Note: We’re in the second week of a double issue (May 11 & 18, 2026) so no new issue for us to thumb through. The regular Monday Tilley Watch will return next Monday, May 18th with a look at the cartoons  appearing in the issue of May 25, 2026. Today , for fun, we’ll time travel to the issue of May 19, 1951. 

                                         75 Years Ago In The New Yorker

Here’s a quick look at a few highlights from long long ago.

I love this Arthur Getz cover. As in so many of his paintings there seems to a story being told; the reader (at least this reader) lingers, thinking about what the heck is going on.

And what’s not to love about this Abe Birnbaum GOAT drawing:

The Talk Of The Town section was headed by, ta-da!, Rea Irvin’s iconic design (read more here about the unfortunate tinkering that began 66 years later :

A terrif bonus at the bottom of the Talk page…this Thurber spot drawing:

Of the many cartoonists represented in the issue here are just a few favorites:

From Anatol Kovarsky:

From Frank Modell:

and finally, this classic from Chon Day:

And I’ll end with this truly wonderful Henry Martin “spot” drawing that ran –postage stamp size!– along with that week’s Current Cinema review.