Life Magazine – December 10, 1885 (# 154) – Six different issues!

Life Magazine – December 10, 1885 (# 154) – Six different issues!

Cover : George Washington going to his inauguration (in a rowboat), art by F. P. W. Bellew = Chip. “First at meals – first in bed – first in the presidential chair.” This cover is from the April 25, 1889 issue included inside.

• This is a rarely-found REPRINT issue, the only reprint issue I’ve ever seen for early Life.
• Printed in 1970 by Fieldstone Press, glued binding, not stapled, 124 pages.
• Described as containing six full issues plus selected sketches, but the back covers were not reproduced inside and some ad pages may also not have been included.
• As with all these Life, the issues are each packed with artwork, ads, and humor, much more than I have listed below.

Life magazine – December 10, 1885 CHRISTMAS NUMBER (#154)

Cover – Man and woman and a small sleigh, art by H. W. McVickar.

• The Maverick mystery, by Julian Hawthorne.
• Two page art by Stephen W. Van Schaick, Christmas Chimes.
• Humorous full page ad for “The United States Mutual Accident Association,” the largest, best and cheapest in the world.

Life magazine – November 18, 1886 (#203)

Cover – A Long Island Hunt, two riders on horseback query a farmer whether he has seen a fox, art by H. W. McVickar.

• Two page art by McVickar, “The difference between pleasure and business : how summer’s glow is chilled by winter’s cold.”

Life magazine – April 18, 1888 EASTER NUMBER (#329)

Cover – WOW. Lady as a flower blooming from a bud as aided by 8 cupids, art by Charles Dana Gibson.  NOT in color like the original.

• Half page ad for United States Nurseries in Short Hills with lovely art of an orchid.
• Full page art by Van Schaick, “However could you think of falling love with such a homely fellow?  His figure is something awful.” “Yes, but he has a lovely one at the bank.”
• Two page art, Mr. Ward McAllister leading geese in a parade, art by Charles Dana Gibson.

Life magazine – January 17, 1889 (#316)

Cover – Brains vs. Style in New York Society, art by Charles Dana Gibson.

• Half page artwork by Bellew = Chip, The animals entering the Ark.
• Two page art, “The Minister’s Dream, or, the inauguration ball as the Methodist clergyman foresees it (jokers, clowns, dancers, and drink), art by Charles Dana Gibson.

Life magazine – April 25, 1889 CENTENNIAL NUMBER (1789-1889)

Cover – Actual cover is the cover of this combined volume, (original was NOT in color). This issue inside this combined volume starts with the inner title page, “man apologizing after kissing woman.”

• The Plaint of the modern infant, a full page poem by Ben Bent.
• Two page art “On the way to his inauguration, 1789,” art by Charles Dana Gibson.
• “The manufacturers of antique furniture are in a state of nervous prostration through overwork in filling the orders of people who had money but no grandfathers.”

Life magazine – May 9, 1889 (#332)

Cover – Absent-minded old soul mistaking the shoreline of the River Styx for Jersey City, art by Oliver Herford.

• Two page art by C. Gray-Parker, The Amateur circus.
• Selected sketches.
• Two page art, “Knights of the Cue,” pool humor by Edward Windsor Kemble.
• Two page art, not signed, The perfect vehicle for a trip through the mountains, huge wheeled carriage behind a large team of horse, with chapel, observatory, dining room, library, billiard room, Ladies bedroom, kitchen.
• Full page cartoon art by EmK, Tweedle-Dumb and Weedle-D. B. Hill, Elmira Gazette.