Charles Kuhn (American, 1892-1989) Asking For It
Charles Kuhn (American, 1892-1989) Asking For It, Indianapolis News newspaper cartoon, February 23, 1934 India ink on heavyweight paper 15-3x4 x 13-1x2 inches (40.0 x 34.3 cm) (image) Signed and dated lower left: Chas Kuhn -34 Uncle Sam proudly sports his "N. R. A." top hat on a snowy night and dares three boys labeled "Business," "Public Criticism" and "Industry" to "fire away" with their snowballs. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's National Recovery Administration was created in mid-1933 and was in full operation when this cartoon was published on the front page of the Indianapolis News on February 23, 1934. It raised severe criticism from business and industry leaders and even from the public. Nonetheless, it was the centerpiece of the President's plan for mobilizing the nation to raise itself out of the Great Depression of the 1930s. Charles Kuhn enrolled in the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and studied under Frank King, working at a variety of odd jobs before he finally landed work with the Rocky Mountain News (1919-1921). He signed on with the Indianapolis News in 1922 and remained with that newspaper for the next 26 years. At age 55 he started his Grandma comic strip which was distributed nationally by King Features Syndicate from 1948 to 1969. The artist inscribed and dated this original "To Bill Dwyer with best wishes - March 9 - '34" above his signature. William Raphael Dwyer, Jr. was a fellow newspaper cartoonist with King Features and best known for his work on Dumb Dora and When Mother Was a Girl. HID03101062020 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.comxTexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice
Condition
Toning to sheet. Crease through upper margin, not affecting central image. Minor tear upper right, less than 1 inch, not affecting central image; small crease at lower right corner, not affecting image. A few scattered pin points of surface dirt through center region of background. Wear and markings to margins of page in keeping with illustration and publishing process. Not framed. Sheet overall: 18.25 x 14.325 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 Kuhn (American, 1892-1989) Asking For It, Indianapolis News newspaper cartoon, February 23, 1934 India ink on heavyweight paper 15-3x4 x 13-1x2 inches (40.0 x 34.3 cm) (image) Signed and dated lower left: Chas Kuhn -34 Uncle Sam proudly sports his "N. R. A." top hat on a snowy night and dares three boys labeled "Business," "Public Criticism" and "Industry" to "fire away" with their snowballs. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's National Recovery Administration was created in mid-1933 and was in full operation when this cartoon was published on the front page of the Indianapolis News on February 23, 1934. It raised severe criticism from business and industry leaders and even from the public. Nonetheless, it was the centerpiece of the President's plan for mobilizing the nation to raise itself out of the Great Depression of the 1930s. Charles Kuhn enrolled in the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and studied under Frank King, working at a variety of odd jobs before he finally landed work with the Rocky Mountain News (1919-1921). He signed on with the Indianapolis News in 1922 and remained with that newspaper for the next 26 years. At age 55 he started his Grandma comic strip which was distributed nationally by King Features Syndicate from 1948 to 1969. The artist inscribed and dated this original "To Bill Dwyer with best wishes - March 9 - '34" above his signature. William Raphael Dwyer, Jr. was a fellow newspaper cartoonist with King Features and best known for his work on Dumb Dora and When Mother Was a Girl. HID03101062020 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.comxTexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice
Condition
Toning to sheet. Crease through upper margin, not affecting central image. Minor tear upper right, less than 1 inch, not affecting central image; small crease at lower right corner, not affecting image. A few scattered pin points of surface dirt through center region of background. Wear and markings to margins of page in keeping with illustration and publishing process. Not framed. Sheet overall: 18.25 x 14.325 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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