Ryan Walker (American, 1870-1932) Marvelously Fu

Ryan Walker (American, 1870-1932) Marvelously Funny and Simple Sam newspaper cartoons (two works), circa 1903 India ink on heavyweight paper 12-3x4 x 10-1x2 inches (32.4 x 26.7 cm) (Marvelously Funny, image) 10 x 10-3x4 inches (25.4 x 27.3 cm) (Simple Sam, image) Each signed lower left: Ryan Walker Ryan Walker has one of the more interesting personal biographies among American cartoonists of the turn of the 20th century. He studied at the Art Students' League in New York City before landing a position in the art and advertising department of the Kansas City Times, where he soon developed into an editorial cartoonist; it was here that his work gained national attention. In 1898, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri to work as cartoonist for the St. Louis Republic until 1901. In that year, he relocated to Boston and worked free-lance with cartoons featured in the New York Times, Life, The Arena, and The Bookman. These two originals likely date to his free-lance period, circa 1903-1904. By the 1890s, in Kansas City, his political leanings led him to publish in Appeal to Reason, a socialist weekly, and by the first years of the new century his work was appearing in The Comrade. In these two radical publications Walker found success with a series of comic strips featuring a foolish working man named Henry Dubb who spurned unionism and socialism and, thus, was ceaselessly taken advantage of by the existing social system. Two collections of these cartoons were published: Adventures of Henry Dubb (1914) and New Adventures of Henry Dubb (1915). Walker was a member of the Socialist Party of America and a featured speaker on its lecture circuit; in 1930, he joined the Communist Party of America and the John Reed Club. In later years his work was featured in left-wing publications such as the New York Call, New Leader, and The Daily Worker. From 1924 to 1929 he was the director of the art department of the Evening Graphic newspaper in New York. On a visit to the Soviet Union in 1932 Ryan Walker fell ill and died of pneumonia in Moscow. In Marvelously Funny, Uncle Sam smiles while viewing the histrionics of Ohio Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna (1837-1904) on the "Stage of Politics" as he embraces the straw man labeled "The Laboring Man," whose "Full Dinner Pail" is anything but full. Hanna was a brilliant and powerful politician who assisted the campaigns of Presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and James Garfield, then managed the campaigns of William McKinley in 1896 and 1900. He was wedded to major corporate interests, yet he advocated for management to work with organized labor and provide workers a greater share of profits. Hanna served as U.S. Senator from Ohio from 1897 to 1904. Simple Sam is a splendid cartoon (image size: 10" x 10.75") in the style and spirit of the early newspaper comics in which the "Good Trusts" bad boy posts bills on Uncle Sam labeling him a tool of the oil, steel, coal and school book trusts. Note that his twin, the "Bad Trusts," need post no bills for he already has ownership. Uncle Sam's banner supports the "Elkins Anti-Trust Law" passed in 1903 and signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt. It sought to end the practice of rebates (kickbacks) that railroads paid to shippers to secure their business; it was supported by the larger railroad companies and disliked by many others. Quantity: (2) HID03101062020 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.comxTexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

Condition
Toning to each sheet. Small stabilized diagonal tear, less than 2 inches, at upper right, partially affecting central image of largest; small diagonal creases at lower left corner. Handling creases in lower right region of smallest example. Very light scattered surface dirt and small pin point stains, most visible in areas of negative space. Wear and markings to margins of page in keeping with illustration and publishing process. Each not framed. Each sheet overall: 13.75 x 11.25 inches and 10.875 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"