Estate / Collection: The Personal Collection of Al Jaffee

Al Jaffee's MAD Book, a scrapbook gifted to him by his MAD colleagues containing unpublished artwork, cartoons, and writings, mostly comedic tributes to Jaffee, dated December 19, 1989. 34 pages of artwork and writings, housed in a black leather binder, the pages in protective plastic sleeves, with a hand-lettered label on the spine reading "AJ MAD Party Book"; the binder measures 13 1/4 x 11 inches. Minor wear to the binder, the tape over the spine label is starting to come loose at the edges, the contents are fine.

A unique book containing a hilarious compendium of original unpublished artwork and writings by the "Usual Gang of Idiots." The humor is distinctly MAD, but since the MADmen are writing for themselves, knowing that the works would not be published, the jokes are a bit naughtier, and the parodies are self-reflexive.

The MAD Book tradition began as scrapbook-style gifts from the "Usual Gang of Idiots" to MAD's publisher, Bill Gaines, as a thank-you for organizing elaborate, yearly, all-expenses-paid vacations to exotic locations, such as Haiti in 1960, Greece and Africa in 1969, Spain and Morocco in 1972, Mexico in 1973, and Tahiti in 1974 (see lot 451 for an archive of Al Jaffee's slides and stereo views from these trips). Some of the artworks from Gaines' MAD books are illustrated in Maria Reidelbach's Completely Mad: A History of the Comic Book and Magazine (pp. 164-177). Later on, however, Gaines altered the tradition so that, each year, a single MAD contributor would receive a MAD Book. The book would be presented to the honoree at MAD's annual office Christmas party. Jaffee was the recipient of MAD Books in 1989 and 2011 (see lot 441).

The contents of this MAD book are as follows:

1). A printed parody contract from E.C. publisher Bill Gaines, dated, illegibly signed, with a post-it note to Jaffee signed by MAD editor John Ficarra.

2). A note in ink with a pasted-down printed cartoon portrait of Jaffee, signed by Sara Friedman.

3). A drawing of Jaffee in ink and watercolor on board, signed by Jack Davis, dated "Sept. 25, 1990, little late."

4). A fold-in style drawing of Jaffee by Bob Clarke.

5-6). Two printed versions of a fold-in, one in color and other black in white, by Sam Viviano.

7). A pencil portrait of Al Jaffee, inscribed to "our own gray beret," by Gerry Gersten.

8). A cartoon titled "The Many Facets of Al Jaffee" in pen and ink wash on paper by Paul Peter Porges.

9-10). A typed script titled "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions" by Frank Jacobs.

11). A fold-in style collage with photos, printed text, and a manuscript note, from Annie Gaines.

12). A photograph with manuscript additions and a pasted-down speech bubble, with a signed note from Bill Gaines.

13-14). A typed script titled "The Book of Jaffee" by Lou Silverstone, signed and inscribed in ink.

15). Original cartoon, ink and watercolor on paper, titled A Sort of Tall Tale of ye Founding Fathers" signed and inscribed by George C. Woodbridge.

16). A typed cartoon idea titled "The MAD 'pizza-lover's HATE BOOK' signed and inscribed by Mike Snider, with an additional signed inscription by John Ficarra.

17). An original fold-in style ink and colored pencil portrait of Jaffee, and a signed illustrated note, both pasted to a green paper backing, from Sergio Arragones.

18). A typed parody list of ideas for Jaffee-style MAD cartoons signed by Charlie Kadau.

19). A collage of 3 postcards and a signed photograph by Arnie Kogen.

20-22). A typed three-page baudy poem about MAD, titled "Jaf - Jaf - Jaf" signed and inscribed by Nick Meglin.

23). An original cartoon in ink and colored marker on paper signed and inscribed by Don "Duck" Edwing.

24). A collaged photograph, with an inscription at the top, "Man of the Year!" and signed and inscribed at the bottom by Irving Schild.

25). A typed letter, illegibly signed.

26). An autograph letter from Len Brenner on MAD stationery, with a stamped portrait instead of a signature.

27). An original Fold-In style portrait of Jaffee in pen, colored pencil, and watercolor on paper, by Paul Coker.

28). An original fold-in-themed artwork in pen, ink wash, and watercolor on paper, signed and inscribed by Angelo Torres.

29). An original fold-in-themed artwork in pen, watercolor and gouache on paper by Mort Drucker

30). A photocopy of the MAD account page from 1952, with the entry showing when Jaffee started contributing to the magazine highlighted in green, signed and inscribed by Tom Nozkowski and Joe Raiola.

31). An original artwork, ink on paper, a self-portrait of Al Jaffee with his MAD Book.

32-34) In the back pocket of the binder, there is a signed and illustrated apology note from Jack Davis, an autograph note on MAD stationery with the stamped portrait instead of a signature, and a typed note with a pasted-down photograph of Jaffee from Rey Cruz.

Images of the complete contents of this lot are available on request.