Two contemporary advertisements for Peter Arno'sCircus, his 1931 cartoon collection, show distinctly different approaches to the art of book promotion. The first was spotted by Scott Burns in the New York Times Book Review of January 11, 1931. Under the banner "Audacity vs. Dirt," it revels in Arno's reputation for racy humor, and in the consummate skill which he brings to his art—not like, you know, some of those crude hack artists out there. Well, see the language for yourself:
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| Advertisement for Peter Arno's Circus The New York Times Book Review, January 11, 1931 Photo by Scott Burns |
In contrast, here is how the book was promoted on Arno's home territory in The New Yorker:
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| Advertisement for Peter Arno's Circus The New Yorker, December 14, 1931, page 91 |
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| Unsigned spot drawing, news breaks, and various advertising |
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| Peter Arno's Circus, 1931 Image added March 18, 2022 |
Note: Scott Burns has come through once again, earning my gratitude here for the fifteenth time. Among his many accomplishments, Scott maintains a comprehensive Ralph Steadman bibliography here. I wouldn't steer you wrong.
As a result of these new findings, I've had to update my far-from-comprehensive 2016 post on Peter Arno book promotions here.
Are there other print ads for this book? Your discoveries can be added to this blog.
Glory be! Who can identify this spot artist?
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