Wonderful LARRY REYNOLDS 1938 BUTCH the BURGLAR Magazine Cartoon!

Larry Reynolds (1912-2002) was a longtime cartoonist for many publications, notably Collier’s, the Saturday Evening Post, and the New Yorker. Reynolds reached his greatest success with his work in Collier’s, where he introduced Butch, a bungling, sweet-natured burglar. Butch was on the order of one of Jay Irving’s cops. Sweet, good-natured, but not the most competent chap in the world. The character was introduced in the pages of Collier’s in 1932, and I’m pleased to be able to offer the earliest original example I’ve seen, from 1938. Butch is in the tub, with three cops around him. One of the cops says, “I never seen a guy so desperately stallin’ for time. Look, he’s even doin’ behind his ears!” It’s a great gag, with some beautiful brush & ink & ink wash drawing. The piece is done on heavy illustration board and measures 12¼”x 10½”. The condition is quite good, though there is something of a sheen over the top of the drawing, as if it had some sort of covering at some point. Even so, it’s quite beautiful. Reynolds’ artwork is surprisingly uncommon, and this is a sweet, early example. $75.00 + 9.00 Priority shipping. SOLD!