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Lot 1147: c1880s Grover Cleveland Caricature

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:450.00 USD Estimated At:750.00 - 1,500.00 USD
Lot 1147: c1880s Grover Cleveland Caricature
<b>Political</b><hr><b>Nast Draws Cleveland As A Turtle!</b>

<b>c. 1880s, Original Sketch by Thomas Nast, Caricaturing Grover Cleveland as a Turtle, Choice Very Fine.</b>
Original Ink Sketch Signed, “Th: Nast,” depicting President Grover Cleveland as a turtle - “In The Soup To-Day”; on off-white, 7.25” x 9.25 card.

American political cartooning can be divided into two distinct periods: before Nast, and after Nast. Before, political cartooning relied on dialogue rather than imagery to carry the message. After Nast, the picture became the message. This fine pen-and-ink cartoon, with the text, relegated to a caption, is typical of his work - and the work of all cartoonists to come.

Nast was an ardent Republican who broke with his party in 1884, when it nominated the corrupt James Blaine for president. Nast threw his pen, as it were, to the Democratic “reform” candidate, Grover Cleveland and, when his support helped get him elected, Nast became known as the "president maker.”