Rollin Kirby (American, 1875-1952) He Could Use

Rollin Kirby (American, 1875-1952) He Could Use It Just Now, New York World newspaper cartoon, May 1937 Pencil and lithographic crayon on heavyweight paper 13-1/2 x 11-3/4 inches (34.3 x 29.8 cm) (image) Signed lower right: Rollin Kirby Rollin Kirby was the first winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1922, and during his illustrious career he received that award a total of three times, for the years 1921, 1922 and 1928. He was with the New York World in the 1920s and 1930s and the New York Post from 1939 to 1942. His work also appeared in Look magazine and The New York Times Sunday Magazine. He was a staunch critic of Wall Street, the New York political machine, fascism and the Ku Klux Klan while a crusader for civil liberties, female suffrage and Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal. This handsome original editorial cartoon was published in the New York World newspaper and in newspapers throughout the United States in May 1937. By early 1937 the US economy had improved although unemployment rates remained high. In mid-year a recession hit and lasted through most of 1938. Uncle Sam grasps the federal budget and gazes upon a safe in which resides the $5 billion+ war debt owed to the United States by Great Britain, musing "I hope they haven't forgotten the combination." The indebtedness stood at this staggering sum in December 1936 after Britain suspended repayment due to the worldwide Depression. The federal budget for 1937 was over $8 billion. HID03101062020 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

Condition
Toning to sheet. Light handling creases to lower region and minor bump with subsequent creasing to lower left corner, visible under raking light. Wear and markings to margins of page in keeping with illustration and publishing process. Not framed.
Sheet overall: 16.5 x 11.75 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%