How to Sell Your George Herriman Krazy Kat Comic Art
To auction, sell or consign your George Herriman Krazy Kat comic art, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (NateDSanders.com).
Who Was George Herriman?
George Herriman was an innovative cartoonist and creator of the Krazy Kat comic series, which ran between 1913 and 1944. Although the strip was never a commercial success, critics praised the comic strip for its play on linguistics, fluidity of the main character and surreal setting, which were all groundbreaking at the time. Fans of the series included numerous modern writers and artists such as Pablo Picasso, Jack Kerouac, Dorothy Parker and James Joyce.
Here’s Some Original Krazy Kat Comic Art We’ve Sold:
Sunday Comic Strip From 1943 – Sold for $22,878
The premise of Krazy Kat revolves around a simple gag with the characters Ignatz Mouse, Krazy Kat and Officer Bull Pupp. Ignatz dislikes Krazy Kat and hurls bricks at their head, while the naive Krazy Kat portrays this action as a sign of affection. Law-abiding Officer Pupp notices all this and arrests Ignatz with the belief that he’s protecting Krazy. Most comic strips embody this storyline with different variations. We realized $22,878 for a Sunday “Krazy Kat” comic strip published on 7 November 1943 featuring a Southwestern landscape. In the strip officer Pupp unsuccessfully shields Krazy Kat from bricks thrown by Ignatz.
Signed Sunday Strip – Sold for $9,500
We realized $9,500 for a Sunday Krazy Kat strip published on 31 May 1942. In this strip Krazy Kat chats with Mr. Kenga Roo and becomes increasingly deceived as his son springs out from his pouch and then from the son’s pouch, Mr. Kenga Roo’s grandson appears. When Krazy feels he’s seen enough, the great-granddaughter, Fannie, springs out from the grandson’s pouch. Krazy appears disturbed as he hops away into the vast Arizona landscape while Ignatz Mouse and Gooseberry Sprig look on.
Original Sunday Strip – Sold for $9,500
Krazy Kat made its debut in 1913 in William Randolph Hearst’s newspaper, the New York Evening Journal. Hearst was a huge fan of the comic strip and gave George Herriman a lifetime contact and insisted it run in all his papers. We sold a Sunday comic strip published on 16 May 1943 for $9,500. This 20-panel strip depicts Ignatz getting into shenanigans that involve hypnotizing, extortion and some brick throwing. Strip measures 16.5 x 25 inches and has minor soiling along edges.
Original Krazy Kat Color Drawing – Sold for $4,600
We sold a Krazy Kat signed and inscribed drawing rendered in ink and watercolor for $4,600. Illustration features Krazy Kat, Ignatz Mouse and Officer Bull Pupp marching along respectively holding a brick, bobby stick, and umbrella and flower. Signed and inscribed “Hey ‘Louie’ – Thine – Geo. Herriman”, for Louis Staub, a printer based in New York. Illustration measures 9.5 by 6 inches.
Daily Comic Strip From 1933 – Sold for $3,781
George Herriman’s abstract art style in Krazy Kat had a lasting influence on comic artists from a multitude of genres including Robert Crumb, Charles Schulz and Bill Watterson. We realized $3,781 for a daily Krazy Kat comic strip published on 2 February 1933. This four panel strip features Krazy Kat at a restaurant ordering ”elegint eats” in ”French” while trying to impress Ignatz. Strip measures 21 x 6 inches and comes from the estate of Blondie creator Chic Young.
Krazy Kat Artwork On Envelope — Sold for $2,750
We sold a charming color sketch on a postmarked envelope of Krazy Kat in a First Class mailbag for $2,750. Herriman gave this to an acquaintance, Rosie Humrichouse, who worked at his local Post Office in the 1940s. Envelope is postmarked from Los Angeles on 1 February 1943. Envelope is also accompanied with a colorful sketch of “Ole Man Herriman” serenading “Rosita”. Envelope measures 6.75 x 3.75 inches and card measures 6.25 x 3.375 inches.
Thanks for viewing some of our George Herriman Krazy Kat sales! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to see your Krazy Kat comic art. Our monthly auctions can be viewed at natedsanders.com.
FAQs
How do I consign or sell my George Herriman Krazy Kat comic art?
It’s never been more simple to sell your Krazy Kat comic art at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Email a description and photos of your item to [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can with a free appraisal.
This sounds great and I’d like to move forward. What’s the consignment process like at Nate D. Sanders Auctions?
We’ll send you more information about our auction house along with an agreement to review. Your item will appear in our next auction. Unlike many auction houses, we hold monthly auctions and pay you within an industry-leading 45 days following the auction.
What factors determine the value of Krazy Kat memorabilia?
The value of your item can vary based on condition, subject matter and whether it’s a daily or Sunday strip.