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Winsor McCay - A Tale of the Jungle Imps by Felix Fiddl Winsor McCay - A Tale of the Jungle Imps by

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Comics Start Price:26,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
Winsor McCay - A Tale of the Jungle Imps by Felix Fiddl Winsor McCay - A Tale of the Jungle Imps by
<B>Winsor McCay - A Tale of the Jungle Imps by Felix Fiddle, "How the Pelican Got His Pouch" Hand Colored Illustration Original Art, dated 2-22-03 (Cincinnati Enquirer, 1903).</B></I> Biographer John Canemaker detailed the history of <B>Tales of the Jungle Imps</B></I> in his superb monograph, <B>Winsor McCay, His Life and Art</B></I>. He wrote, "Of all Winsor McCay's work experiences during his five years on Cincinnati newspapers, none would prove more significant for his future than the proto-comic strip he created for the <B>Enquirer</B></I>." Forty-three episodes, based on poems written by George Randolph Chester, ran from January 11 to November 9, 1903. The stories took their cues from Rudyard Kipling's approach in <B>Just So Stories for Children</B></I>. In each episode, an animal's anatomy is "explained" through whimsical stories involving a trio of naughty "jungle imps," and their skirmishes with various species. As John Canemaker notes, "<I>Tales of the Jungle Imps</B></I> was Winsor McCay's first attempt in an extended series format to bring together all of his eclectic talents in a cohesive graphic style. On each page he found fresh ways to combine his exquisite draftsmanship, dynamic staging, sense of caricature, mastery of perspective, and feeling for motion with his version of the decorative art nouveau style." This delightful episode, the sixth in the series, was drawn in ink and hand colored using watercolor paint. Original illustrations, completely hand colored by Winsor McCay, are a rarity. As a result, the <I>Tales of the Jungle Imps</B></I> examples used in the Canemaker biography were shot from newspaper tear sheets, rather than originals. The image area of this superb, scarce example measures 18" x 22.5". The story captions are pasted-on, typeset stats. There are some small stains along the borders, and a bit of edge wear to the illustration board; otherwise, the art is in Very Good condition.