Monday Tilley Watch: The New Yorker (Double) Issue Of July 7 & 14, 2025; Mick Stevens Illustrates “Oodles Of Rubles!”

The Monday Tilley Watch takes a glancing look at the art and artists of the latest issue of The New Yorker

The Cartoonists and Cartoons

In this double issue: sixteen cartoons, seventeen cartoonists (Ed Steed has Spots). No duos, that we know of, and no newbies. The longest active cartoonist contributor in the issue is Roz Chast, whose first New Yorker drawing appeared in the issue of July 3, 1978.

This week’s cartoons (viewed in a slide show).

This week’s Cartoon Caption Contest.

The Rea Irvin Talk Watch:

Above is Rea Irvin’s perfect Talk design. It ran in The New Yorker for 92 years before being ditched for — hold on to your hat! — a redrawn version by a contemporary illustrator. The Spill continues to hope Mr. Irvin’s work returns. Read more here.

Rea Irvin’s A-Z:

Rea Irvin Born, San Francisco, 1881; died in the Virgin Islands,1972. Irvin was the cover artist for the New Yorker’s first issue, February 21, 1925. He was the magazine’s first art and only art supervisor (some refer to him as its first art editor) holding the position from 1925 until 1939 when James Geraghty assumed the title of art editor. Irvin then became art director and remained in that position until William Shawn officially succeeded Harold Ross in early 1952. Irvin’s last original work for the magazine was the magazine’s cover of July 12, 1958. The February 21, 1925 Eustace Tilley cover had been reproduced every year on the magazine’s anniversary until 1994, when R. Crumb’s Tilley-inspired cover appeared. Tilley has since reappeared, with other artists substituting from time-to-time. Number of New Yorker covers (not including the repeat appearances of the first cover every anniversary up to 1991): 179. Number of cartoons contributed: 261.

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Mick Stevens Illustrates Oodles of Rubles!

Mick Stevens, a long-time New Yorker contributor (his first cartoon appeared in 1979) has illustrated this brand new book by Ivan Cox, Oodles of Rubles.

From the publisher:

“Ivan Cox spins a tale of high Drama and hilarity, as he leads the reader through the various towns and traditions of the famous resort Island of Martha’s Vineyard…

…Jump on board Ivan Cox’s tour bus and get ready to laugh, and while you’re at it, feast on the whacky illustrations by New Yorker cartoonist Mick Stevens.”

Oodles Of Rubles! available here.

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Mick Stevens’ A-Z Entry:

Mick Stevens Born March 11, 1942, Portland, Oregon. New Yorker work: December 17, 1979–. Key collections: If Ducks Carried Guns (Fireside/Simon & Schuster, 1988), A Mystery, Wrapped in an Enigma, Served on a Bed of Lettuce (Fireside/Simon & Schuster, 1989 ), Things Not to Do Today ( Fireside/Simon & Schuster, 1989 ). Instagram.