Stolzer, Rob :: Art For Sale

RUSSELL JOHNSON - Wonderful Original MISTER OSWALD PAGE From 1959! Hardware Store Details!

Artists: Russell Johnson (All) , Russ Johnson (All)

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RUSSELL JOHNSON - Wonderful Original MISTER OSWALD PAGE From 1959! Hardware Store Details! Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	RUSSELL JOHNSON - Wonderful Original MISTER OSWALD PAGE From 1959! Hardware Store Details!
Artist:	Russell Johnson (All)
Artist:	Russ Johnson (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Comic Strip
For Sale Status:	SOLD!
Views:	77
Likes on CAF:	0 1
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	8/16/2025
Comic Art Archive:

Description

As any true fan of comic strips knows, Russ Johnson (1893-1995) drew the wonderful Mister Oswald comic strip for an astounding 62 years! Mister Oswald ran only in the pages of the Hardware Retailer, a magazine published for the hardware trade. Because of where the strip ran, it remains one of the greatest strips rarely seen by the larger newspaper-reading public. Russ did study with professional cartoonists, taking classes from Billy DeBeck and Carl Ed at the School of Fine Arts in Chicago, but running two retail stores (hardware and shoes), and doing a monthly comic strip plus a number of other advertising pieces, kept Russ from having the time to fully develop a newspaper strip. In many ways, we are all luckier for the direction that Russ� career took. Mister Oswald was a snapshot of society at any given time, wonderfully reflecting the times in which it was created. It was humor meant for a certain audience, but anyone who has worked in retail will fully relate to the build-ups and gags. Two more points about Russ: I was honored to conduct Russ� final interview, two months before his passing. And I�m even more honored to run a website devoted to Russ and his work.

I�m very pleased to offer up a wonderful full-page Mister Oswald strip. This piece appeared in the October 1959 issue of the Hardware Retailer, and was reprinted in the 1968 book, �Forty Years with Mister Oswald�. Mister Oswald is approached by two firemen who are requesting that he purchase advertising space as a fundraiser. Mister Oswald goes on a wonderful six-panel monologue; one that would make Harry Tuthill proud! As Mister Oswald tells the firemen of his woes, we get a great tour of the inside of his hardware store, as he walks though different departments. It�s a terrific page, with a great gag set-up and delivery, along with some stellar cartooning. Measuring 23��x 16��, the strip is in solid Fine condition. There are a couple of small barely visible scrapes in the first two panels, along with minor wear. I should add that the piece has a wonderful hand-drawn logo. Great stuff that is becoming increasingly harder to find. $650.00 + 20.00 first class shipping. SOLD!

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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
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