From Ted to Tom: The Illustrated Envelopes of Edward Gorey

I’ve always been drawn to the work of Edward Gorey—his delightfully macabre sense of humor, his intricate pen-and-ink illustrations, and his ability to make the morbid feel mischievously charming. His gothic sensibilities aren’t for everyone—after all, not everyone finds humor in the inevitable dance with death—but for those who do, his work is an endless delight.

Now, prepare to embark on a whimsical, witty, and utterly captivating journey into the peculiar magic of snail mail! From Ted to Tom is a dazzling new collection that offers an intimate glimpse into the never-before-seen illustrated envelopes and playfully brilliant correspondence between the legendary Edward Gorey and his dear friend Tom Fitzharris. And what better occasion to celebrate this delightfully eccentric friendship than in the centenary year of Gorey’s birth? (Let’s be honest—Gorey himself would have been positively tickled by the idea of being commemorated with a perfectly round, slightly ominous number like 100. It’s just so… him.)

Now, for the very first time, these illustrated envelopes and a carefully curated selection of Gorey’s letters have been gathered into one gloriously enchanting volume, offering a rare window into his offbeat genius and the lost art of correspondence. Whether you’re a lifelong devotee of Gorey’s delightfully grim world or simply someone who appreciates the finer joys in life—like beautifully bizarre illustrations, fake stamps, and old-fashioned wit—this collection is a jubilant celebration of friendship, artistic spontaneity, and the sheer wonder of finding something extraordinary in your mailbox.

The story begins in 1974 when Tom Fitzharris—perhaps lost in a haze of artistic reverie—stumbled upon one of Gorey’s drawings at the iconic Gotham Book Mart. A seemingly simple purchase, yet one that would spark a correspondence so utterly charming and oddball that it could make even the most jaded soul believe in the magic of handwritten letters. Over the next year, Gorey sent Fitzharris an astonishing fifty letters, each one a miniature marvel. But these weren’t just letters—they were tiny, handcrafted treasures, with the envelopes themselves transformed into works of art.

Why settle for a mundane postage stamp when you can create your own? Gorey did just that, adorning his envelopes with hand-drawn faux stamps that put anything from the post office to shame. But the brilliance didn’t stop at the envelopes. Within each letter, Gorey packed a kaleidoscope of eccentric delights: razor-sharp wit, esoteric historical musings, cryptic doodles, inside jokes, newspaper clippings, and enough ephemera to make you suspect he moonlighted as a curator of oddities. Every envelope was like a piñata bursting with pure, unfiltered Gorey—a feast of creativity wrapped in a layer of deadpan humor.

So, prepare to be utterly charmed, endlessly amused, and maybe just a little envious—because, let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to have been pen pals with Edward Gorey? Let the adventure begin!

Edward Gorey (1925–2000), born in Chicago, was a prolific author and illustrator known for his darkly whimsical style. In 1953, he released The Unstrung Harp, the first of more than one hundred books he would create. Beyond illustrating his works, Gorey lent his distinctive artistic touch to numerous books for both children and adults. Among these, New York Review Books has published several notable titles, including The Haunted Looking Glass, a collection of his favorite ghost stories; The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells; Men and Gods by Rex Warner; The Unrest-Cure and Other Stories by Saki; and Three Ladies Beside the Sea by Rhoda Levine. Additionally, he co-wrote the NYRB Kids book Fletcher and Zenobia alongside Victoria Chess.