Title
"Tragédies Topiares" Postcard Set
Object Type
Creator
Date
c. 1989
Description
First edition, signed postcard set by Edward Gorey, depicting various "tragedies" being committed by topiary figures. The creator is listed on the envelope as "Dogear Wryde Postcards," which is an anagram of "Edward Gorey." This is set number 79 of 250, and it includes postcards, a colophon card and the original envelope container.
Notes
Individual object descriptions are as follows:
Original envelope listing the title and author's pseudonym
Colophon card lists a publication statement, as well as the set number, and is signed by the creator, Edward Gorey
"le Chien d'arrêt" translates to "Dog stops [him]," and shows a child being carried away by a topiary dog
"l'Ours" translates to "Bear," and shows a child held in the arms of a topiary bear
"l'Fauteuil" translates to "Armchair," and shows a man sinking into a topiary chair
"le Canon" translates to "the Canon," and depicts a human cannonball being shot from a topiary canon
"l'Enlcume" translates to "Anvil," and features a man stretched out atop a topiary anvil
"l'Entonnoir" translates to "Funnel," and shows the feet of a man disappearing into a topiary funnel
"l'Automate" translates to "the automaton" or "Robot," and shows a woman being raised over the head of a topiary robot figure
"la Baignoire" translates to "the Bathtub," and features just a topiary bathtub with no human visible
"les Serpents" translates to "the Snakes," and shows a woman whose legs are encircled by one topiary serpent, as she fights off a second with her hands
"l'Automobile" translates to "Automotive," and depicts a man being run over by a topiary car
"l'Éléphant" translates to "Elephant," and shows a man crawling away from the raised foot and trunk of a topiary elephant
Original envelope listing the title and author's pseudonym
Colophon card lists a publication statement, as well as the set number, and is signed by the creator, Edward Gorey
"le Chien d'arrêt" translates to "Dog stops [him]," and shows a child being carried away by a topiary dog
"l'Ours" translates to "Bear," and shows a child held in the arms of a topiary bear
"l'Fauteuil" translates to "Armchair," and shows a man sinking into a topiary chair
"le Canon" translates to "the Canon," and depicts a human cannonball being shot from a topiary canon
"l'Enlcume" translates to "Anvil," and features a man stretched out atop a topiary anvil
"l'Entonnoir" translates to "Funnel," and shows the feet of a man disappearing into a topiary funnel
"l'Automate" translates to "the automaton" or "Robot," and shows a woman being raised over the head of a topiary robot figure
"la Baignoire" translates to "the Bathtub," and features just a topiary bathtub with no human visible
"les Serpents" translates to "the Snakes," and shows a woman whose legs are encircled by one topiary serpent, as she fights off a second with her hands
"l'Automobile" translates to "Automotive," and depicts a man being run over by a topiary car
"l'Éléphant" translates to "Elephant," and shows a man crawling away from the raised foot and trunk of a topiary elephant
Cultural Origin
American
Medium
paper
ink
Extent
4.75" X 6.5"
Collection
Identifier
PSNCA.H.009.428
For more information about this item, please contact its owning institution.