Christmas Decorating with Edward Gorey

This Edward Gorey illustration appeared in the New York Times in December 1984. While the father works on lighting the Christmas tree, his helpers are glued to the television set trying to decide what program to watch. It should be remembered that there were far fewer channels in 1984 than there are on television today. Of course, if Mr. Gorey were illustrating this scene today, the kids would be looking at iPads or Smartphones!

I particularly like the piles of VHS tapes stacked up around the television (no DVD or Blue Ray in 1984). Mr. Gorey was an inveterate taper of TV programs and two of the programs (To The Manor Born & Fawlty Towers) are particular favorites of mine.

Avoiding Christmas with Quentin Crisp and Edward Gorey

For the curmudgeons amongst us, Quentin Crisp's essay entitled Avoiding Christmas is a wonderfully grouchy approach to the Holiday Season. Appearing in the New York Times on November 15, 1987, Mr. Crisp's writing is illustrated with a charming color drawing by Edward Gorey. The drawing looks as though everyone is having a jolly time until you realize that it is inspired by the sentence, "You may even find yourself wearing a paper hat, pulling crackers and crawling around on the floor with other people's children". To read the full piece you can go here.

Mr. Crisp was born on Christmas Day in 1908 and managed to avoid his 91st celebration of the Yuletide Season by passing away on November 21, 1999.

Edward Gorey Travel Observations

This Edward Gorey Being Brave Abroad travel segment appeared in the New York Times in March 1986. This four panel color format was used by Mr. Gorey on numerous occasions and several of these "outings" are included in Amphigorey Again.

Haunted Travels

This time of year is often filled with travel to visit family and friends, but what if your travel plans could include visits with departed souls? No matter which part of the world you visit, you will always find tales of supernatural happenings and there are a handful of hotels that are reported to be haunted.



If you decide your vacation would not be complete without one of these spooky accommodations,  the June 1998 Travel & Leisure Magazine published an article listing a handful of haunted hotels. Of course, the article is illustrated by Edward Gorey!


The illustrations by Mr. Gorey feature disturbed guests with wide stares. This should not be a surprise since they have all just seen ghosts in their hotel rooms, lobbies, and elevators! The illustrations are simply presented with humor that matches the writing style of the article.

Happy Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

FROM GOREYANA!

Gashlycrumb Tinies Limited Edition Portfolio

This year, Edward Gorey fans worldwide have been celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Gashlycrumb Tinies. Published in 1963 as part of The Vinegar Works, the Tinies have come to be regarded as Mr. Gorey's masterpiece creation. The Edward Gorey House has showcased the original artwork in a yearlong exhibition that closes on the 29th December.

As this milestone anniversary year winds to a close, The Edward Gorey House has provided a perfect way to cherish the Tinies for years to come. A limited portfolio edition has just been issued which includes 27 prints (a print of each letter plus the cover art). The portfolio edition is strictly limited to one hundred numbered sets and twenty-six lettered sets.

Images are printed at their original size of 5" x 6" on 8" x 10" art paper. Housed in an attractive portfolio are all the prints plus an additional celebratory title-card and a colophon card giving the details about this unique edition.

The new celebratory title-cards and the colophon cards are blind-embossed with Gorey’s signature. In addition, each item within the set will be marked with the set’s identifying number or letter.

The 26 lettered sets include as a bonus a plate of the rejected “F is for Fanny” image (“rejected” by Edward himself who chose to re-work it for the final book). This unused version is currently on view as part of the 2013 exhibit and is being reproduced separately for the first time.

To order your set, contact The Edward Gorey House.

Doubtful Guest Doll

One of Edward Gorey's most beloved characters is the Doubtful Guest. Making its first appearance in 1957 in the book of the same name, all we really know of the creature (is it an animal??) is that it wears sneakers and a long striped scarf, appears mysteriously, and does not leave. As it takes up permanent residence with a Victorian family, it shows all the characteristics of a beloved pet and a petulant child.

In 1974, the Doubtful Guest was gloriously brought to life as a Gorey-approved, three-dimensional, hand-made doll. Limited to 50 numbered copies and several lettered copies (A - D) - the limitation is hand written by Edward Gorey on tags which were sewn onto the doll's scarf - the highly detailed DG doll was issued in a box with a paper label affixed to the lid. I am showing doll #21/50. According to Goreyography, a set of lettered dolls were produced in 1995 by the same makers of the original limited edition and each bears a signature label.