July 21, 2008

The Gumps - 10/30/1935

SIDNEY SMITH (1877-1935) worked on the minor Buck Nix and Old Doc Yak strips before hitting it big with The Gumps, which he created in 1917. His success was highly publicized when he signed a million dollar contract ($100,000 per year for ten years) in 1922. In 1935 he signed a new contract giving him $150,000 per year but was killed on the way home from signing the contract when he wrecked his brand-new Rolls-Royce in a head-on collision.

This is the original art to a The Gumps comic strip daily dated 10-30-1935. There was a text correction in the second panel which resulted in the last two panels being cut away and then taped back together. There is very minor corner wear and some light printer's grease staining but, otherwise, this piece is in nice solid condition with an overall size of 21.75" x 6.75". This strip possesses rather cryptic qualities in that it was published on the day after Smith died (he died on Oct. 29, 1935) and the title of the strip is "What Might Have Been" which has a financial theme.


EBAY ITEM: 320210364701






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