Scullin, Matthew :: KELLY, Walt - Pogo

Walt Kelly - INSTANT POGO - Original 1962 Simon & Schuster book cover art

Artist: Walt Kelly (All)

5 Comments - 502 Views - 1 Like

Walt Kelly - INSTANT POGO - Original 1962 Simon & Schuster book cover art Comic Art

Additional Images:

Red Plate Overlay

Printed cover

Full art board with NHA copy

Photo of NHA fundraising poster

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Walt Kelly - Pogo in Pandemonia - 18 February 1967

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Walt Kelly - Pogo - 20, 21, and 22 February 1967

Artwork Details

Title:	Walt Kelly - INSTANT POGO - Original 1962 Simon & Schuster book cover art
Artist:	Walt Kelly (All)
Media Type:	Ink Wash
Art Type:	Cover
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	502
Likes on CAF:	1 2
Comments:	5
Added to Site:	4/26/2022
Comic Art Archive:

Description

I was quite excited to acquire the large original ink wash painted cover art for Instant Pogo. Original Simon & Schuster book cover art by Walt Kelly is quite rare, and several of the nicest pieces reside at the Ohio State University. This is the ONLY Simon & Schuster cover rendered in ink wash and reproduced in gray tones.

The full art board reveals that in the lower right there was an ink wash painting of Porky Pine shooting Pogo out of the cannon. On the printed book cover (see additional image) Porky was replaced by a cover blurb promoting Instant Pogo as the sequel to the Jack Acid Society Black Book, a Pogo book with an atypical cover design without a recognizable character on the cover that may not have been selling well.

Like a true �grail� piece, this cover art was hiding in full camouflage as a military fund-raising promotional image for the National Health Agencies (see additional images).

A news photo of the actual Pogo NHA promotional poster is in the March 1964 Monthly Newsletter Magazine of the U.S. Navy Supply Corps (additional image). The photo reveals that someone in the military did not dig Pogo's comment, "Go HIGHER and HEALTHIER." In the photo, the upper left copy appears to read "POGO SAYS, 'GIVIN' MEANS LIVIN'" and Porky's balloon was changed to read "...AND GIVIN' MORE MAKES A SCORE.� Note also that the entire illustration appears to have been crudely redrawn with Pogo facing left and giving a military salute with his right hand rather than facing right and holding a cup of instant coffee in his left hand.

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About the Owner

	Matthew Scullin
Joined:	September 2019
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Jim Warden
Member Since 2003

1 - Posted on 4/26/2022

Congratulations on adding this absolutely incredible cover to your fantastic collection! Thank you for sharing the story of how this one was hiding in plain sight when we met at the Comic Art Con; wonderful dective work on your part!

Matthew Scullin
Member Since 2019

Posted on 4/26/2022

Jim Warden wrote:

Thanks! It was great to meet a fellow Pogo enthusiast in person to swap stories and some art!

Monty B
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 4/26/2022

WOW!!! What a stunning paperback cover artwork...major congrats on this stupendous acquisition!!! I bet you're still smiling... 😁👍

Harry M
Member Since 2006

Posted on 4/26/2022

I sometimes read Pogo as a youngster, so this is appealing for me. Congrats.

Bill J
Member Since 2009

Posted on 6/28/2022

Wow! What a fabulous Pogo book! From the prime period of the strip! Just marvelous in every respect!

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