Charles Bartholomew (American, 1869-1949) Tariff
Charles Bartholomew (American, 1869-1949) Tariff Revision and Is This Safe?, Minneapolis Journal newspaper cartoons (two works), 1902-1904 India ink on heavyweight paper 15 x 13-1/2 inches (38.1 x 34.3 cm) (Tariff Revision, image) 14 x 13 inches (35.6 x 33.0 cm) (Is This Safe?, image) Each signed lower right: Bart Charles L. Bartholomew began work at the Minneapolis Journal as a reporter and sometimes illustrator before he was able to convince editor J. S. McClain that a full-time cartoonist was what the newspaper needed to connect with readers and boost circulation. He became one of the first cartoonists to create a daily newspaper editorial cartoon and over the years covered international, national and local events and stories. His work was reprinted in newspapers throughout the United States and Europe, and he remained the paper's editorial cartoonist to 1915. He signed his cartoons "Bart." It was in 1890 that Bartholomew convinced the newspaper's editor to publish his regular editorial cartoon on the front page and organized a daily meeting to decide upon the issue that would be addressed. The cartoons usually focused on the major news stories, and it was the artist's wit and courage that made his work so popular. He donated most of his original drawings and proof sheets to the Minneapolis Public Library in 1933. They have been digitized and are available at the website of the Hennepin County Library. These two original editorial cartoons featuring Uncle Sam immersed in the politics of the day were published on the front page of the Minneapolis Journal. Tariff Revision appeared on August 2, 1902, with the caption: "Uncle Sam—I want these cut over and made up-to-date; thought I'd better bring 'em back to the tailor that made 'em." Republicans had controlled the national government for many of the post-Civil War years and had raised the tariffs that were in place by the turn of the century. In 1902 the G.O.P. held the White House and both houses of Congress, and many supported reform. Is This Safe? (14" x 13" image size) was published on October 20, 1904. Judge Alton Parker was the Democratic Party nominee for President in 1904, and he had spoken out in opposition to some of President Theodore Roosevelt's anti-trust moves. Parker was secretly accepting campaign support from major American corporations although he publicly denied it. Even as Uncle Sam pleads with him to stop Judge Parker pours Standard Oil into his "Presidential Campaign Range." Quantity: (2) HID03101062020 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice
Condition
Light toning to each sheet. Light scattered surface dirt to each. Wear and markings to margins of page in keeping with illustration and publishing process. Not framed. Sheet overall: 17.25 x 15.5 inches and 17.5 x 15 inches
Heritage Auctions strongly encourages in-person inspection of items by the bidder. Statements by Heritage regarding the condition of objects are for guidance only and should not be relied upon as statements of fact, and do not constitute a representation, warranty, or assumption of liability by Heritage. All lots offered are sold "AS IS"
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Charles Bartholomew (American, 1869-1949) Tariff Revision and Is This Safe?, Minneapolis Journal newspaper cartoons (two works), 1902-1904 India ink on heavyweight paper 15 x 13-1/2 inches (38.1 x 34.3 cm) (Tariff Revision, image) 14 x 13 inches (35.6 x 33.0 cm) (Is This Safe?, image) Each signed lower right: Bart Charles L. Bartholomew began work at the Minneapolis Journal as a reporter and sometimes illustrator before he was able to convince editor J. S. McClain that a full-time cartoonist was what the newspaper needed to connect with readers and boost circulation. He became one of the first cartoonists to create a daily newspaper editorial cartoon and over the years covered international, national and local events and stories. His work was reprinted in newspapers throughout the United States and Europe, and he remained the paper's editorial cartoonist to 1915. He signed his cartoons "Bart." It was in 1890 that Bartholomew convinced the newspaper's editor to publish his regular editorial cartoon on the front page and organized a daily meeting to decide upon the issue that would be addressed. The cartoons usually focused on the major news stories, and it was the artist's wit and courage that made his work so popular. He donated most of his original drawings and proof sheets to the Minneapolis Public Library in 1933. They have been digitized and are available at the website of the Hennepin County Library. These two original editorial cartoons featuring Uncle Sam immersed in the politics of the day were published on the front page of the Minneapolis Journal. Tariff Revision appeared on August 2, 1902, with the caption: "Uncle Sam—I want these cut over and made up-to-date; thought I'd better bring 'em back to the tailor that made 'em." Republicans had controlled the national government for many of the post-Civil War years and had raised the tariffs that were in place by the turn of the century. In 1902 the G.O.P. held the White House and both houses of Congress, and many supported reform. Is This Safe? (14" x 13" image size) was published on October 20, 1904. Judge Alton Parker was the Democratic Party nominee for President in 1904, and he had spoken out in opposition to some of President Theodore Roosevelt's anti-trust moves. Parker was secretly accepting campaign support from major American corporations although he publicly denied it. Even as Uncle Sam pleads with him to stop Judge Parker pours Standard Oil into his "Presidential Campaign Range." Quantity: (2) HID03101062020 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice
Condition
Light toning to each sheet. Light scattered surface dirt to each. Wear and markings to margins of page in keeping with illustration and publishing process. Not framed. Sheet overall: 17.25 x 15.5 inches and 17.5 x 15 inches
Heritage Auctions strongly encourages in-person inspection of items by the bidder. Statements by Heritage regarding the condition of objects are for guidance only and should not be relied upon as statements of fact, and do not constitute a representation, warranty, or assumption of liability by Heritage. All lots offered are sold "AS IS"
Buyer's Premium
30%
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
