Edward Gorey &
National Lampoon

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This Collector Guide was written by Xandy Hand.

First published: 2025-02-02.
No edits.


Contents:



What was National Lampoon?

National Lampoon magazine was an American satirical magazine that ran from 1970 to 1998. It started as a spin-off from The Harvard Lampoon and it was established by Douglas Kenney, Henry Beard and Robert Hoffman.
It became very influential in American satire and comedy and led to books and multiple Hollywood movies such as: National Lampoon's Animal House and Caddyshack.
In 1998 the magazine folded due to falling sales, but the company National Lampoon, Inc. would continue until at least 2024.



The National Lampoon Magazine Collection:

Edward Gorey illustrations & stories would feature in ten issues of National Lampoon between 1972 and 1975. Sometimes these were covers and sometimes they were full Edward Gorey stories.

Edward Gorey was also listed as a "Contributing Artist" on the Editorial page inside all issues between April 1972 until January 1976:


Some issues also include a Collector's Items page which mentions Gorey's The Worsted Monster included in the Rainy Day issue:

The Collector's Items page was not included in all issues, and Gorey seems to have only featured between 1975-1977 in the following issues:
1975: August, November.
1976: April, June, August, November, December.
1977: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November.

The 1975 November edition also mentions Gorey in The National Lampoon Christmas Gift Catalog section as a featured creator in the Encyclopedia of Humor:




The National Lampoon Magazine Collection
Front Cover Date Issue Page(s) Gorey Contribution Page Photo
1971 November Vol.1 No.20 pp. 28-30 The Disrespectful Summons by Edward Gorey
1971 December Vol.1 No.21 Front cover Illustration entitled A Heart-warming Christmas -
1972 The Best of National Lampoon #3 pp. 10-12 The Disrespectful Summons by Edward Gorey
Back cover Cover from December 1971 National Lampoon
1972 February National Lampoon Crime!
Vol.1 No.23		 p. 2 Contents page decorations from The Awdrey-Gore Legacy by Edward Gorey
pp. 54-65 The Awdrey-Gore Legacy by Edward Gorey
1972 July Vol.1 No.28 pp. 65-67 The Abandoned Sock by Edward Gorey
1973 March Vol.1 No.36 pp. 65-69 The Happy Ending by Edward Gorey
1973 The National Lampoon Encyclopedia of Humour pp. 2, 6, 19, 26,
50, 51, 60, 63,
66, 67, 68, 81,
108, 127, 129, 130,
135, 136, 142, 145,
146, 147, 148, 149		 The Chinese Obelisks by Edward Gorey decorate each letter page of the Encylopedia
pp. 100-102 The Lost Lions by Edward Gorey
1974 National Lampoon Comics (unpaginated) The Abandoned Sock by Edward Gorey
1974 June
This is a misprint of
the 1975 June issue		 Vol.1 No.63 Front cover Illustration for: National Lampoon Rainy Day Sunday Funbook Issue -
pp. 25-30 The Worsted Monster by Edward Gorey
1975 June Vol.1 No.63 Front cover Illustration for: National Lampoon Rainy Day Sunday Funbook Issue -
pp. 25-30 The Worsted Monster by Edward Gorey
1978 July Vol.1 No.100 pp. 38-41
    Contains the covers of National Lampoon including two Gorey covers:
  • December 1971 (Vol.1 No.21)
  • June 1974: Rainy Day Sunday Funbook Issue (Vol.1 No.63)




Other National Lampoon Related Collectables:



Other National Lampoon Related Collectables
Main Photo Item Date Page(s) Gorey Contribution Page Photo
Journal:
Graphis Annual 73/74
Hastings House		 1973 pp. 151-152 Several Gorey illustrations including:
Two pages and illustration from an analysis of tales of crime and mystery
by Edward Gorey in the magazine National Lampoon
i.e. The Awdrey-Gore Legacy
Originally published in the 1972 February National Lampoon Crime! issue
Journal:
Graphis Annual 76/77
Hastings House		 1976 pp. 122-123 Features the cover of National Lampoon Rainy Day Sunday Funbook Issue
Clam-shell box set:
F.M.R.A.
Alpern

(Lettered and the Numbered editions)		 1980 Item No. 7 Bwadible Ong, from The Happy Ending published in National Lampoon
Originally published in the 1973 March issue (Vol.1 No.36)
Item No. 13 Basket, from The Happy Ending published in National Lampoon
Originally published in the 1973 March issue (Vol.1 No.36)
Item No. 19 Serena, from The Happy Ending published in National Lampoon
Originally published in the 1973 March issue (Vol.1 No.36)
Trading Cards:
National Lampoon Covers
21st Century Archive Inc.		 1993 -
    Two card decks in plastic sleeves with 100 cards including two Gorey covers:
  • December 1971 issue (Vol.1 No.21)
  • June 1974: Rainy Day Sunday Funbook Issue (Vol.1 No.63)
 -
Postcard:
National Lampoon December 1971
The American Postcard Co., Inc.		 1997 - Gorey cover from the December 1971 issue (Vol.1 No.21) -