Paul Plaschke (German/American, 1880-1954) If Th

Paul Plaschke (GermanxAmerican, 1880-1954) If They Should Team Up and Guest Conductor, Chicago Herald-Examiner newspaper cartoons (two works), circa 1941 India ink, lithographic crayon, and gouache on heavyweight paper 12 x 10-1x2 inches (30.5 x 26.7 cm) (If They Should Team Up, image) 11-1x4 x 10-1x4 inches (28.6 x 26.0 cm) (Guest Conductor, image) One signed lower left: Plaschke; one signed at center: Plaschke Paul Plaschke was born in Berlin, Germany and emigrated with his family to the USA in 1884. He studied at the Cooper Union Art School and at the Art Students League in New York under George Luks. His newspaper career began with the Albany Evening Post, Louisville Times and The Courier-Journal in Louisville through the 1920s. In the late-1930s he was at The Herald-Examiner in Chicago. He created a comic strip titled Sleepy Sid in the 1910s and gained renown as an impressionist landscape painter. These two World War II Uncle Sam originals were published in the Herald Examiner in Chicago and exhibit the best aspects of editorial cartooning: a clear point thoughtfully made, a touch of humor, and the art of caricature. Plaschke visualizes Uncle Sam and John Bull, symbols of the USA and Britain, in If They Should Team Up with an exchange of names and clothing that humorously conveys the necessity of their eventual alliance to defeat Germany and Japan in World War II. Guest Conductor adds Joseph Stalin to the mix as the title character who conducts "The Communist Internationale" as Uncle Sam and John Bull sign "The four Freedoms New World Symphony." (image size: 11.25" x 10.25") The little fellow Plaschke usually included in his cartoons of this period appears in both works. Quantity: (2) HID03101062020 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.comxTexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

Condition
Light toning to each, most visible along extreme edges. Light handling creases, visible under raking along extreme edges. A few small scattered pin points of surface dirt and light smudges most visible in areas of negative space and along extreme edges. Light areas of rubbing in upper region of dark space in Guest Conductor. Wear and markings to margins of pages in keeping with illustration and publishing process. Not framed. Sheets overall: 12.875 x 11 inches and 12.25 x 11 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"