Fruitcake

Fruitcake

The first recorded recipes come from Ancient Roman times and through the centuries, fruitcake has been an extravagant indulgence served at special celebrations whose ingredients at one time were even regulated by the Pope (See the Wikipedia link HERE for a history of fruitcake).  In November 1978, Johnny Carson told a joke on The Tonight Show about fruitcake, stating that there is only one actual fruitcake that gets passed from hand to hand but is never actually consumed. The joke struck like lightning and fruitcake has never been viewed the same since. It seems that everyone either loves fruitcake or despises it.    

In 1990 Edward Gorey added his own inimitable twist on the ubiquitous holiday treat (and running joke). Published as a limited edition Christmas card for the Albodonocani Press in 1990, Edward Gorey drew Fruitcake, a winter scene in which a bundled up family is braving the cold and snow to dispose of their unwanted fruitcakes under the cover of darkness by dropping them through an ice fishing hole on a frozen pond. 

Strikingly executed in pen and ink, the night sky was rendered not by painting in the background which would have been an overwhelming flat black when printed, but rather by painstakingly applied individual pen strokes. The horizontal flecks of white paper showing through the darkness lighten the image and add a sense of drama to the scene. The fruitcake falling from the sky gives the work a touch of surrealistic humor.  

Arguably Edward Gorey's most famous Christmas card image, I acquired the original artwork for Fruitcake earlier this year.

A Gorey Christmas

Published in the New York Times, The New York Times Book Review (NYTBR) is a weekly supplement that first appeared in the paper in 1896. The NYTBR remains one of the most influential review forums for new literature to this day.

In 1990 Edward Gorey was commissioned by the editors of the NYTBR to create nine spot illustrations to enhance the various book genres being reviewed in the December 2nd issue. Mr. Gorey created two additional illustrations for the issue that provided inspiration for writers to submit short stories based on the images. This issue was titled A Gorey Christmas.

Each of the spot illustrations created for the supplement features three characters; a small boy, an alligator, and a robot. Fir tree branches decorated with Christmas baubles intrude into the frame of each illustration. The book categories illustrated include: Architecture, Art (pictured above), Best Books (pictured at the bottom of the post), Cooking, Gardening, Photography, Poetry, Travel, and the rather inexplicable Dying Children.

Dying Children accompanies an essay by Perri Klass about the prevalence in Victorian yuletide-themed literature of children dying before their time, a theme not dissimilar to Edward Gorey's masterwork, The Gashlycrumb Tinies. Interestingly, the Dying Children drawing is the only one from this series that does not include a book.

The NYTBR supplement also included two special illustrations by Edward Gorey created especially for this issue. These drawings were created as inspiration for writers to compose a story based on the images. Nine short stories were published in the supplement. The first drawing, titled Trimming the Tree, showed our alligator being assisted by a family while placing ornaments on an tree out in the snow, far from the ancestral home in the background (see the top of the post). The second, titled The Skating Party, featured the helpful robot bringing a bowl of flaming holiday punch to a skating party. 

The NYTBR is the only time these whimsical drawings have been published all together, although a few of the images have appeared over the years on greeting cards. 

Original art images courtesy The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust.

 

 

Auction News

There have been several recent auctions that included original art by Edward Gorey. On October 17, 2024 Leland Little Auctions of Hillsborough, North Carolina offered a piece from The Dream World of Dion McGregor, published in 1964 by Bernard Greis Assosiates, New York. The provenance note on this piece stated that the art came from the collection of Don Patterson, executive editor at Bernard Greis. 

Titled Cottage for Sale,  this creepy image illustrates a particularly gruesome tale of a house of torture being shown to perspective renters with the sales pitch given as if the house is a quaint home for rent. Edward Gorey chose what is quite possibly the least horrific part of the tour for this illustration. "And the closet space...each one with a noose hanging in there...". This piece sold for $4920.00 (including buyer's premium).

On October 24th Bohnam's auctions of Los Angeles featured two works by Edward Gorey from the collection of Leonard Stanley. The first, titled Lawn on Malta is a Zen landscape created in 1974 featuring rocks that look like cats alongside sleeping cats that look like rocks. This tranquil scene sold for $12,800.00 (including buyer's premium).

The second piece included in the sale is a beautifully rendered set design from Edward Gorey's seminal 1977 Broadway production of Dracula.

Edward Gorey designed the set with a framework of five arched openings for inset panels which could be quickly changed for each act. This Act 1 set piece is the wall panel inset on the right. The books filling the shelves were indicated on other set drawings for this scene. The drawing sold for $8960.00 (including buyer's premium).

Images courtesy of Leland Little Auctions, Hillsborough, NC, and Bohnams Auctions, Los Angeles, CA. Dracula Act 1 set photo by Martha Swope, New York Public Library Digital Collections.

A Gorey Inspired Puppet

My husband Bill Campbell likes to surprise me each year with an Edward Gorey inspired toy that he makes by hand. With the publication of Carol Verburg's Gorey/Theater book, Bill began working on a hand puppet based on the actors Gorey created for his Le Théâtricule stoïque puppet troupe.

Bill was working towards completing a puppet in time for our Thanksgiving anniversary, but moved things up when I was asked to participate in Carol's October 15th book launch party. With only photos of Edward Gorey's original puppets as reference, Bill sculpted a head and then sewed several practice bodies in plain cloth until he felt he had gotten the proportions correct. He then used a "Gorey appropriate" cloth and sewed the final body. The addition of a parasol made from antique lace completed the figure.

Since none of Edward Gorey's original puppet actors were available to attend the book launch, Bill's understudy puppet was displayed. After her star turn at the event, our Lady With A Lace Parasol has taken up residence in a Chinese Urn in a corner of our dining room.

Everyone knows that actors will perform at a moments notice and our Lady With A Lace Parasol is the consummate understudy, always angling for her turn in the spotlight. Here she is, performing to Absinthe Frappé by Victor Herbert. Written in 1904 for It Happened In Nordland, the tune is played on our antique 1910 Regina music box.

Theatrical Book Launch Event

On Tuesday October 15th Carol Verburg's soon to become a classic book on Edward Gorey's theater career was launched with a book signing event at Big Hill Books in Minneapolis. It was an honor to be Carol's featured guest at the event.

Carol and I discussed Edward Gorey's life long fascination with theater work beginning with his first Christmas concert set design at the Francis Parker School in Chicago, his work with The Poets Theater while attending Harvard University, his enormous success with Dracula on the Cape and on Broadway, and finally to his "entertainments" in the 1990's on the Cape. The talk was illustrated with several pieces of original set design artwork by Mr. Gorey from my personal collection.

After the talk, those that attended were able to purchase the new book and have it personally signed by Carol. The evening was a huge success and was the first of several book launch events across the country that Carol will be attending.

For those who were not in attendance, here are excerpts from our presentation on The Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey.

Goreyana Anniversary

It is always a shock to realize that yet another year of sharing stories and events about the life and works of Edward Gorey has flown by. 

As Goreyana turns 16 and begins its 17th year, we are pleased to announce that Irwin Terry will be joining author Carol Verburg at her first book launch event to celebrate the publication of her book The Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey on Tuesday October 15th at Big Hill Books in Minneapolis. 

In addition to hearing Carol talk about her professional theatrical experiences and personal friendship with Edward Gorey, several pieces of never before displayed original theater set designs from Irwin Terry's collection that are featured in the book will be on display at the event.

The event will take place at Big Hill Books, 405 Penn Avenue South in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Tuesday October 15th from 7 - 8pm.
 

Carol Verburg Book Events

The curtain is about to rise on Carol Verburg's new book The Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey and there will be several chances to meet the author in person. The first book event will be held in Minneapolis on October 15th with several other events to follow. Plan your visits now!

The Listing Attic

I completed my collection of first edition books by Edward Gorey some time ago; but every now and then a special copy of a book comes along that I feel must be added to the collection. This was the case with a copy of The Listing Attic that I acquired earlier this year.

The Listing Attic was published in 1954 and is Edward Gorey's second book. It is a volume of illustrated limericks by Mr. Gorey that follows in the limerick tradition of often being suggestively naughty without being offensive (unless one is easily offended). The primary copy in my collection was acquired in the late 1980's and is in pristine condition (see images at the top of the post). It is a stated first edition that is signed by Mr. Gorey and inscribed to me by him, so I never considered buying a second copy.

This past Spring, I heard there was a copy of The Listing Attic being offered at a book fair with a hand written limerick by Edward Gorey in the front of the book. I was not able to attend this fair but with the kindly assistance of another dealer I was able to purchase this copy. Due to the deep printed colors and the low quality of the paper, the dust jacket and illustrated covers of this book easily show noticeable signs of rubbing and scuffing. The inscribed copy shows the usual signs of wear, indicating that this book was handled, read, and enjoyed often. I have no doubt that the previous owner(s) also proudly shared the inscription with their friends.

The inscription is written on the green front flyleaf. There is no presentation name, but this was clearly given by Edward Gorey to a good friend as he rarely wrote lengthy inscriptions in books.

Written in the same distinctive hand lettered type that he used in the book, the limerick reads:

A well-set-up Mother of two

      Quite often had nothing to do

                At night she would babel

                And roll on the gravel

    But daytimes she spent making stew

                                        Harvey Gorey

It is presumed that the name Harvey Gorey was an inside joke between Mr. Gorey and the person who received this copy, but the exact meaning of the name is lost to time. We also have to use our imaginations to picture what the illustration might have been to accompany this limerick if it had appeared within the pages of the book.

On a side note, flipping my 2024 Edward Gorey wall calendar earlier this month revealed Edward Gorey's sketch for the cover of the book with an alternative title. All the major elements for the book cover are in place, including the first appearance of The Black Doll in the central second story window. The major change is the title of the book. This volume went through several name changes before publication. 

Mr. Gorey noted on the reverse of this sketch that it is the "Second Jacket Design for 'The Listing Attic'". An earlier cover design with yet another title, "The Disrespectful Summons" is also in the Gorey Archives. That title would finally be used 17 years later with a new story.

Book and inscription images by Irwin Terry. Images of the front and back of the sketch courtesy The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust.

Auction News

As part of their Summer Cocktail Soiree at the Strand Bookstore in New York City, the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust auctioned 22 items on Wednesday July 31, 2024. Included in the lots were books, posters, prints, personal items, and original artwork by Edward Gorey. Every lot offered was sold and the proceeds will benefit the Trust's charitable endeavors.

Of particular interest were three personal items owned and used by Edward Gorey including a pair of mod sunglasses ($1550.00), an art pen ($1150.00) used by Mr. Gorey for illustration work, and a large chameleon ring ($1675.00). Prints and posters realized strong auction prices with many unusual print editions being represented.

Rounding out the auction items were five pieces of original illustration artwork. A rare design for a coffee mug related to Mystery!, the popular television program from the 1990's on PBS sold for $4750.00. This delightful image shows a lady and gentleman eyeing up each other in a conspiratorial way while another woman lays dead on the floor, presumably having drunk a glass of wine that had been tampered with. Who done it? We can only guess!

Other original art included an illustration from 1986 for an issue of Vogue magazine ($4500.00 pictured at the top of this post), an image of Lizzie Borden created for use as a postcard ($5750.00 two pieces of art, pictured at the bottom of the post), and a fantastic full color painting for the cover of the book Things: Stories of Terror and Shock ($6250.00).

Rounding out the art being offered was an important Christmas card image from 1959/1960 that Edward Gorey created for The Looking Glass Library ($5000.00). This whimsical image captures the innocent playfulness of childhood while paying homage to Mr. Gorey's fondness for toys and stuffed animals.

This was the second annual Summer Cocktail Soiree hosted by the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust and friends and fans are already anticipating the next gathering!

All images courtesy The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust

The Edward Gorey Summer Cocktail Soiree

The excitement is building as the time approaches for the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust Summer Cocktail Soiree. The site is open to purchase tickets to the event and also to view and place bids on the numerous lots of rare works and personal items being offered this year's silent auction. Visit the party site HERE (registration with fee is required to place bids on auction items).

In addition to placing bids for the online auction, you can also outright buy three items being offered (an additional buy it now item has already sold out)! Two limited edition prints featuring color artwork created by Edward Gorey have been specially created by The Trust, both of which are available for immediate purchase. The first print The Galoshes of Remorse was created for the March 22,1993 issue of The New Yorker magazine. This amusing vignette is captioned with a banner reading, “Frivolity, at the edge of a Moral Swamp, hears Hymn-Singing in the Distance and dons the Galoshes of Remorse.”

The second print, Ancient Survivals reproduces images from suite of ink and watercolor drawings made for The Worsted Monster : A Medieval Tale, an unfinished story by Edward Gorey (ca. 1954). The three drawings are titled Classical Spectre, Tattooed Eccentric, and Ancient Survivals. Both of these prints are limited to 50 numbered copies and can be purchased now.

The other item(s) available for immediate purchase are ten copies from the 1980 vintage edition of F.M.R.A. Published in an edition of 426 copies - 400 numbered copies and 26 lettered copies, each housed in a clamshell box, these are the publisher's remaining ten copies of this rare work which have been waiting patiently for 44 years to enhance the collections of today's eager Gorey enthusiasts. Each of the copies in the edition has been hand signed and numbered by Edward Gorey at the time of publication. When donating these final copies for inclusion in this auction, publisher Andrew Alpern has personally hand signed each copy, making these ten boxed sets with both signatures very rare indeed! 

Bid and buy now, these rarities are only available now!

 

Happy Independence Day!

 Happy Independence Day!

From Figbash and Goreyana

A Presentation on Edward Gorey by Ken Morton

On September 24, 2018 Ken Morton gave a presentation about Edward Gorey that was captured on video for Tales of Cape Cod. Mr. Morton is on the Board of Directors of The Edward Gorey House museum. He is also a second cousin of Mr. Gorey's.

Ken Morton grew up with Edward Gorey as a presence in his life and the half hour presentation is full of rare insights and family stories. Mr. Morton shares many candid family photos and images of some never published early artworks.

This captivating presentation is available to experience on YouTube HERE.

Auction News

Doyle Auction House in New York City held The Collection of Stephen Sondheim auction on Thursday June 18, 2024. Amongst the personal memorabilia, antiques, artworks, and antique board games being offered were two lots of books by Edward Gorey.

 The first lot consisted of four books including The Tunnel Calamity (first edition accordion book), Q.R.V. The Universal Solvent (first trade edition), The Eclectic Abecedarium (first signed limited edition miniature book), and The Twelve Terrors of Christmas by John Updike (illustrated by Mr. Gorey, first trade edition). All books in this lot were hand signed by Mr. Gorey.

With a pre-sale estimate of $200.00 - $300.00, this lot sold for just over $1400.00 (with buyer's premium).

The next lot consisted of two first edition books - The Doubtful Guest and Phantasmagorey. Both of these books have been personally inscribed to Mr. Sondheim.

These exceptional treasures had a pre-sale estimate of $500.00 to $800.00 and sold for just over $3500.00 (with buyer's premium).

While none of the books from this auction will be entering my collection, I do have a wonderful letter from Mr. Sondheim to someone named Joe, thanking him for the gift of a book by Edward Gorey and commenting on his Gorey book collection. (see my post from December 13, 2021 - https://goreyana.blogspot.com/2021/12/sondheim-collects-gorey.html. As an avid admirer of both men and their works, this letter is something of a Holy Grail in my collection.

A Visit, A Party & A New Book

This past weekend, Bill and I had the pleasure of a visit to our home from Carol Verburg. Ms. Verburg is an author, playwright, theatrical director and producer. She was also a personal friend of Edward Gorey and produced many of his Cape Cod theatrical entertainments in the 1990's. Our visit passed much too quickly and we look forward to spending time with her again.

In addition to her previously published books on Edward Gorey's Cape Cod theatricals, Ms. Verburg has a new volume being published in October titled The Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey. For more information on this upcoming book, go HERE.

Carol Verburg will be the featured guest at the upcoming Edward Gorey Summer Cocktail Soiree on Thursday July 31. She will give a brief talk at the event. This annual party is a fundraiser for The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust and will be held at the Strand Book Store in New York City. Tickets for the event are now on sale HERE. The event will once again include a silent auction.