Edward Koren's A Christmas Package: The Rockies

Edward Koren illustrates the cover of Travel & Leisure for December 1975.  All he needs is the title "A Christmas Package:  The Rockies" to bring a joyous image of skiing reindeer into being. Is it too late to sign me up for this package?

Edward Koren, Travel & Leisure, December 1975

http://www.robertnewman.com/travel-leisure-illustrated-covers-1970s/

Note:  Don't forget to look into the archives for more Christmas posts and more posts about Edward Koren. You really can't go wrong here.

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Saul Steinberg in Hallmark: A Century of Caring

Some of Saul Steinberg's work for Hallmark was included in Hallmark:  A Century of Caring. Most of the examples shown here are Christmas cards featuring Santa Claus exploring a variety of activities.

Hallmark: A Century of Caring

                                                                                                                                                                                   Hallmark: A Century of Caring

Note:  An assortment of delightful Christmas cards by various artists is available for your browsing pleasure.

May I interest you in a few more blog posts about Saul Steinberg?

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Edward Gorey: Christmas in the Eggplant Hills

Christmas in the Eggplant Hills is a 1989 Christmas card designed by Edward Gorey. Three rabbits dressed in plaid decorate a spooky scarecrow and an anthropomorphic root vegetable with Christmas tree ornaments. Any questions?

An example of this card signed by Mr. Gorey was sold last week on eBay for $53. The seller correctly points out that an unsigned card is currently available (on Amazon) for $275.

Edward Gorey, Christmas in the Eggplant Hills, 1989

eBay Listing Ended December 4, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Signed-Christmas-Card-by-Edward-Gorey-/331720456845?hash=item4d3c147a8d%3Ag%3A2AsAAOSwHQ9WW15C&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

eBay Item Description

eBay Bid History
At this price level bidding was weak, with three bids (aside from a cancelled bid) raising the price by just $3.

Edward Gorey, Christmas in the Eggplant Hills, 1989

Available for $275 (unsigned) on amazon.com

Note:  For more on Edward Gorey's limited edition Christmas cards, check out Irwin Terry's  authoritative Goreyana blog.

While you're at it, why not have a look at Attempted Bloggery's growing collection of Christmas cards by various artists?

Is that thing a parsnip? Whatever the case, this blog still has more to say about Edward Gorey.

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New Yorker Christmas Cards: Ho! Ho! Vs. Ho-Hum

Three times over the the past two months, two complete sets of 1982 New Yorker cartoonist Christmas cards were offered for sale on eBay. The cards are the work of thirteen of the magazine's artists. All are in color and all are quite charming, but they didn't  attract any bids even when the opening bid price was reduced to a ridiculously low amount.

New Yorker card assortment

Cards by Warren Miller, Ed Fisher, and Lee Lorenz

Cards by Mischa Richter, James Stevenson, Dana Fradon, and R. O. Blechman

Cards by Mick Stevens, Jack Ziegler, Frank Modell, and Mischa Richter

Cards by Jack Ziegler, Dana Fradon, Frank Modell, and Lee Lorenz

Cards by Gahan Wilson, Dana Fradon, and James Stevenson

Cards by Mischa Richter, Mick Stevens, Robert Weber, and Dana Fradon

Cards by R. O. Blechman and Charles Saxon

One set of New Yorker cards is still boxed

Card designs of R. O. Blechman, Dana Fradon, Ed Fisher, and Lee Lorenz

Card designs of Warren Miller, Mischa Richter, Frank Modell, Charles Saxon, and Mick Stevens

Card designs by James Stevenson, Robert Weber, Gahan Wilson, and Jack Ziegler
"Christmas cards. Ho! Ho! vs. ho-hum."

eBay Listing Ended October 9, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/52-NEW-YORKER-CARTOON-CHRISTMAS-CARDS-1981-unused-GAHAN-SAXON-ZIEGLER-etc-/191704021587?hash=item2ca2733a53%3Ag%3AFM0AAOSwu4BVtf-j&nma=true&si=Zv4PhLp6HocGRC23iqci2JeQ2LI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

The starting bid was subsequently reduced, but not the shipping cost:

eBay Listing Ended November 1, 2015

eBay Item Description

Note:  The blog archives have more posts about Christmas cards.

There's also lots more to see here about these cartoonists:

R. O. Blechman

Ed Fisher

Dana Fradon

Lee Lorenz

Warren Miller

Frank Modell

Mischa Richter

Charles Saxon

Mick Stevens

James Stevenson

Robert Weber

Gahan Wilson

Jack Ziegler

01709

Galloping Round with Ronald Searle

A seldom-seen 1959 Christmas card designed by Ronald Searle has found its way onto eBay just in time for our holiday inspiration. The card is signed and was kept by the recipient for all these years, no doubt because of the amusing sequence of drawings. Searle, of course, draws horses like nobody's business, but note too how skillfully he handles the extreme close-up view of the horse inside the card. Also note the deft alterations in facial expression of both horse and rider that occur between the cover and the inside of the card. Just who is in charge here?

eBay Listing Copied December 4, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/U32-VINTAGE-CHRISTMAS-CARD-CIRCUS-HORSE-ACROBAT-RONALD-SEARLE-c1959-/111839761017?hash=item1a0a2b5279:g:uCwAAOSwHQ9WX1dD

eBay Item Description

Note:  The Ronald Searle Tribute blog's extensive collection of Searle Christmas cards is well worth a look as the holidays approach. At this writing, the "Galloping Round" Christmas card is not on the site, but that surely will be remedied soon.

A handful of Christmas cards by various artists are featured on this blog as well.

Then there's my own unworthy offering of blog posts about Ronald Searle...

01708

My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #500

Here is my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest for November 30, 2015. The drawing is by Michael Maslin.

"Get out of town by high tide."

December 7, 2015 Update: The Finalists

Note:  Just last week in the Caption Contest, Michael Maslin gave us an impending storm. My caption was already all wet. See the precipitant results of Contest #499.

In the Old West of Cartoon Caption Contests, Michael Maslin is the sheriff.

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Arthur Getz Holiday Greetings

Original holiday card art by Arthur Getz depicts a beautiful winter scene. The location is clearly identified as the West Cornwall, Connecticut post office. This piece was offered last month on eBay.

Arthur Getz, Holiday Greetings
Original greeting card art

Arthur Getz's signature

eBay Listing Ended  November 13, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ARTHUR-GETZ-INK-WINTER-CHRISTMAS-ILLUSTRATION-CORNWALL-CONNECTICUT-NEW-YORKER-/231734612811?hash=item35f475934b:g:dcMAAOSwo0JWMQob

eBay Item Description

Arthur Getz, Holiday Greetings
Original greeting card art

[End of eBay Listing]

The West Cornwall, CT post office
Wikipedia photo by Joe Mabel

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Post_offices_in_Connecticut#/media/File:West_Cornwall,_CT_-_post_office_01.jpg

Note:  If anyone has a copy of the printed card based on this artwork, please get in touch.

Arthur Getz's website is getzart.com.

Arthur Getz created more New Yorker covers than any other artist. Some of his work may be seen in the archives of this blog. You can also find a few holiday cards here and there.

Thanks go to Sarah Getz for her insights on this piece.

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