Two 1947 American Political Cartoons

Appraised on: August 16, 1997

Appraised in: Nashville, Tennessee

Appraised by: Colleene Fesko

Category: Paintings & Drawings

Episode Info: Politically Collect (#1219)

Originally Aired: November 3, 2008

IMAGE: 1 of 1  

Appraisal Video: (1:37)

GUEST: I purchased them about seven or eight years ago from the estate sale of the lady to whom they're dedicated. And that's really all I know.

APPRAISER: Well, they're very interesting. They are the original drawings for political cartoons that were used and copyrighted by the "Chicago Tribune" in 1947. The piece on the left is by a known cartoonist-illustrator named Carey Orr. The piece on the right is by Ed Holland. In terms of the political situation that was going on at this time-- they're dated 1947-- they really speak to the time and place that the United States was involved in: references to the Democratic and Republican parties, references to Europe and very, very astute notions of political ideas. The drawings are in really very good condition and another issue that I think is really wonderful, that really speaks to the creative process, is here you see the shadow, the sort of pentimenti of the artist changing his mind-- there's an eraser mark that talks to him moving the composition and changing it a bit, and I think that adds a real sense of vitality to the drawing as well. Do you have any idea of the value of the two pieces?

GUEST: None. I paid five dollars apiece for them.

APPRAISER: Well, you did very well. They're terrific original cartoons, and as a pair I would lot them at about $300 to $500.

GUEST: Really? Thank you. I'm surprised. Great.