RIGHT-FACING "BAHHUM BUG" PLUSH CREATURE
New York: The Toy Works, 2000. In Very Good condition with no visible wear or damage. Measures ~14 in. (height). Shelved in Case 3.
1411995
Shelved Dupont Bookstore
Price: $275
NOTES
Edward Gorey’s “Bahhum Bug” plush derives from the strange insect-like creature that appears in his darkly whimsical book The Headless Bust, first published in 1965. The Headless Bust is one of Gorey’s most admired miniature gothic narratives, telling the grimly comic story of the wealthy Clopez family and the disastrous fate that follows their arranged marriage plans. Throughout the book, Gorey filled the illustrations with unsettling and absurd background details, including the peculiar “Bahhum Bug,” a vaguely anthropomorphic insect-creature that became a favorite among Gorey collectors despite its relatively small role in the story itself. The plush adaptation reflects Gorey’s enduring cult appeal and the way even minor visual elements from his illustrated worlds developed devoted followings among fans of gothic humor, Victorian absurdity, and macabre illustration. Today the “Bahhum Bug” plush is considered a collectible piece of Gorey memorabilia, especially appealing to admirers of The Headless Bust and Gorey’s eccentric fictional universe.