Stolzer, Rob :: Art For Sale

Early T.E. POWERS Politic Cartoon From 1904 - Russo-Japanese War - One of Hearst's Favorites

Artists: T.E. Powers (All) , Thomas Powers (All)

0 Comments - 225 Views - 0 Like

Early T.E. POWERS Politic Cartoon From 1904 - Russo-Japanese War - One of Hearst's Favorites Comic Art

Click Image to View Full Size

Additional Images:

T.E. Powers - 1904 Tearsheet

Previous Item:
WILL EISNER - Original Letter and Contract Related to a Trade - From the Charlie Roberts Archive

Next Item:
Terrific MATT CLARK Dry-Brush & Watercolor Illustration Prelim

Artwork Details

Title:	Early T.E. POWERS Politic Cartoon From 1904 - Russo-Japanese War - One of Hearst's Favorites
Artist:	T.E. Powers (All)
Artist:	Thomas Powers (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Comic Strip
For Sale Status:	FS - $225 + Shipping
Views:	225
Likes on CAF:	0 1
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	6/28/2024
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Thomas (T.E.) Powers (1870-1939) was one of the mainstays with William Randolph Heart�s papers, as well as one of Hearst�s favorite cartoonists. According to Theodore Roosevelt�s obituary, Powers was one of his favorite cartoonists as well. Powers had a deceivingly simple line style that conveyed his concepts clearly and beautifully, especially when it came to his political and editorial cartoons.

I�m very pleased to offer up an early and uncommon original political cartoon by Powers. This cartoon, titled "Russian 'Official' News", appeared in the New York Evening Journal on February 19, 1904. The piece has to do with the Battle of Port Arthur, which began with a surprise night attack by a squadron of Japanese destroyers on the neutral Russian fleet anchored at Port Arthur on February 8 and 9, 1904. It also marks the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War. A brief bit of background for context:

Russia had long pursued an expansionist policy and sought a warm-water port on the Pacific Ocean, both for its navy and maritime trade. Port Arthur, a naval base in Liaodong Province, was leased to Russia by the Qing dynasty of China beginning in 1897, was operational year-round. Japan, though, was not happy about this. Since the end of the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895, Japan feared that Russian encroachment would interfere with its plans to establish a sphere of influence in Korea and Manchuria.

Japan saw Russia as a rival, and formally offered to recognize Russia�s dominance in Manchuria in exchange for recognition of the Korean Empire as being within the Japanese sphere of influence. Russia refused and demanded the establishment of a neutral buffer zone between Russia and Japan in Korea, north of the 39th parallel. This did not go over well with the Imperial Japanese Government, who saw this as obstructing their own plans for expansion into mainland Asia. Japan opted for war. Negotiations were attempted, but they eventually broke down in 1904. The Japanese Navy opened hostilities in a surprise attack on the Russian Eastern Fleet at Port Arthur, China on February 9, 1904.

Japan�s military might overwhelmed Russia, who ignored Japan�s willingness early on to agree to an armistice. After the decisive naval battle of Tsushima, the war was concluded with the Treaty of Portsmouth in August 1905.

This 14�x 11� original has the following caption: �Says Alexieff to the Czar: I regret to reportsky�, referring to General Mikhail Alekseyev. The piece saw print in February 1904. One date of publication I�ve found is on the 27th, though it�s possible it also ran at an earlier date. There�s a note on the back of the artwork that says it ran in the New York Evening Journal on February 19, 1904. The piece does have some condition issues. The two upper corners are missing, though neither affects the artwork. There are three small heavy edge creases that are more noticeable from the back than the front. They are about an inch lone each. There is a longer horizontal crease on the back that you can barely see on the front of the piece. The piece is 120 years old. For that age, it�s in pretty damn good shape. The pen work in the piece is more elaborate than usual with Powers, especially the crosshatching along the sides and bottom. It�s a really cool piece, and piece of history. $225.00 + 15.00 First Class Shipping.

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	Rob Stolzer Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	September 2004
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	robart
Website:	https://freeassociationfunnies.com/
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Rob's Classifieds Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF Read More About RobStolzer

Contact the Owner

Use can use a contact form to send an email to this gallery owner,
but, you must be logged in to use this feature.

Comments on this Artwork

You must be logged in to make comments.

All
	DISNEY COMIC ART A 9/6/2025 9:13:00 AM
	Jorge Valentin 9/6/2025 9:08:00 AM
	P A 9/6/2025 8:33:00 AM
	Kit Walker 9/6/2025 8:32:00 AM
	Rob C. 9/6/2025 8:20:00 AM
View All


	Zaal Art 9/6/2025 8:01:00 AM
	Miki Annamanthadoo 9/6/2025 7:44:00 AM
	Anonimo Italiano 9/6/2025 7:34:00 AM
	Barnaba J. 9/6/2025 7:18:00 AM
	juan manuel lopez 9/6/2025 6:54:00 AM