The Yellow Kid and Buster Brown Come to Heritage!

Dallas, Texas: Heritage Comics Auctions (HCA) will offer an exceptionally rare original comic page by Robert Fenton Outcault featuring both the Yellow Kid and Buster Brown, dated November 3, 1907, in their upcoming Signature auction to be held May 18 & 19 in New York City.

"This is a find of historic importance," said Ed Jaster, HCA's Director of Acquisitions. "Credited by many as the creator of the comic strip, R.F. Outcault entertained millions at the turn of the century with his cartoons depicting the foibles of daily life. Like Charles Dickens in Victorian London, Outcault provides a snapshot of the times he lived in that continues to give us a window on that world today. Due to the strip's political commentary, the Yellow Kid became the inspiration for the term 'Yellow Journalism,' which was applied to both Hearst and Pulitzer papers of the day who seeded their supposedly objective news coverage with personal opinions and scandalous attacks."

"The piece being offered here is doubly special," continued Jaster," in that it features both of Outcault's greatest creations, the Yellow Kid and Buster Brown. The Yellow Kid, who debuted in The New York World in 1894, hailed from Hogan's Alley, a tenement district where life was wild and pranks were the order of the day. The Kid was famous for his bright yellow nightshirt which was emblazoned with his unique, slangy brand of social commentary."

"The Kid became the first comic's merchandising super-star," continued Jaster, "and soon a bidding war broke out between publishing giants William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer for the rights to Outcault's creation. Outcault relocated to Heart's New York Journal in 1896, and left the World to continue his strip under the title The Yellow Kid. The World countered by continuing Hogan's Alley with staff artist George Luks as the replacement artist."

In 1902, Outcault created his next sensation, Buster Brown, for the New York Herald. In contrast to the slum-dwelling Kid, Buster Brown was from a wealthy family and dressed like Little Lord Fauntleroy. Beneath that pristine exterior, however, dwelt the heart of a demon, and Buster was always looking for ways to stir up trouble.

"The final part of this story," added Jaster, "took place in 1906, when Outcault once again changed publishers, leaving the Herald in favor of Heart's Denver Post, taking Buster Brown with him. The courts ruled that Outcault had the right to continue to draw his characters, but that he couldn't use the title, 'Buster Brown.' In order to get around this restriction, Outcault began using descriptive phrases as his header, such as 'Strange Things Do Happen To,' alongside a portrait of Buster Brown, as in the example here."

"This page," enthused Jaster, "marks the second time that the Yellow Kid and Buster Brown appeared together. They would team up twice more in 1910, making this an incredibly rare example of a classic strip. Outcault originals, particularly Yellow Kid pages, are almost impossible to find; only one Hogan's Alley is known to exist, along with only two Buster Brown strips co-starring the Kid. As an original Hogan's Alley by Outcault would certainly fetch $100,000 or more at auction, we're confident that this piece will bring $25,000 - $50,000 or more."

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HeritageComics.com.

HCA specializes in rare, high-grade comic books, as well as vintage comic and animation art, illustration art, classic toys, movie posters and comics-related collectibles.

Prospective consignors and sellers of top-end comics material, toys, and original art are invited to call Ed Jaster at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 288 or Lon Allen at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 261 to discuss their rare comics and original illustration and comic art. Or visit HeritageComics.com and click on the "consign" tab. Or simply email Ed Jaster at EdJ@HeritageComics.com or Lon Allen at LonA@HeritageComics.com.

Music and Hollywood memorabilia collectors should contact Doug Norwine at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 452 or email DougN@HeritageGalleries.com.

Movie poster consignors, please call Grey Smith at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 367 or email GreySm@HeritageMoviePosters.com.

To order the next three sale catalogs, visit Heritage's website to pay by credit card, or send a check or money order payable to Heritage Comics in the amount of $100 (a fraction of Heritage's actual cost-to-produce the catalogs) to: Nicole Jewell, c/o Heritage Comics, 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX 75219.