Cover Group
When SPX’s Warren Bernard visited Spill headquarters recently, one of the topics of conversation was illustrated books. I mentioned that, at one time, long ago, I began collecting books illustrated by New Yorker artists, and/or books with cover art by New Yorker artists. Once I realized how vast an area it was, I nipped that collection in the bud. Still, over time, I continue to add illustrated books to the Spill library. Some I cannot not resist, and others have to be on the shelves because of the author’s New Yorker bona fides (a modern example, and a rare three-fer: Matthew Klam‘s Who Is Rich? with cover art by Liana Finck, and drawings within by John Cuneo).
The very top left book shown in the group above, Wolcott Gibbs‘s Bed Of Neuroses, is a less modern example. Mr. Gibbs books are a must have, and how lucky that this collection of his features cover art by the great Rea Irvin (three other Gibbs books have cover art by Charles Addams. You can see them if you go to the “New Yorker Cartoonists Library” on this site). Another two-fer (New Yorker artist +writer) is E.J. Kahn, Jr.‘s The Voice, with cover art by one of my favorite New Yorker cover artists, Abe Birnbaum. Mr. Birnbaum also provided the great cover (bottom left) for Philip Hamburger‘s, The Oblong Blur. Inside Benchley is just one example of many Gluyas Williams covers he provided for Robert Benchley‘s writing over the years (those Benchley books are also chock full of Williams illustrations). I can’t think about a Benchley piece without picturing Gluyas Williams’ art.
One of the first books by a non-New Yorker writer I bought based solely on the cover was Eric Hodgins‘ Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. At that early stage in my own New Yorker life, not realizing how many of New Yorker artists worked outside of the magazine, I was surprised to see William Steig’s cover art.
Lastly, a somewhat obscure book, Jim Tully‘s Beggars Abroad with cover art by Peter Arno. When I was working on Arno’s biography, this book was on my must-get list. However, the cost of it prevented my adding it to the growing archive of Arno material. I wasn’t able to find an inexpensive copy til well after the biography was published. I love Arno’s quirky take on Tully, especially the way he handled Tully’s hair, using the semi-circles you find in so many of his drawings.
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Artists Mentioned Above:
Rea Irvin (pictured above. Self portrait above from Meet the Artist) *Born, San Francisco, 1881; died in the Virgin Islands,1972. Irvin was the cover artist for the New Yorker’s first issue, February 21, 1925. He was the magazine’s first art and only art supervisor (some refer to him as its first art editor) holding the position from 1925 until 1939 when James Geraghty assumed the title of art editor. Irvin then became art director and remained in that position until William Shawn officially succeeded Harold Ross in early 1952. Irvin’s last original work for the magazine was the magazine’s cover of July 12, 1958. The February 21, 1925 Eustace Tilley cover had been reproduced every year on the magazine’s anniversary until 1994, when R. Crumb’s Tilley-inspired cover appeared. Tilley has since reappeared, with other artists substituting from time-to-time. Number of New Yorker covers (not including the repeat appearances of the first cover every anniversary up to 1991): 163. Number of cartoons contributed: 261.
Abe Birnbaum (above) Born, New York City, 1899. Died June 19, 1966, New York City. New Yorker work: 1929 -1974. Mr. Birnbaum began at the New Yorker as a cartoonist, contributing a handful before switching to cover work, of which he produced 141. He also provided spot drawings and illustrations. According to Mr. Birnbaum’s New York Times obit, his work was exhibited at The Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Carnegie Institute.
Gluyas Williams (above left undated; right:1 975) Born, San Francisco, 1888. Died, Boston, Mass., 1982. One of the pillars of Harold Ross’s stable of artists, and one of Ross’s favorite cartoonists. His beautiful full page drawings were a regular feature in the magazine. Mr. Williams illustrated a number of Robert Benchley’s collections, providing the cover art as well as illustrations. NYer work: March 13, 1926 – Aug 25, 1951. Key collections: The Gluyas Williams Book ( Doubleday, Doran & Co., 1929), The Gluyas Williams Gallery (Harper, 1956). Website: http://www.gluyaswilliams.com/
William Steig (photo above) Born in Brooklyn, NY, Nov. 14, 1907, died in Boston, Mass., Oct. 3, 2003. In a New Yorker career that lasted well over half a century and a publishing history that contains more than a cart load of books, both children’s and otherwise, it’s impossible to sum up Steig’s influence here on Ink Spill. He was among the giants of the New Yorker cartoon world, along with James Thurber, Saul Steinberg, Charles Addams, Helen Hokinson and Peter Arno. Lee Lorenz’s World of William Steig (Artisan, 1998) is an excellent way to begin exploring Steig’s life and work. New Yorker work: 1930 -2003.
Peter Arno Born Curtis Arnoux Peters, Jr., January 8, 1904, New York City. Died February 22, 1968, Port Chester, NY. New Yorker work: 1925 -1968. Key collection: Ladies & Gentlemen (Simon & Schuster, 1951) The Foreword is by Arno. For far more on Arno please check out my biography of him, Peter Arno: The Mad Mad World of The New Yorker’s Greatest Cartoonist (Regan Arts, 2016).