YORK, Pa. – We’ve all heard of that lovable cartoon feline named Felix, but unless you’re a collector of early comic strip art, you may not know about another popular cat who preceded Felix in the funny papers. His name was Krazy Kat, and he first appeared in print back in 1913.
Hake’s Americana & Collectibles is selling a few pieces of historically important animation art in their online and absentee auction closing March 17-19. Among them is the original art for a Krazy Kat Sunday page from Nov. 3, 1935, featuring the strip’s main characters and a now-classic brick-throwing scene.
The art consists of 11 panels created by cartoonist George Herriman (1880-1944). It measures 17 by 24½ inches (India ink image 14 3/8 by 22¼-inch India ink image).
The piece opens with a hand-drawn Krazy Kat title logo in the first panel, then Offissa Pupp is in all of the following ten panels scolding Ignatz Mouse for his bad behavior. The second and third panels depict Ignatz’s three children and wife, all of whom were rarely seen during the comic strip’s run. In the next few panels Offissa Pupp considers being kinder and is confronted by a ghostly specter that makes him write a note about letting kindness lead him rather than his goal of justice.
The second to last panel features Krazy Kat watching Pupp write the note with the ghost behind him, and in the last panel Offissa Pupp reads the note as Ignatz steps out from the back of the costume and throws a brick at Krazy Kat. The art is signed by Herriman, dated and has a King Features Syndicate copyright strip. It is also date-stamped.
Herriman created Krazy Kat in 1913, and the strip with the anthropomorphic cat ran until 1944. Due to its exceptional nature this example has been reprinted in every major Krazy Kat book and Herriman publication.
“George Herrimann’s Krazy Kat is widely and rightly regarded as one of the most important American comic strips in history, if not the most important,” said Hake’s Americana President Alex Winter. “Ranging from almost straight-up gag comedy to debate-inspiring moments of surreality, Herrimann and his cast of characters delivered a unique, entertaining brand of insight and humor for more than three decades.”
Hake’s online and absentee auction closes in chronological lot order over three days: March 17-19, 2015. View the Krazy Kat art and the entire auction catalog at www.hakes.com.
