1950s Charles Schulz Peanuts Comic Strip Art — Value Guide & Real Auction Prices

To auction, sell or consign your Charles Schulz 1950s Peanuts comic strip art, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (NateDSanders.com).

What Was the Peanuts Universe Like in the 1950s?

The illustration style of Peanuts comics evolved throughout the life of the series. During the 1950s Snoopy was mostly portrayed as a dog who walked on all four legs and has later in the decade has moments where he appears upright on his hind legs. During the early year Charles Schulz drew the children with larger heads and smaller bodies compared to the style of the later years. We’ve been fortunate to have sold several comics from this decade as well as several strips from other years.

Some of our 1950s Charles Schulz Peanuts Strips:

1959 Sunday Strip Featuring Lucy & Linus – Sold for $52,500

We realized $52,500 for an original Sunday Peanuts strip with Lucy and Linus published on 24 May 1959. The strip perfectly summarizes their sibling relationship as Lucy is seen barreling over Linus’s intricate sand castle. The final panel concludes with Linus dusting himself off and standing up to Lucy. Strip measures 23 x 15.75 inches and is in very good condition.

Daily Strip Featuring Charlie Brown & Patty – Sold for $42,094

The original Patty was one of the first characters introduced in the Peanuts series, but gradually became a background character by the mid 1950s when new characters were brought into the strip. Her last appearance was on 17 April 1995. We realized $42,094 for a Peanuts comic strip published on 19 December 1953 that features Patty repeatedly questioning Charlie Brown about where she stands in his affections.

1957 Strip Featuring Charlie Brown, Linus & Lucy – Sold for $41,411

We realized $41,411 for a Peanuts strip published on 10 January 1957 featuring Charlie Brown in his iconic zig-zag shirt along with the classic sibling shenanigans of Linus and Lucy. Adorable comic strip references the word “fussbudget”, an original Peanuts term mostly used by Lucy.

Valentine’s Day Daily Strip From 1959 – Sold for $35,750

We realized $35,750 for a daily Peanuts strip published on 14 February 1959. The strip succinctly illustrates the complex relationship between Charlie Brown and his on-again, off-again crush Violet Gray. Strip has some toning and pinholes to corners and is accompanied by a letter from Charles Schulz to the recipient dated 3 January 1961.

1958 Sunday Strip With Charlie Brown & Linus – Sold for $35,000

We realized $35,000 for a Sunday strip published on 7 December 1958. In this strip Charlie Brown and Linus gaze at the night sky while attempting to comprehend the immensity of the universe. Unique strip measures 23 x 16.75 inches and is mostly in black, contrasting sharply with Linus and Charlie Brown. Consigned by the family of a Professor of Astronomy, to whom Schulz gave the strip.

1954 Daily Strip Featuring Linus – Sold for $31,250

We realized $31,250 for an early Peanuts strip published on 10 July 1954 featuring Linus van Pelt. Linus is shown sitting on the floor playing with letter blocks, and as he grows sleepy dreams of blocks spells out “ZZ”. As the comic series progressed Linus became more of a peer to the other characters and started expressing more philosophical ideas.

1954 Daily Strip Featuring Snoopy on All Fours – Sold for $31,250

Snoopy is seen walking on four legs in Peanuts strips from the earlier years as well as having mannerisms of a typical dog. As the strip evolves Snoopy begins to adapt more a human level of thinking and is eventually seen standing and walking upright by the mid-1960s. We sold a strip published on 13 October 1954 featuring Snoopy sprinting on all fours with Charlie Brown and Shermy for $31,250.

1959 Daily Strip Featuring Linus & Schroeder – Sold for $25,000

Musical prodigy Schroeder is remembered for his fondness of Ludwig van Beethoven and his music. In Peanuts strips he’s often shown playing the toy piano or as the catcher on Charlie Brown’s baseball team. We realized $25,000 for a strip published on 21 August 1959 featuring a political protest by Linus and Schroeder proclaiming his love for Beethoven. Strip is framed and inscribed by Charles Schulz on the last panel.

1953 Sunday Strip Featuring Linus & Lucy – Sold for $25,000

Linus van Pelt, Lucy’s younger brother, made his first Peanuts appearance on 14 July 1952. He’s often associated with his philosophical thoughts and his security blanket that was introduced in 1954. We sold a Sunday comic strip published on 21 June 1953 for $25,000. The strip features Linus as a young toddler going through many emotions while stacking alphabet blocks and concludes with Lucy abruptly cleaning them up.

Peanuts Advertising Artwork From 1957 – Sold for $12,500

We sold original Peanuts advertising artwork featuring Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Schroeder, Lucy and Linus for $12,500. Artwork is undated but likely from 1957 and was used to promote the annual May Week festivities at Ohio State University, in concert with ”The Columbus Citizen” newspaper. The 1957 theme of OSU’s May Week included the Peanuts characters and the University was granted permission from Charles Schulz to parody them on campus.

Thanks for stopping by to learn about original Charles Schulz Peanuts comic strip art from the 1950s! We’re happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Please contact us at [email protected]. Learn how to sell your Peanuts comic strip art at Nate D. Sanders Auctions.

FAQs

How much is a 1950s Charles Schulz original Peanuts comic strip art worth?
The value of a 1950s Peanuts comic strip depends on the condition, characters features, theme and if it’s a daily or Sunday strip.

What Peanuts characters had been introduced by the 1950s?
The Peanuts universe already included beloved characters Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Shermy, Violet, Schroeder, Lucy, Linus and the original Patty by the early 1950s. Other memorable characters including Peppermint Patty, Woodstock, Franklin and Marcie were introduced in the 1960s and 1970s.

Take a look back at Peanuts comic strips from the 1960s and 1970s.