Mark O'Polo by Gottfredson

Picked up these items earlier this year.

As some of you might know that legendary Mickey Mouse artist Floyd Gottfredson had plans for another comic strip of his own called Mark O'Polo. He was influenced by E.C. Segars Popeye and probably also by Milton Caniff's Steve Canyon. (Judging by the surviving concepts and plots.)
The lot included the following items: a sketch of the main character Mark O'Polo, a penciled logotype and a five page plot titled "Baby Elephant Baby-Sitter" stuffed in a envelope.

Has anyone ever seen a finished or even pencilled Mark O'Polo daily?

Dalí, Disney e Don Chisciotte

As a follow up to Michael Barrier's recent "Walt's 110th" post, here's a newspaper photo that I caught on eBay. Enjoy!

And as a "bonus" to this post a 1931 Will's Cigarettes card from their cinema stars set, featuring Walt and Mickey. (Also caught on eBay.)

Same, same ...

... but different.

I believe the WDC cover came first.  New Funnies #94 was published in Dec 1944, a year before WDC 63. The Scandinavian edition of WDC changed the turkey into a goose to fit better with our traditions. (Images courtesy of GCDB.)

Happy holidays to you all!

This piece of Carl Barks art recently surfaced at auction.
A post for those of you who has already seen "everything". :)

Image courtesy of Hake's.
Handwritten text at top “Hi, Mr. Matetsky-We Deeply Appreciate Your Interest In Us Ducks!” with additional text just below scene “-And So Does Carl Barks”. Handwritten text on bottom half reads “Dear Mr. Matetsky-I Wish To Thank You For Your Generous Valuation Of My Duck Paintings. I Try To Make Each One As Good As My Skills Will Permit. You Certainly Make Such Hard Work Worthwhile. Gratefully Yours, Carl Barks”.

Bob Pistella got another nice letter drawing in his comicartfans gallery. Click HERE to see it.

To round off this post, here's a letter + drawing sent to Jim Lowe in 1974:

NF 266

Located a set of black and white proofs for the New Funnies #266 Woody Woodpecker story yesterday.
With the old Western publishing coloring still intact! (On separate sheets.) Sadly the lettering was missing, but all of the nice Paul Murry art was still there.
Here's a sample.

It's nice that stuff like this still turns up now and then, don't ya think?

Coffee break

Just an ordinary day at work at Egmont.

Bamse is having a coffee break, reading the latest issue of his comic book.

That issue got some press coverage in Arbetarbladet.
We happened to do a story about how a giant christmas goat was burned.
And the night after the subscribers got it in the mailbox ...
the christmas goat in Gävle burned.

Well, well ...

Lilla My and a pair of Filifjonkor

I just have to share this scan of a wonderful gouache by Tove Jansson, featuring "Lilla My" and a pair of "Filifjonkor".

1950's? 1960's? Anyone who knows were this was published? I don't think I've seen it before.
It's currently for sale at Seriegalleriet in Stockholm.
If you got 135.000 sek to spare, my advice is that you go ahead and buy it.
I surely would.

Update: The piece is now sold! 
Congratulations to the buyers. It's a real gem!

Barks handwritten script to TDWCtD

Just got a mail from John Lustig with some good news!
The complete handwritten script to "The Duck Who Came to Dinner" by Carl Barks is now posted on his Last Kiss site!
I posted a few images last month, but there are more panels from the story to be seen on Johns site along with background info.
Just click HERE!
Enjoy!

A sample script page by Carl Barks. More to be found on the Last Kiss site.

Lightbox View – #%§∞

You might have noticed that Blogger have switched to a new "Lightbox view" when you click on images.
Like this:

You know the stuff that makes it hard to just drag and drop an image if you want to download it. The thing that doesn't allow you to zoom in on an image?
Does it annoy you? Do you want to get rid of it on your own blog?
Well here's how to do it:

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If you’d like to disable Lightbox on your blog, log in to Blogger and select No next to Lightbox in the Settings | Posts and Comments section (new interface) or the Settings | Formatting section (old interface).
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Feel free to spread the word to other bloggers.

Dick Kinney Fethry scribbles for sale

Update: The pages sold for US $1,007.00!

 Fans of Fethry, Dick Kinney and Disney Comics history:
The complete scribbled script to the very first story featuring Fethry is now for sale on eBay.
Check it out by clicking HERE.

Tom and Jerry artist identification

Calling all Funny Animal experts!
While scanning old Tom & Jerry proofs I came across a story by an artist I couldn't identify.
Anyone who can help? Would be nice to get the credits right.

Edit: The artist is Vic Lockman.
Thanks, Alberto!

Russell Patterson Pin-up girls

Do you like the art of Russell Patterson? Of course you do!
Here's a photo of one of his "Pin-up girls" cartoons from March 28, 1945.
Beautiful brush work as always when it comes to Patterson!  

If you are interested in buying the original art you should mail the owner right away, as it's for sale.  You can reach her at:  dreamfarm2 at aol.com

/Joakim.

A Mickey for Dawn

Ho! Ho! Ho!
X-mas comes early this year with an unpublished watercolor by Floyd Gottfredson.

Mickey watercolor by Gottfredson

This Floyd Gottfredson drawing of Mickey and Minnie surfaced earlier this year.

Watercolors, besides the ones he did for Willits, are not common to see but apparently he did a few with Mickey and Minnie dancing in various costumes. This one was made for John Mass.

Here's a similar one that I posted back in 2009.

Hagar the Fakeable

Would you pay $157.50 for this?

Well, apparently someone did on eBay today.
If the buyer reads this: Send me $100 and I'll do a bunch of re-inked Hagar strips for you. 10 or more and you'll get 'em for $75 each. Deal? :)