e33593e16443

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