LAUGHTER, ORGANIZED

Mankoff, Bob (1944– )

The New Yorker Encyclopedia of Cartoons: A Semi-Serious A-to-Z Archive [Slipcased Two-Volume Set • Comprehensive Cartoon Archive]

New York: Black Dog & Leventhal, 2018. First Edition, First Printing.

WHERE EVERY JOKE HAS A CATEGORY AND EVERY CATEGORY HAS A PUNCHLINE
A monumental and richly produced reference work gathering nearly a century of cartooning from The New Yorker, curated by longtime cartoon editor Bob Mankoff. Spanning from the magazine’s founding in 1924 to the modern era, this two-volume set organizes approximately 3,000 cartoons into more than 250 thematic categories, capturing the recurring visual language and humor that defined one of America’s most influential cultural publications.

Arranged alphabetically—from familiar tropes such as Adam and Eve, desert islands, and St. Peter at the gates of heaven to the everyday absurdities of modern life—the work functions both as a reference and a sustained reading experience. Mankoff’s commentary throughout provides context, wit, and insight into the evolution of cartoon humor, while the foreword by The New Yorker editor David Remnick situates the collection within the magazine’s broader literary and artistic legacy.

Physical Description:
+++ Large-format two-volume set in publisher’s slipcase; 12.75 inches tall.
+++ Volume I: A–K, 756 pages.
+++ Volume II: L–Z, 758 pages, including index of cartoonists.
+++ Fully illustrated throughout.
+++ First Edition, First Printing.
+++ Condition: No flaws or blemishes; gift quality. Factory sealed in original shrink wrap.

Historical Significance —
The New Yorker has long served as a central platform for American cartooning, shaping both the tone and visual vocabulary of modern humor. Under Bob Mankoff’s tenure as cartoon editor, the magazine expanded its reach and preserved its archive, making this encyclopedia a culminating effort to document the breadth of its cartoon tradition.

The set stands as both a scholarly resource and a cultural artifact, illustrating how recurring visual motifs—office life, mortality, relationships, and social satire—have evolved while remaining instantly recognizable across generations.

Subjects: New Yorker magazine, Bob Mankoff, cartoon art, American humor, editorial cartoons, David Remnick, visual satire, humor, illustration, reference, cultural history.

Item #21891

Price: $145.00