This morning I was standing in front of the Spill’s wall of cartoon books, looking through some Richard Taylor illustrated books (that’s another story) when my eyes drifted up to the shelf lined with “extra” Thurber books (later editions, duplicate copies, copies sans dust jackets, paperbacks). I’d long ago placed The New Yorker promotional booklet you see below facing out, guaranteeing I’d see it every visit to the cartoon wall and enjoy it one more time. The drawing is a Thurber classic. I’m not going too far out on a limb suggesting that it is the most memorable wine-themed cartoon in the magazine’s history.
Originally published in the March 27, 1937 issue of The New Yorker, here’s how it appeared to those turning onto pages 18 & 19. The drawing on the bottom left is by Robert Day (caption: “This is very unusual weather for Glen Ridge.”):
Thurber’s wine drawing has appeared in numerous collections including Men, Women and Dogs in 1943, followed by The Thurber Carnival in 1945. It was included as well in the 1955 Hamish Hamilton UK only A Thurber Garland. I first saw it in The Thurber Carnival, most likely the same day, and within minutes of seeing my first Thurber drawing, “What have you done with Dr. Millmoss?”
