Three presentation copies by the two friends and New York City humorists, each signed and with original drawings:

THURBER, James and E.B. WHITE. Is Sex Necessary? Or, Why You Feel the Way You Do. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1929. Presentation copy, inscribed and signed by both and with an original drawing by Thurber for Margaret Thurlow, at the time an editorial assistant at The New Yorker. The inside front cover and front free endpaper are taken up with the inscriptions from both authors: "For Margaret Thurlow-- this book has an ancient theme, now almost forgotten. / EB White" and "Yeh, as forgotten as Lincoln's Gettysburg address, / as ever / James Thurber." Thurber's drawing is captioned "Sex 1940" and depicts a couple embracing while their dog looks on in dismay.

[WHITE, E.B. (1899-1985).] The Lady is Cold. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1929. First edition, presentation copy with drawing of "the author's bird, asleep," for Elinor Milnor Parker. The front free endpaper is inscribed, "This copy includes sketch of the author's bird, asleep. E.B.W." above a drawing of a bird in a cage captioned "BABY" and dated May, 1929. There is an ownership inscription of fellow poet Elinor Milnor Parker (1906-2001) dated June 1, 1929. This is White's first book for which he was the sole author.

THURBER, James (1894-1961). My Life and Hard Times and The Owl in the Attic. London: Blue Ribbon Books, [1937]. Presentation copy, inscribed and signed and with two original drawings, for Eardley Knollys. There is a full page drawing on the front free endpaper, inscribed, "drawn for Eardley Knollys / Sept 22, 1937 / as ever James Thurber." Knollys was a gallerist who represented Thurber in London.

Three volumes, octavo. Original cloth or cloth-backed boards (shelfworn, some toning, first vol. with worn corners and faded spine). The first two volumes in custom chemises and slipcases with morocco spine labels.