F. Fritz Graetz Puck Magazine “Scandal and Refuse” Springer Sherman Republican Star Route Scandal Democratic Refuse South Outrages Editorial Original Political Illustration Cartoon Newspaper Pen and Ink Drawing

Description:
F. Graetz Puck Magazine “Scandal and Refuse” Springer Sherman Republican Star Route Scandal Democratic Refuse South Outrages Editorial Original Political Illustration Cartoon Newspaper Pen and Ink Drawing from the Prestigious Charles L. Howard Collection

A man with tattered clothing and a “Springer” sac slung over his shoulder digs into a barrel labeled “ Rep. Star Route Scandal” while across from him another man with “Sherman” sac digs in a barrel labeled “Democratic Refuse - Dem. Outrages in the South.” The Star Route Scandal was a scheme in the 19th where United States postal officials received bribes for postal contracts in southern and western areas, eventually known as “Star Routes.” The potential for illicit profits, with defects in Postal Service laws left the postal service ripe for corruption. Signed lower left F. Graetz with Charles L. Howard Label bottom center matt identifies as from Puck. Inscribed with dialogue verso and Puck label.

Winning bidder will receive a Certificate of Authenticity with the drawing.

Approx. Dimensions or Size: 6x9.5 inches image site, 18x22 inches overall

Hess Fine Auctions Shipping: USA $29.00E-mail for international shipping quote.

Estimated Weight of Package: 7 lbs.

Package size: 26 x 26 x 2

Cons./Inv. Code: The present lot is inventory number Clh 145 in the Charles L. Howard Collection, one of two hundred lots that will be continuously added to this online catalogue on a daily basis between today and the day of sale. The first 100 to 125 lots will be Important Original Illustration Art and the second 100 to 125 lots are comprised of Original Railroad Art. Please check our listings regularly during the coming days for many exciting discoveries.
Low & High Ests: 800 /1000 Starting Bid: 400

The state of preservation of these original illustration drawings that are on average over 65 years old is quite exceptional. Very, very few have any creases, tears or losses to the paper and the ink has remained uniformly vivid thanks to the family’s dry flat storage. Given that these were working drawings from which prints were made the expected edge annotations, highlighting, inscriptions, pasted labels, tack holes, staples, glue residues and scattered corrections can be found variously on the examples as illustrated in the photographs. These all add to the authenticity and immediacy of the Wartime newsroom and pressroom atmosphere, serving to reinforce the iconic status of these rare surviving testimonies to the political illustrator’s art. In a few examples additional notations have been made in the description section of the catalogue text for significant damage, however the condition sensitive collector is encouraged to contact our sale expert for additional lot details in advance of the auction date.