Buster Brown Bo. Statement Heading (1906) by Richard F. Outcault

From Heritage -
Mischievous Buster Brown and his dog, Tige (short for Tiger), were the Calvin & Hobbes before Calvin & Hobbes - a feisty cartoon team whose originator, Outcault, developed an early strategy of licensing his characters for commercial purposes. Outcault's hundreds of product tie-ins resulted in the Buster Brown Co., which is commemorated in this letterhead/statement drawing containing a visual joke: "Buster Busted." Here is a rarity of classic spot-on accuracy, demonstrating how Outcault kept a hand (literally speaking, his drawing hand) in his merchandising deals, down to the final detail of handmade logotype design. This ink-graphite composition appears on age-toned Bristol board, with handling wear commensurate with age. Image area, 12.5" x 5.25".
From the Outcault Family Collection.