Charles Werner (American, 1909-1997) The Fumble

Charles Werner (American, 1909-1997) The Fumble, The Chicago Sun newspaper cartoon, October 1944 India ink and lithographic crayon on heavyweight paper 15 x 12 inches (38.1 x 30.5 cm) (image) Signed lower right: Werner In 1939, at age 29, Charles Werner became the youngest man to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning for his cartoon published in the Daily Oklahoman on October 6, 1938. Titled Nomination for 1938, it commented on the Munich Agreement which allowed Nazi Germany to take the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia. Mr. Werner was a staff artist at the Leader and Press in Springfield, Missouri from 1930 to 1935. He moved to the Daily Oklahoman in 1935, and beginning in 1937 served as its editorial cartoonist. In 1941 he signed on as chief editorial cartoonist at the Chicago Sun. In 1947, the Indianapolis Star became his final destination, and he finished out his career as that paper's lead editorial cartoonist in 1994. This lively football-themed editorial cartoon titled The Fumble! was published in October 1944 and shows a stumbling G.O.P. elephant losing its teeth, helmet, and the ball—"Joe Ball"—to the President. Incumbent Franklin D. Roosevelt was running for an unprecedented fourth term against Republican challenger Thomas E. Dewey when, late in the campaign, Republican Senator Joe Ball of Minnesota broke ranks to declare that he could not support Dewey until he gave full support to international cooperation for preservation of peace. He further stated that he would vote for Roosevelt. The artist inscribed this original "To Murray A. Harris with Best Wishes" above his signature. HID03101062020 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.comxTexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

Condition
Light toning, most visible along extreme edges. Very light scattered handling smudges along extreme edges. Faint stain at lower right edge, not affecting central image. Wear and markings to margins of page in keeping with illustration and publishing process. Not framed. Sheet overall: 16.25 x 14 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"