Book dedications

Friends and family of Ronald Searle were fortunate to be the recipients of his ceaseless sketching in the form of drawn dedications in presentation copies of his books givens as gifts. His secretary Jean Ellsmoor had many given to her as thanks for her help in assembling the print projects.

'How to be Topp, first edition, signed presentation inscription from Searle with pen and ink drawing of a child in bed spinning a top on her nose'-Forum Auctions

Another in 'How To Be Topp' - Abbott & Holder

'A presentation copy, inscribed in ink on the front free endpaper to his friend the dancer and film and stage director Wendy Toye 'A bit of life for Wendy ?Read all about it? with birthday love from Ronnie May 1 1957', alongside a full page original pen and ink drawing of a lady with no clothes on save for pearls and false eyelashes, seated on an elaborate stool, the lady with pen and sketchpad in each hand, drawing an equally naked lady.' -Maggs Bros. Books

Another nude for Wendy Toye:

'First edition. An inscribed presentation copy, with a large original colour drawing by Ronald Searle. Publisher's original pictorial card covers. Very light rubbing to the cover edges otherwise a fine, bright copy.

Inscribed on the title page in black ink "For / Wendy / with love & / Happy Birthday wishes / - this bit of / backstreet reporting / by two of your / chums! / Mo and Ronnie [underlined]." Beside the inscription Searle has drawn full page illustration of a cigarette smoking Fille de Hambourg in heels and stockings which he has dated underneath 1st May 1969. The recipient is actress, choreographer, stage and film director Wendy Toye, with whom Searle collaborated on several projects.' - Lucius Books

THE RAKE'S PROGRESS
LONDON: PERPETUA 1955 FIRST EDITION
PROVENANCE: SIR WILLIAM ALEXANDER FITZWILLIAM BARRINGTON
ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATION ON PAGE 9: SELF-PORTRAIT
SIGNED, INSCRIBED 'FOR FITZ, SOME AWFUL WARNINGS ... AS ALWAYS' AND DATED 'CHRISTMAS 1955' - Chris Beetles Gallery

 'Paris Sketchbook' for Jean Ellsmoor, 1950

'The Female Approach' for Jean Effel, 1949

'The Female Approach' for Jean Ellsmoor, 1954

'The St. Trinians Story' for Jean Ellsmoor, 1959

'A Christmas Carol' for Jean Ellsmoor, 1961

 

'Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines' for Jean Ellsmoor, 1961

'Cats' for Jean Ellsmoor, 1967

'Take One Toad' for John & Midge Locke, 1969

See more personal drawings from Ronald Searle in the 'Correspondence' section here

More reactions to the book

I sent film director and Searle fan Mike Leigh a copy of 'Ronald Searle's America' his reaction was kind: 'Your RS book is tremendous. It's glorious, and I cherish it.'

Animator Tim Watts was impressed too:
'I have been looking through the book.   It is really terrific - it is beautifully laid out and designed with lots of fresh, detailed information and photographs as well as largely unseen drawings.   I wish there were more books like this that offer more than the repeated stories one tends to hear from book to book about a subject.'

'Ronald Searle's America' Book Reviews

Thanks to those who have left comments and reviews on both the US and UK Amazon sites- it helps promote the book and support the case for another. You can purchase it at the link on the right or if you've bought it please do consider leaving a review too.







'This is a stunning book, clearly a labour of love. The US-based author, Matt Jones, maintains a consistently interesting Ronald Searle blog. Here he has gathered an astonishing range of Searle's art into a really impressive package. It's beautifully printed and for the most part lets the artist's work do the talking. One reason that it does this so well is that it's BIG! More than 360 whopping pages, with plenty of room to let the drawings breathe. In the UK we usually see Searle associated with St Trinian's, Nigel Molesworth and various wine-drinking felines (and nothing wrong with that per se) but it's refreshing to be led off in a different direction for a change. A real treat, and well worth the price-tag.'  -S. J. Carter

'This great thumping book is an embarrassment of riches! Every page (and there are 350+ of them) dazzles with the genius of Ronald Searle. British fans shouldn't be put off by the American slant. Quite the opposite, in fact, as there'll be loads you haven't seen before, and boy, are you in for a treat! You can lose yourself for hours in the quality of Searle's line (sometimes softened with a subtle wash) and the skill of his composition and the sheer beauty of his draughtsmanship. From the quickest sketchbook thumbnail to the most detailed architectural study serving as a backdrop for some supremely observed character, there seems nothing this man couldn't do. His terrific humour, coupled with an ability to draw like an Old Master, make him, for my money, the most brilliant cartoonist of the last century. This book (which is well-bound, with high production values, by the way) is crammed with examples of his unique talent and we should be grateful to the editor, Matt Jones, for assembling it all for our delight and amazement.' - Colin West

'This book is incredible. I bought it on pre-order because the deal was great - but this book is well worth the 85 dollars listing price. It is GORGEOUS. Both the quality of the printing and the size/weight of the pages is great. But of course MOST importantly - this book is chock-full of beautiful illustrations. Ronald Searle was a wonderfully prolific and hugely inspirational artist, and this book showcases his work beautifully. I suspect I'll be taking this one off the shelf quite often.' - Amazon customer

Ronald Searle's America

I'll be doing a talk up north at The Charles Schulz museum in Santa Rosa mid June.

'The quality of the entire book is remarkably impressive, from the editorial selections to the printing. It's a wonderful and inspiring tribute to Searle that I'll be returning to often.'

-Amid Amidi, editor Cartoon Brew

'Just got my copy of Matt Jones' Ronald Searle tribute book and I'll agree with everyone else who has  seen it. It's really fantastic. It's huge, too! A great coffee table book with sketches and finals for those who love to study him. It's a collection of his impressions of America, most done for British magazines. Wouldn't be surprised if it leads to a Searle resurgence, and maybe another book, because the previous 'Art of...' book from the 80s is not very impressive. Buy it!' - Kevin O'Brien, Pixar

 'One of my favorite collections of Searle...ever! Congrats, Matt Jones, and Fantagraphics ( and the esteemed Ronald Searle) on an absolutely stellar book!' - John Musker, director Disney's 'Moana'

' The book is really fantastic . . . And it’s so huge: I have to extend the height of my shelves to fit the book in … I know what I will read and study the next days and I am sure that it will help me with my own archive work.' - Elisabeth Reich, Ronald Searle Archive, Hanover

'This Ronald Searle book is astounding. Each page is a breathtaking art lesson & joy. Bravo!' 
- Mo Willems, childrens' book illustrator & author

'It’s Christmas early!!! 'Ronald Searle's America' is AMAZING.' 
 - Pete Docter, director of Pixar's 'Inside Out'

'Ronald Searle's America should become THE reference book for any Searle fan and/or illustrator.' 
 - Uli Meyer, animation artist and Searle collector

'Got ours and it is fabulous!!!'  - Susan Goldberg, ex Disney artist

'Just got my advance copy of your book and am stunned by its beauty and content.  What an amazing publication. All that hard work and persistence sure resulted in something extraordinary.' 
- Howard Green, Disney Publishing

'I honestly can't get enough of this. Ronald Searle's America is an amazing collection of the artist's work from his time in the States. If you're a fan of him or of drawing at all, you should check it out. Thanks Matt Jones for putting together this treat!' - Avner Geller, character designer, Dreamworks Animation

'Just received Ronald Searle's America. It's a beautiful book. I'll be buried in it for months to come. Thank you!' -Oliver Maltman, writer & actor 


'RONALD SEARLE'S AMERICA IS FINALLY HERE! Matt Jones’ new book on the seminal cartoonist exceeds expectations. Enormous and overflowing with masterful works by the great Searle, this book is gorgeous. Smartly curated, it's also a wonderful time-capsule: America through the astute, inventive and hilarious illustrations of a rarely-gifted observer. Searle, from the UK, is in peak form as he takes us on a tour of our United States.
Permit me a really envious aside: I'm astonished that this magnificent tome represents only a sliver of Searle’s unparalleled career, as any artist would be delirious with joy if by the end of their life they had produced the contents of this book alone. (...and a really true aside: All the flowery words are not only deserved, they're guaranteed!) Matt Jones has lovingly (and obsessively) created a worthy monument to the remarkably influential father of three generations of cartoonists. And counting.'

- Nick Galifianakis , cartoonist  Washington Post

'This book is incredible. I bought it on pre-order because the deal was great - but this book is well worth the 85 dollars listing price. It is GORGEOUS. Both the quality of the printing and the size/weight of the pages is great. But of course MOST importantly - this book is chock-full of beautiful illustrations. Ronald Searle was a wonderfully prolific and hugely inspirational artist, and this book showcases his work beautifully. I suspect I'll be taking this one off the shelf quite often.' 

- Amazon reader review

'Searle book is fabulous.  Great job!!!!!!'
-Ralph Eggleston, Pixar Production Designer

'The book is so damn good!!Thank you for putting it together.'
-Jesse Aclin, Feature Animation character designer

Book signing!

I'll be at the Center Stage Gallery in Burbank the afternoon of February 6th with a presentation on Searle then I'll be signing copies. We'll have 40 copies of the book at a 10% discount off the rrp and a free limited edition print. RSVP link here