Kansas child's book full of 90+ airplane and automobile drawings

Clothbound hardcover ledger book, 12.25 x 7.5 inches in Good condition. Based on the dates of the advertisements and models of planes and cars, the notebook appears to be from the 1930s. Only a first name, “John” appears in the book—we presume it to be his work. Textblock is loose from the binding; the first 40 leaves have been cut out to accommodate the bulk of 22 loose drawings; then 37 pages containing 44 mounted original airplane drawings. After a stretch of blank pages, the last 30 pages are dedicated to automobiles—28 original drawings and 12 pasted cutouts.

Several drawings are done on the backs of typescript selling points for the Kansas City 'Journal-Post' aimed at women. The penultimate selling point may be the most compelling for our young artist's mother: "The Journal-Post, realizing that the public is becoming more and more airminded, publishes a complete Aviation Column every Sunday."

Aircraft makes/models represented include Curtiss, Ford Express, Stinson Detroiter, Sikorsky, and some rarities like a Boeing 204 Flying Boat (and other “Flying Fish”). Several of the drawings show art on the planes, including a New York skyline nose painting on a craft labeled NC-001 and two dice on an NR21 Gee Bee Racer. The later section of automobile drawings show the artist becoming a more proficient draftsman and creative problem-solver: larger drawings are cut out and partially mounted to fold out in a delightfully effective way. A little rough around the edges, but a really substantial collection and all the more charming for its well-loved condition.