I’ve decided that I have way too many books and magazines, and so I’ve decided to get rid of as many of them as I can. I could put them on eBay but I’m too lazy, and frankly, I’m not interested in making a killing either . I just want to get these books—some of which are very rare, others not— into the hands of people who appreciate them and wish to build their animation and cartoon book libraries.

A few details: I’m not a book dealer and don’t know much about book conditions. They’re all in decent shape but don’t expect perfection. They’ve been used over the years, by myself and previous owners, just as books are meant to be used. If there are any serious defects, I’ll try to note them. If you’re interested in purchasing a book, contact me via this form and tell me which books you want. First come, first serve!

Shipping is $6 for the first book, $3 each additional book. I’m only shipping these within the continental US. Rates for Canada and elsewhere will be significantly higher. Check or money order gladly accepted. Unfortunately, I’m not set up for Paypal. Bookmark the specific page because I’ll be posting many more books and magazines here over the coming week or two. Bonus offer: Anybody who purchases a book will also receive a copy of ANIMATION BLAST #9 at no extra charge (a $15 value).

Let the great sale of 2009 begin. All the books are after the jump…

Collection of 13 Graphis issues between 1946 and 1959. Includes issues #14, 30, 32, 35, 36, 52, 69, 70, 72, 80, 82, 83, 85.

These were house copies at Playhouse Pictures and some of them belonged to background designer and color stylist Dean Spille (who worked at Playhouse, as well as with Bill Melendez and Jay Ward afterwards). An upfront note: these issues are beat-up. Covers are missing entirely in many cases, or torn. Bindings hold together for the most part, but they’re not pretty. These bear the mark of having been used by artists (and amazing artists at that) over the years.

Having said that, there are hundreds of amazing pages of artwork throughout these issues. Graphis is the single best source of information about mid-century illustration, cartooning, graphic design and commercial/industrial design. It’s a design education unlike any other. These magazines also helped me understand that the amazing animation design during the 1950s wasn’t created in a vacuum but was part of a much bigger movement. $150 (includes free shipping)

Film and TV Graphics, edited by Walter Herdeg, text by John Halas. 1967. Dustjacket is worn, and torn in the back. This is a top-notch survey of animation work being produced around the world during the early and mid-1960s. An inspiring collection of ideas and styles. $40

SOLDAmerican Natives by Erich Sokol. Great personality drawings; my favorite work by Sokol. Nice copy, first edition, hardcover, 1960. $30

Lithopinion #16 (1969): The magazine published by the Local One, Amalgamated Lithographers of America. It has a really cool article about color written by husband-and-wife animation artists Eugene Fleury and Bernyce Polifka. I’ve posted that article on Cartoon Brew. The rest of the issue is about Ireland, including two small portfolios of drawings and paintings, and articles on Irish history and politics. $10

SOLDChuck Reducks by Chuck Jones. His second autobiography. This is unique only because it is signed by Chuck Jones in pencil. $20

SOLDBarbarella by Jean-Claude Forest. Grove Press, hardcover, 1966. Nice drawings throughout. $20

Think Small: A promotional book from Volkswagen dealers. 1967. Worn beat-up hardcover. Crazy promo item. My favorite part is that they included photos of cartoonists like Vip Partch, Gahan Wilson, William Steig, Charles Addams and Eldon Dedini. $5

SOLDHow-To-Draw: Tips from the Top Cartoonists First printing, April 1982. Edited by Don Christensen. A real curio of a book with two-page tips from artists like Bill Melendez, Bob Oksner, Mort Drucker, Gene Hazelton, Gus Arriola, Bil Keane, etc. $10

Cinefantastique (September 1983) A big 110-page issue. (The cover is loose and may separate from the rest of the mag.) I love the cover to this issue. Deja vu anybody? Needless to say, lots of 3-D stuff in this edition. Also, a two-page article on Bluth’s Dragon’s Lair, one page on Mike Jittlov, and five pages on one of my favorite horror films Carnival of Souls AND Fanfare #4 (Summer 1981) with a seven-page history of the use of 3-D in the popular arts. $10 gets you both issues

SOLDComics Scene #3 (1982) A special issue for “Bluthies” (is there even such a thing?). Nice seven-page piece on Bluth’s Secret of Nimh. Plus, an article on Tezuka’s Astro Boy and a short piece on Garfield animated by Bill Melendez (!) AND Comics Scene #10 (July 1983) Articles on Nelvana’s feature Rock & Rule, Dennis the Menace’s Hank Ketcham and Al Williamson. $10 gets you both issues

SOLDMighty Minutes: An Illustrated History of Television’s Best Commercials by Jim Hall. Paperback, 1984. Black-and-white images of live-action and animated commercials. A good, if not always entirely accurate, reference book. $5

SOLDSomething in the Cellar: Ronald Searle’s Wonderful World of Wine. Paperkback, 1987. Lots of later drawings by Searle. $5

SOLDJabberwocky by Lewis Carroll. It says “With illustrations from the Disney Archives.” First edition, hardcover, 1992. What they don’t tell you is that many of the paintings in this book, like the cover, were development art by Tom Oreb. I love the artwork in this book. $15

SOLDPuss ‘n Boots by Andreas Deja. Hardcover, 1994. Dustjacket is torn and missing a piece. Artist Proof signed by Deja. Try finding this rare volume for this price. $20

Betes de Pub by Claude Weill and Francois Bertin. Hardcover, 2005, 140 pages. The text is in French, but this book is all about the artwork. It’ s a collection of vintage advertising art with cartoon and illustrative animals. Great reference for cartoon animals and beautiful presentation. $30

Panic #4 (August-September 1954). Not in good condition. The grading that came with it was “Fair.” Cover by Basil Wolverton. Inside art by Bill Elder, Wally Wood, Joe Orlando, Jack Davis. $15

SOLDWalt Disney and Assorted Other Characters by Jack Kinney. A classic autobiography by the Goofy director. $30

SOLDHorizon Bound on a Bicycle by Eyvind Earle. 1990. $30

SOLDCelebrity Caricature in America by Wendy Wick Reaves.$30

SOLDFilm Comment - January/February 1975. This super-rare issue is legendary among animation historians.$65

SOLDThe Grasshopper and the Ant by Harvey Kurtzman. 2001 book by Kitchen Sink Press. $15

SOLDKids Say the Darndest Things by Art Linkletter. 1957. Art by Charles M. Schulz, introduction by Walt Disney.$15

SOLDSelf-Defense for Cowards by Alice McGrath and drawings by Chris Jenkyns (longtime Jay Ward writer, storyboard artist at Playhouse Pictures during the 1950s.) Paperback is kind of worn, but it is signed by Chris Jenkyns. First edition, 1961. I’m also including a very brittle, very rare personal ad that Jenkyns used to advertise himself in the 1960s. $20

SOLDAnimation: The Art of Friz Freleng by Friz Freleng with Kevin Weber. 1994. This book was part of the $1000 set that came with a bunch of other crap. This is only the book though. It has Friz Freleng’s signature, some weird hologram, and three sericels inside of the book. A must-have for Freleng/WB fans. $80

SOLDAlways Help a Bird (Especially with a Broken Leg) by Ernest Pintoff. 1965. Former school library book. Super-rare book based on a short that Pintoff did for The Boing Boing Show in 1955 called “A Wounded Bird. I love the illustrations in this book and not really sure I even want to sell it. Take it before I change my mind. $45

SOLDT-o-o-o-o-o-t: A Train Whistle Counting Book illustrated by Paul Julian. 1958. Former school library book. No dustjacket and in average condition. About ten line-drawings by legendary WB/UPA background painter Paul Julian. $10

SOLDSomething For the Medicine Man by Bob Dranko. 1962. Former school library book. Dranko was the background painter of UPA’s A Unicorn in the Garden. Really odd drawings in this book. Looks like King of the Hill. His color work is nice. $15

SOLDNessie and the Little Blind Boy of Loch Ness by Ken Anderson. 1992. Signed and numbered by Disney story legend Ken Anderson. Sensitive illustrations throughout. $35

SOLDOb-scenes by Erv Kaplan. First printing, 1972. Hilarious NSFW gags by a UPA background painter. With an intro by Ray Bradbury (!) $10.

SOLDOur Friend the Atom by Heinz Haber. Illustrated by Disney artists including Claude Coats, John Hench, Bill Layne, Frank Armitage, Dick Ung, Jacques Rupp, Ray Aragon, Tony Rizzo, Fil Matolla, etc. $25

SOLDPlayboy’s Females by Jack Cole, paperback, 1965, $20

SOLDMemoirs by David Hand, paperback, very rare, $85

SOLDDisney Dons Dogtags: The Best of Disney Military Insignia from World War II by Walton Rawls, rare 1992, $40

SOLDDonald Duck Finds Pirate Gold by Carl Barks, Gladstone reprint, original signature by Carl Barks on the front cover, $15

SOLDDennis the Menace: His First 40 Years by Hank Ketcham, 1991, original signature by Hank Ketcham on first page, $25

SOLDJungle Book by Harvey Kurtzman, 3rd printing 1989, paperback, worn around the edges, $15

SOLDChouinard: An Art Vision Betrayed by Robert Perine, 1985. (Michael Sporn recently did a great post about this book.) $35

SOLDDesign in Motion by John Halas and Roger Manvell, 1962, front piece of dustjacket torn off, rare. A fascinating survey of “cartoon modern” imagery from around the world, $50

SOLDThe Television Commercial by Harry Wayne McMahan (revised and enlarged edition, 1957), no dustjacket, worn around the edges and binding fragile. (A really interesting look at the TV commercial industry during its early years. It discusses what makes a good and bad commercial using mostly live-action as examples, but there are also a few pages of “cartoon modern” imagery.) $15

SOLDHurrah for St. Trinians by Ronald Searle. (Eight impression, Oct. 1952). $15