Hake’s Auctions first premier event of 2020, Auction #229, closed with sales reaching $1.5 million. Among the remarkable highlights of this auction were two pieces of original art by prolific cartoonist Winsor McCay. 

The first was original art from the Tales Of The Jungle Imps By Felix Fiddle story “Why The Parrot Learned To Talk,” which drew $49,973. The 1903 Sunday page deals with a group of Imps antagonizing a sleeping trio of prehistoric cavemen. The Imps look on from bushes as club-toting men discuss eating whale and elephant for breakfast, before attempting to attack the men, only to be caught. All the while, parrots look on and in last panel imitate what they have heard, with Felix Fiddle overseeing each panel. This example is 1 of only 11 Imps pages by McCay in known existence.

The additional McCay lot, a Little Nemo linen-mounted cartoon poster from 1911, hammered at $15,576. Printed in France and rendered by popular French poster artist R. Hem, the poster was created to promote the 1911 short Little Nemo. The top of the poster has Flip and Imp holding a French title banner which roughly translates to “Winsor McCay – The Latest In Cartoons.”  There are a series of drawings underneath this, featuring alligator, Flip and Nemo drawing Imp. McCay himself is shown seated at his desk, surrounded by stacks of animation drawings with a portrait of Flip in his hands. 

All prices include an 18% buyer’s premium. Top items from Wednesday and Thursday can be viewed on Hake’s website.