16 Cartoonists Jam for Mayor Jimmy Walker - 1927 - Herriman, Goldberg, Sterrett, Gross, DeBeck + + +

Every so often in this collecting life, we run across a piece that makes us say "holy shit"! This is one such piece. Here's the short-form background: In 1927, a newly formed cartoonists organization, the Cartoonists of America, hosted a gala banquet to honor W.A. Rogers, Charles Dana Gibson and Frederick Burr Opper, all revered elder statesmen in the field of cartooning and illustration. Mayor James J. Walker of New York City was the toastmaster for the evening, and the cartoonists presented him with this incredible biographical jam drawing. The piece was drawn by 16 cartoonists: George McManus, Harry Hershfield, Tom McNamara, Ad Carter, Walter Hoban, Jimmy Murphy, George Herriman, Jack Callahan, Chic Young, Ed Verdier, Cliff Sterrett, TAD Dorgan, Milt Gross, Rube Goldberg, Paul Fung and Billy DeBeck. All the cartoonists worked for Hearst/King Features.

I have written a blog post, presenting a history of the organization, which led to the banquet and this drawing. Check out the post here.