Addams, Charles "Chas"

ORIGINAL "THE NEW YORKER" ILLUSTRATION [Signed and Inscribed]

The New Yorker Magazine, Inc. Original charcoal and pencil on paper with handwritten caption: "The way I look at it, somebody’s gotta do the job”. Signed to lower right in illustration, and signed, inscribed, and dated ("1957") to lower left in ink. Possibly linked to Addams' work for the 1957 British black comedy, "How To Murder a Rich Uncle." In Very Good minus condition with age toning, wear along edges, and creasing/wrinkling throughout. Frame measures 24.3 in. x 29.3 in. Shelved at Rockville Room C.

1412164

Special Collections - Upstairs

Price: $25,000

NOTES

Originally from Westfield, New Jersey, Charles “Chas” Addams rose to prominence as a cartoon artist for The New Yorker in the early 1930s before cementing his legacy in American pop culture with the creation of The Addams Family in 1938. Addams continued to freelance throughout his career, and in 1957 he was brought on to do the promotional art for the British comedy noir film How to Murder a Rich Uncle. The film stars Charles Coburn as the titular uncle, as his family members (Nigel Patrick, Katie Johnson, and Anthony Newly) work to bring about his death. The film is noted for being Michael Caine’s second credited film appearance. Addams’s work was used extensively during the film’s advertisement, including for its vertical posters and program inserts.