The intriguing Schulz book I missed out on

Golfing -- It's Only a Game booklet

Chatting online with an AAUGH Blog reader a couple weeks back, the talk turned to things we’d gotten at auction, and things we’d missed out on. In the latter category, my biggest regret was something I’ve brought up here before, a booklet called Golfing — It’s Only A Game, which reprinted seven panels from Schulz & Sasseville’s “It’s Only a Game” feature, behind a cover that was clearly not drawn by either of them. Missing any publishing information, copyright information, or price, it is hard to know why this book exists, when it was published, and how it was distributed. It’s an odd little thing.

The Schulz Museum has one in their collection, but they don’t have any more information on it. And the only other copy that I know exist was the one someone outbid me for… and that bidding went into the three figures (which, for cheap little me, is likely the most I’ve ever bid on any book.)

But in the days since I had that conversation, there’s been an interesting development. Did I find another copy of that booklet? No. What I found was this:

Bowling - It's Only a Game

Yes, that’s right, another booklet obviously from the same set, although unlike the first one, this one includes one all-Schulz panel rather than just Sasseville-drawn ones. I got this at auction (and rather than going for three figures, this one went for one figure, phew!) Not only does this not answer any of the open questions, it opens up at least one new one: if there’s more than one booklet, then are there others? Are there booklets on bridge or tennis or some other topic? I hope to find out someday!

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