Happy Hooligan Sunday - Very early... 1905

4 Comments - 1,665 Views - 3 Likes

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Early Maud the Mule Sunday Strip by Opper 1905

Artwork Details

Title:	Happy Hooligan Sunday - Very early... 1905
Artist:	Frederick Burr Opper (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Comic Strip
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	1,665
Likes on CAF:	3 4
Favorited on CAF:	1
Comments:	4
Added to Site:	4/2/2016
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Stumbled across this and the Maud at an antique show, of all places. I got the impression from the seller that this had come out of the estate of a descendant of one-time Hearst cartoon editor Rudolph Block. He thought it was pre-1913, so based on the date on the strip having to be a Sunday, that would put it as 1905 or 1911. I'd love any feedback on that. Thrilled to have both of these, as I've been an Opper fan for decades, but never scored the perfect original.
It seems to be a recurring theme for the happy hobo, either taking a solo or synchronized header with his brothers and ending up getting carted off to jail. It's cut into individual panels which I may have archivally reattached some day.
I was over the moon to find this out in the real world. Just goes to show you never know!

UPDATE: Thanks to the Library of Congress online newspaper archives, I have been able to verify that this is from 1905 and is complete. That makes it one of, if not the, earliest surviving HH Sundays.

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About the Owner

	Roger K. ( 18 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	January 2005
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Roger's Classifieds Roger's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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CHRIS OLIVERIA
Member Since 2011

Posted on 4/3/2016

This is a fantastic find! So many of these early examples are really beat up, this one is in great condition.....congratulations!

Bernard Voorzichtig
Member Since 2012

Posted on 9/14/2018

Beautiful early one !

Carl Linich
Member Since 2011

Posted on 10/31/2018

Beautiful piece of history.

Monty B
Member Since 2006

Posted on 3/22/2019

Beautiful and historic!!! I love those early Happy Hooligans...

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