This fun and wide-ranging sale offers an early advertising image and a calendar illustration by Dr. Seuss, as well as a selection of American magazine illustrations by such luminaries as Austin Briggs, Charles Dana Gibson, Andrew Loomis and Harrison Fisher. A selection of children’s book artwork includes charming illustrations for Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmens and an iconic H.A. Rey from Rafi et les 9 singes, which introduced his beloved Curious George. We also debut a pen-and-ink drawing by Ernest H. Shepard for Bertie’s Escapades, a posthumous publication written by fellow British children’s book giant, Kenneth Grahame.
A robust theater section features set designs from award-winning productions, including Jo Mielziner’s design for A Streetcar Named Desire, and a collection of Tom John’s designs and preparatory sketches for The Wiz and a revival of Guys and Dolls, both of which featured all-black casts. The sale is bursting with treats and visuals from The New Yorker and other publications, including 12 Biographies by Saul Steinberg, an illustration published in his famous—and recently reprinted—The Labyrinth. There is a 1927 modernist New Yorker cover by Ilonka Karasz, as well as a number of choice cartoons by favorites such as Charles Addams, alongside works by young and current New Yorker cartoonists. A run of works offered on behalf of the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust completes the sale.
Magazine Illustration
James Montgomery Flagg, I Should Worry, watercolor, gouache and graphite, cover for Judge magazine, 1914. $5,000 to $7,500.
Vogue
Georges Lepape, Sur la Terrasse, gouache and pencil, cover for Vogue, 1930. $8,000 to $12,000.
TV GuideMagazine
Edward Gorey, He will not be right back after this message, pen, ink, watercolor and wash, illustration for TV Guide Magazine, 1980. $5,000 to $7,500.
Life Magazine
Charles Dana Gibson, The Coming Game, Yale vs. Vassar, pen and ink, published in Life magazine, 1895. $2,000 to $3,000.
Saturday Evening Post
Austin Briggs, illustration for Dana Burnet’s The Senator’s Shadow, ink, gouache and oil, published in The Saturday Evening Post, 1948. $5,000 to $7,500.
The New Yorker
Charles Addams, Nevermore, watercolor, ink and correction fluid, cartoon for The New Yorker, 1973. $12,000 to $18,000.
Ilonka Karasz, Chop Suey, gouache with graphite, cover for The New Yorker, 1927. $4,000 to $6,000.
Comics & Cartoons
Saul Steinberg, 12 Biographies, A to B, pen and ink with collage, final illustration in his book The Labyrinth, 1960. $12,000 to $18,000.
Charles Schulz, The Biggest Star Measured So Far, ink and wash, original Peanuts cartoon, published 1961. $8,000 to $12,000.
Emily Flake, “For the last time, ma’am—we’re definitely not strippers,” pen, ink and watercolor, cartoon for Playboy magazine. $1,000 to $1,500.
Book Illustrations
Robert Lo Grippo, complete set of seven acrylic illustrations for James Fenimore Cooper’s The Deerslayer, 1983. $3,000 to $4,000.
Children’s Literature
Ernest H. Shepard, He led them into the chalk-pit, till they stood at the very foot, pen and ink, illustration for Kenneth Grahame’s Bertie’s Escapade, 1949. $10,000 to $15,000.
H.A. Rey, Then all the monkeys put on their skis, climbed the tree, and slid down Cecily’s back, color pencil, charcoal, watercolor and gouache, for Rey’s Rafi et les 9 singes, 1939. $10,000 to $15,000.
D.R. Sexton, ‘Come Back!’ the caterpillar called after her, watercolor and gouache, for Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, 1933. $3,000 to $4,000.
Ludwig Bemelmans, Sketch for Madeline, gouache and ink. $6,000 to $9,000.
Dr. Seuss, “It’s out first…don’t you think it looks like George?” pen, pencil, ink and watercolor, calendar illustration for the Thomas D. Murphy Company, 1937. $10,000 to $15,000.
Theater Set & Costume Designs
Jo Mielziner, A Streetcar Named Desire, watercolor, graphite and gouache, first color study for the award-winning 1947 production. $7,000 to $10,000.
Edward Gorey, Swan Lake, Hunters/Siegfried, Van Rothbart, watercolor, pen and ink, costume designs for the 1975 production of Swan Lake at Rockland Community College, Suffern, NY. $8,000 to $12,000.
Tom H. John, Guys and Dolls, mixed media, group of four set designs for the 1976 Broadway revival production directed by Billy Wilson. $3,000 to $4,000.
Exhibition Begins December 5
The exhibition is free to attend and open to the public. We welcome
special and educational groups with advance notice—send an inquiry to rsvp@swanngalleries.com.
Exhibition Hours
Thursday, December 5 — 10 am to 6 pm
Friday, December 6 — 10 am to 6 pm
Saturday, December 7 — 12 am to 5 pm
Monday, December 9 — 10 am to 6 pm
Tuesday, December 10 — 10 am to Noon
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