Ray O. Evans (American, 1887-1954) What Does He

Ray O. Evans (American, 1887-1954) What Does He Think He's Been Doing? and Who Said Atomic Security? The Columbus Dispatch newspaper cartoons (two works), 1939; 1949 India ink and pencil on heavyweight paper 17-1x4 x 17 inches (43.8 x 43.2 cm) (image) Each signed in lower region: Evans Ohio native Ray Oscar Evans landed his first job at The Columbus Dispatch in advertising in 1910. From 1913 to 1922 he worked at The Dayton Daily News and Baltimore American, where he became widely known, and sold cartoons to Judge, Life, Puck and The Literary Digest. In 1922 he returned to Ohio and The Columbus Dispatch to work with Dudley Fisher, Billy Ireland and, later, Milton Caniff in the creation of illustrations, cartoons and comic strips. By the late 1940s Evans was the newspaper's lead cartoonist and his work appeared in papers across the country. These two original editorial cartoons featuring Uncle Sam were published ten years apart in The Columbus Dispatch. What Does He Think He's Been Doing? of 1939 addresses America's abrogation of the 1911 U.S.-Japanese Trade Treaty following Japanese aggression in China, its occupation of Manchuria in 1931 and full-scale invasion of 1937. The Japanese leader stomping on the Nine-Power Treaty, signed in 1922 to guarantee China's sovereignty, is likely a caricature of Emperor Hirohito. Who Said Atomic Security? reflects the fierce debate in the United States government over control of nuclear power and weapons in 1949. Senator Bourke Hickenlooper of the Joint Congressional Committee on Atomic Energy was at odds with David E. Lilienthal, first chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. The latter was in favor of civilian, international control of nuclear energy; the Senator, an ardent anti-communist, accused the Commission of mismanagement and called for Mr. Lilienthal's resignation. Quantity: (2) HID03101062020 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.comxTexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

Condition
Toning to each, most visible along extreme edges. Crease with diagonal crack upper right and negligible tear lower left of What Does He Think He's Been Doing?, not affecting central image. Light scattered pin point stains and light smudges to each. Wear and markings to margins of page in keeping with illustration and publishing process. Each not framed. Each sheet overall: 20 x 19.75 inches and 20 x 20 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"