"Mutt and Jeff" Large Print Cartoon Strip, Mayor Gaynor Play on Words, Original Art

Oversized sheet, measuring 28" x 8", no place, copyright 1912. A large print comic strip by Bud Fischer, produced by Star Co. The strip features Jeff telling a bad joke to Mutt, earning himself a black eye. The joke is a play on Mayor William Jay Gaynor's name and references his investigation into police corruption. Uneven toning and soiling throughout. Chipping at the corners, with some small amount of paper loss at the upper left corner. Blue coloring marks to the floor boards and pants of each man. Ink soiling on verso.

"Mutt and Jeff" was created by Bud Fischer in 1907 and is often referenced as the first daily comic strip published. The strip featured Augustus Mutt, a tall and idiotic racehorse gambler driven by greed, and Jeff, a short ex-asylum resident who shares Mutt's love of horseracing. The mismatch in both their size and personality often led the comedy of the strip.

William Jay Gaynor (1849-1913) served as Mayor of New York City from 1910-1913. Gaynor broke ranks with Tammany Hall as a reformer and sought to crack down on police brutality and corruption. Early into his term, Gaynor was shot in the neck by a disgruntled ex-city employee aboard the SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse on August 10, 1910. He recovered from the injury, but the bullet remained lodged in his neck for three years until his death following a heart attack.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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