Artist Index
 

   INDEX TO FAMOUS 19th & EARLY 20th CENTURY ARTISTS & ILLUSTRATORS

     Consider this a "Who's Who" of artists who illustrated magazines, postcards and publications during the 1800s and early 1900s up through the l950s.  It is not all-inclusive, however.  You will no doubt come across certain artists whose names and bios are NOT included.  That's because this index is limited only to those artists whose names turn up time and again on magazine covers and in books of this period, or conversely, hard-to-find artists who are very much in demand by collectors and customers.

     When you find some vintage paper that is artist-signed by someone unfamiliar to you, this index is for you.  It's in alphabetical order by last name.  Pricing of antique paper is determined by the name value and rarity of each artist.  While one artist-signed magazine cover may go for $30, another whose work is hard to find may have  his or hers priced according to a Rare or Very Rare standard.  So, it's important to understand this approach and simply more fun to know a little about each artist:  who he was, when he lived, what he drew and why.  If you can't find an artist name and don't understand why, please contact us with any questions.  We're always happy to help educate and explain.

  **ASTI, ANGELO:  (1847-1903) A French artist renown for the beautiful women--faces and heads--he illustrated on postcards for publishers like Tuck and Zimmerman.  Designs by Asti can be rare finds.

  **ATWELL, MABEL LUCIE: (1879-1964)  Popular English artist who designed chunky-faced children for publisher Valentine during the teens.

  **BARCLAY, McCLELLAND, (1891-1943)  Artist who illustrated beautiful people of the post-flapper period, who were always active and stylish in dress.  Did many SEP covers during 30s-40s, along with General Motors ad campaign  "Bodies by Fisher."  Died during WWII when his ship was torpedoed and lost at sea in the South Pacific.

  **BOILEAU, PHILIP: (1864-1917) A French-born artist, residing in Long Island and New York, who married Emily Gilbert (Peggy) the beauty who embodied his vision of womanhood.  Consistently, it was she and her nephew and neices that became the models for all of his illustrations.  Her portrait is seen repeatedly in his work, which he did for postcard publisher Reinthal & Newman, Osborn calendars and LHJ, SEP, Delineator and other magazines. Postcards are expensive and magazine covers are Very Rare and beautiful.

  **BOOTH, FRANKLIN: (1874-1948) Illustrator for Ivory Soap, Willys, Delinator and most renown for the C.W. Post ad sketches "The Road to Wellville," with majestic spires resembling a movie set for the Wizard of Oz.

  **BRUNDAGE, FRANCIS: (1854-1937) Popular postcard artist who got started by illustrating children's book for such authors as Louisa May Alcott.  Did considerable work for postcard publishers Tuck and Gabriel.

  **BURD, C.M.: (c. 1920) Children's book illustrator and artist of the Abingdon Press Sunday School cards.  Especially great are her "Cradle Roll" postcards.  Also known for her Fralinger Taffy nursery rhyme cards.

  **CHRISTY, F. EARL: (1883-1961) Primarily a postcard artist of college girls and sweethearts as cheerleaders for schools.  Also did two SEP magazine covers.  Postcards that resemble playing cards are rare and go for big $$.

  **CHRISTY, HOWARD CHANDLER: (1873-1952)  Illustrated lots of magazine stories, postcards and World War I posters, along with canvas illustrations for the military and our Capitol. Famous for his Christy Girls.

  **CLAPSADDLE, ELLEN: (1865-1934)  Famous for her children's postcards, all holiday and suffrage-related, publisher often Int. Art. Co.

   **CLELAND, THOMAS M.: (c. 1927) Primarily an ad illustrator for such auto companies as Cadillac, Rolls-Royce and Locomobiles.

   **CORBETT, BERTHA L.: (c. l904) Her postcards featured children with big bonnets having a good time.  These were published in 1904 by the J.I Austin Co. after she orginated the "Sunbonnet Babies" while illustrating a book.  Many other artists began imitating these sunbonnet babies on other cards.

   **COFFIN, W. HASKELL: (c. 1913)  Portrayed beautiful women for postcards and SEP covers, usually caught in some simple gesture.

   **COX, PALMER: (c. 1890)  Well known for his "Brownies" he used to illustrate in children's magazines, trade cards, paper dolls, booklets and for companies like Ivory Soap.  "Brownies" are like impish elves with skinny legs.

   **CRANDALL, BRADSHAW: (c. l927) Illustrated the Atlantic & Pacific (A&P) food store ads in the latter l920s, along with SEP covers.

   **DRAYTON (WIEDERSEIM), GRACE: (1877-1936)  Most notable for the chunky-cheeked Campbell Kids she drew for the Joseph Campbell Soup Co.  She also created other newspaper, book and magazine kid characters, such as "Dolly Dingles," "Dolly Dimples," "Bobby Blake" and "Dolly Drake" and others.  She had two marriages, hence the name confusion.

  **DWIGGINS, CLARE VICTOR: (1874-1959)  Comedic postcard artist also known as "Dwig."  Lots of funny sets & series.

  **FANGEL, MAUD T.: (c. 1937) Artist of smiling, sweet-faced babies and children for covers of women's and home magazines.

  **FIDLER, ALICE LUELLA: (c. l909) Postcard artist who drew pretty girls for publisher Edward Gross in New York.

  **FISHER, HARRISON: (1877-1934)  In his heydey, was called the "King of Magazine-Cover Artists."  Embodied the beauty of the American Woman and many of his illustrations were reproduced for postcards by Reinthal and Newman.   Very popular and beautiful.  His work much in demand!

   **FLAGG, JAMES MONTGOMERY: (1877-1960)  Some postcards, magazine covers and WWI posters.  Illustrated the Dempsey-Willard fight in 1919.  But most notable for the Uncle Sam military poster where he points and says "I want you for the Army." (It was  a self-portrait.)  He created Uncle Sam poster for no charge during WWI and it was used again for WWII.

   **GASSAWAY, KATHERINE: (c. l906-1909) Postcard artist known for her children playing "dress-up"  in professional attire.  Other cute kids.

   **GIBBS, GEORGE: (c. 1901)  Early 19th Century magazine illustrator.  Created scores of covers for Saturday Evening Post.  His claim to fame: he painted the historic first cover illustration for SEP on September 30, l899.

   **GIBSON, CHARLES DANA: (1867-1944)  Primarily a B/W pen and ink artist responsible for the idealization of womanhood..."The Gibson Girl" (his wife often as the model for his portraits).  Gibson produced exclusively for early Collier's and Life Magazines and had postcards reprinted by Detroit Publishing Company.  His sketches notable for their wit, satire and social humor.

   **GREEN, ELIZABETH SHIPPEN: (c. 1900)  One of the famous artists (along with Jesse Wilcox Smith and Maud Humphrey) who portrayed the Ivory Soap babies in early ad campaigns.  Ladies framed them.

   **GREENAWAY, KATE: (1846-1901)  A Victorian illustrator of children's books who drew children, flowers and landscapes for valentines, trade cards and Christmas cards for the Marcus Ward Company.  She had her first art exhibition in London at the age of 22.  But because she died before the "Golden Age of Postcards" (1905-1915) her postcard work was limited.  Lovely artist.

   **GREINER, MAGNUS: (c.1906)  Renown for his postcard set by International Art, which "deltiologists" call "The Adventures of Molly and Teddy" (about bears).  Also did valentines, Dutch children and scarce negro cards.

   **GRIGGS, H.B.: (c. 1909)  Is H.B.G. a man or a woman?  Nobody knows.  What is telling about this prolific postcard artist is his (or her) distinct handwriting over the patriotic, holiday and female caricatures  he did for the Leubrie and Elkus Co, New York..  Once you've seen Grigg's work, you'll know it forever.  No other artist emphasized handwriting like H.B.G., whoever (s)he was.

   **GUNN, ARCHIE: (1863-?)  Although he was born in England, he came to New York when he was 25 and began illustrating magazine covers for TRUTH and WORLD magazines.  He also produced illustrated postcards primarily for the National Art Co-- pretty girls with dogs for the "College Mascot" series and then he created "City Girls."  Also did some WWI military cards for the girls back home about the goings-on as a soldier at war.

   **GUTMANN, BESSIE PEASE (c. l907)  Also signed under her maiden name, Bessie Collins Pease.  A postcard artist who illustrated children for publishers Reinthal & Newman.  Sweet-looking, of course.

  **HITCHCOCK, LUCILLE W:  (c.1902)  An early century illustrator who did work for magzines like Harper's Weekly and Cosmopolitan.

  **HOMER, WINSLOW: (1836-1910) Provided Civil War pen and ink sketches for Harper's Weekly that were turned into woodcuts for publication--highly desired by today's collectors.  After the Civil War, he turned to painting.

  **HUMPHREY, MAUD: (1868-1940)  Mother of actor Humphrey Bogart, Maud was popular for her magazine and children's book illustrations with darling children. She was one of several artists who illustrated the Ivory Soap children for P&G's ad campaign and was on the staff of Delineator magazine. Her illustrations were reproduced on postcards in l908 and l909 by L.R. Conwell.

  **HUTAF, AUGUST: (c.1908)  A postcard artist best known for his l908 Leap Year series published by P. Sanders and April Fool's Day cards in l908.

  **HUTT, HENRY: (c. 1905)  Early 20th Century illustrator who drew portraits of pretty ladies for SEP magazine covers, books and a postcard series "The American Girl"  published by Armour and Company, Chicago in 1905.

**KIMBALL, ALONZO: (1874-1923)  Artist of pretty women, courtship and romance for SEP magazine covers, much like Harrison Fisher.  Also had illustrated postcards published by Reinthal & Newman in 1906.

  **KING, HAMILTON: (c. l909)  Postcard artist popular for his bathing beauties published by Wilcox.  But most sought after by collectors is the very rare Coca-Cola advertising card he drew in l909 that sells in excess of $400.

  **KIRCHNER, RAPHAEL: (1876-1917) Born in Vienna, this art nouveau postcard artist later moved to Paris and finally to America.  His cards of artsy women were distributed by Reinthal & Newman and sell today for big $$$$.

  **KLEIN, CATHERINE: (c. l910) Czech postcard artist popular for her still-lifes, flowers, fruits, butterflies and birds that were published by Tuck, International Art, among others.  The original, authentic Klein alphabet set of 26 floral letters are very prized and hard to complete.  So, predictably, these are being reproduced today for framing words and names by such companies as Hallmark Cards.  Easy to spot on a visit to gift, stationery and home decorating stores.

**LEYENDECKER, J.C.: (1874-1951) Prolific artist who sold his first magazine cover in 1899 to SEP and went on to do hundreds of covers.  Also illustrated advertising for Arrow Shirt from 1907-1931 and also for W.K. Kellogg and Ivory Soap.  Painted World War I posters and these were used by the Chesterfield company to promote Bull Durham chewing tobacco on postcards. His classy, handsome, square-jawed men became the symbol for all young males.  They carefully studied how he dressed his "Arrow Shirt" man and followed in kind.  His brother, Frank X--also a magazine illustrator--was not so famous.

  **LYFORD, PHILIP: (c. 1912)  Illustrator of magazine covers.

  **MacLELLAN, CHARLES A.: (c. l913) One of several SEP cover illustrators who took the "narrative" approach to art, depicting humorous moments with boys 'in trouble' and old folks doing routine things in a funny way.

  **MUCHA, ALPHONSE: (1866-1939)  A Czech artist whose many advertising venues--posters, calendars, labels, textiles, etc.--were produced in postcard form in very art nouveau fashion.  Expensive art--from hundreds to thousands. Rare series is Waverly Cycles, only five copies are known to exist.

  **NAST, THOMAS: (1840-1902)  Famous sketch artist for Harper's Weekly during Civil War when he produced many woodcuts. Nast later illustrated a book for McLoughlin "Santa Claus and His Works," for which he is given credit for creating our American chubby, cheery Santa Claus as we know him today.

  **NEWELL, PETER: (1862-1924)  Illustrator/cartoonist of whimsical characters for Harper's Magazine, children's books and postcards.

**O'NEILL, ROSE: (1874-1944)  If you know "Kewpies", then you already know the work of O'Neill, who created these curly-qued dolls in 1909.  Although anything kewpie is much in demand, she also started drawing the Jell-O Girl in 1908 and went on to do many ads for the Genesee Food Co.  By 1915, when she began drawing postcards for the Gibson Art Co, the craze had faded.  Although she probably signed over 200 postcards, they're great finds.  She also wrote and illustrated many books and verse and did a women's suffrage postcard in 1915.  Other postcards include the "Klever Kard" series for Campbell Art Co.
(I have a Rose O'Neill-signed and illustrated baby book, which my mother never bothered to fill out. I was always so focused on the empty pages, I never even bothered to notice the work of O'Neill.  I discovered this only a few years ago.)

  **OPPER, FREDERICK BURR: (1857-1937) Considered the "Titan of the American Comic," Opper wrote books and illustrated cartoons for early magazines like Puck, Leslie's Magazine and Harper's Bazaar.  Also illustrated works of Mark Twain.  In 1899, William Randolph Hearst offered him a regular position on his New York Journal and in l900 the popular "Happy Hooligan" tramp comic series began to appear regularly.  He initiated political cartoons during the McKinley-Roosevelt campaign of l900, with his series "Willie and His Papa."  Other comics he created were "And her Name was Maud" (about a kicking mule) and "Alphonse and Gaston," a satire about two oh-so-polite Frenchmen. Happy Hooligan was reproduced on postcards by Hearst in l906. When the comic series celebrated 31 years running, a birthday party was attended by President Hoover, former President Coolidge, Charles M. Schwab and Alfred E. Smith.  When Opper retired, he was hailed as the "Dean of American Cartoonists."

  **OUTCAULT, RICHARD FELTON: (1863-1928)  Cartoonist who started with Joseph Putlizer's Sunday World and gave us the first "funny pages" in 1894 and the first full page of cartoons to be printed in color in 1895.  This "Hogan's Alley's" cartoon character was later dubbed the "Yellow Kid" when the newspaper daubed some yellow on his shirt.  Outcault defected to Hearst's Morning Journal  between 1896-1897, where he drew "The Yellow Kid."  But Outcault's real fame and fortune came in 1902 when he created "Buster Brown" and his dog, Tige, initially for the New York Herald and then, in 1906, for Hearst's Morning Journal.  Although produced in newspaper supplements, it spawned books, advertising, calendars and postcards that are very much in demand today. When he died, he was considered the "father of the modern newspaper supplement."  His "Buster Brown" character lives on as a popular icon.

**PARRISH, MAXFIELD: (1870-1966)   American  "fantasy" king whose art frequently reflected wood-land scenes with flowers, fair skies, trees, elves and fairies. In his prime between l910-l930, Parrish illustrated magazine covers, cigar labels, calendars, prints, playing cards, puzzles, many books--and advertisements for such products as Jell-O, Fisk Tires, Edison/Mazda and Dejer- Kiss.  Nothing cheap about this artist.   Expect anything "Maxfield Parrish" to start at $50 and easily escalate.  His paper has always been very collectible and rare.

  **PENFIELD, EDWARD: (c. 1900)  Prolific illustrator of advertising for such products as Kodak, along with many magazine covers for SEP and LHJ.  As Art Director for Harper's Magazine, he influenced many advertising directors and the illustrators who worked for him in the early 1900s.

  **PETRUCCELLI, A.: (c. l935)  Middle Century artist renown for signed- illustrations of Fortune Magazine covers, very large, thick and graphically big designs, with dark backgrounds and colorful lines.

  **PETTY, GEORGE: (c. l940) Popular pin-up artist, known for the "Petty Girl" during the 30s and 40s.  Illustrated pin-ups for Esquire magazine and is credited for inventing the "center-fold."  Did the Old Gold Calendar in l940 where each month featured a different pin-up type Petty Girl.

  **PHILLIPS, COLES: (1880-1927)  Working between WWI and the late Twenties, Phillips was the first to introduce Art Deco to advertising design.  He illustrated many magazine covers for SEP with very modern and seductively-designed women; some social historians give Phillips credit for the first "pin-up" girl.  Also did postcards and advertising for such products as "Holeproof Hosiery" and some really neat double-page, four-color Overland car ads around 1916.

  **POTTER, BEATRIX: (1866-1943) Children's book author and artist, whose illustrations were known for gentle watercolors and naturalistic detail.  Best known for her "Peter Rabbit" series of tiny books, the first of over 20 books she produced for children.  Artist who combined realism with fantasy.

  **PYLE, HOWARD: (1853-1911)  Book and magazine illustrator who taught the trade at his school in Chadd's Ford, PA to such other famous artists as N.C. Wyeth and Jesse Wilcox Smith.   Did work for Scribner's and St. Nicholas.

  **RALPH, LESTER: (1877-1927)  Postcard artist and magazine cover illustrator who often portrayed women with kind animals.

  **REMINGTON, FREDERIC: (1861-1909)  Educated in art at Yale's School of Fine Arts, Remington became famous for his Indian, American frontier and action western scenes, illustrating books, postcards, prints, calendars and magazine covers for SEP, Century, St. Nicholas and others.  Also did some advertising work, primarily for Smith & Wesson revolvers.  Actually spent some time out west and got to illustrate Teddy Roosevelt's books.

  **ROBINSON, ROBERT: (1886-1952) Early century SEP magazine illustrator, whose work was also reproduced on postcards of the era.  Robinson's illustrations were based on "comedic narrative," usually involving humor with an old 'codger' or country geezer trying to understand modern ways.  His other theme involved the young tyke in trouble with teachers and adults.  Focus always very down-home and country-fied.  His work is somewhat rare and hard to find.

  **ROCKWELL, NORMAN: (1894-1979) Prolific artist-illustrator whose prints, posters and magazine covers are as familiar in today's popular culture as they were fifty years ago.  Probably no other artist has been so produced and reproduced as Rockwell.  Illustrated over 300 SEP covers alone, including his famous "Four Freedoms" poster.  Captured the heart of Americans nationwide with his focus on the "comedic narrative;" those funny, embarrassing moments we all recognize and have come to associate with Rockwell's art and large signature.

  **RUSSELL, CHARLES M.: (1865-1926)  Popular artist of the American West--cowboys, Indians, buffalo and bears, whose work in prints and oils have been massively reproduced on postcards today by museums and publishing companies.  In 1919, the Prince of Wales bought a Russell painting for $10,000, the highest sum ever paid at that time for a living American artist.

**SCHMUCKER, SAMUEL L.: (.1910)  Commercial artist responsible for the very desirable postcards with "The Winsch Girl," frequently identified with the initials "SLS."  Most greetings--Halloween, Valentine's, New Year's, St. Patrick's,  Thanksgiving, etc.--were for the John Winsch company.  Schmuker also had many very expensive 'art nouveau' postcard sets published by the Detroit Company--"Smokes;" "Mermaid;" "Drinks;" "Butterfly Girls;" "Childhood Days;" "Gnomes;" "International Girls;" and "Fairy Queen."

  **SHINN, COBB: (1887-1951)  a.k.a. Tom Yad, Cob X. and C.X.S., this Indiana artist started as a newspaper cartoonist who drew "doughboy" cartoons during WWI.  Best known for "Riley Roses," Tin Lizzie and "Charlie Chaplin" series of postcards, but also found are his art nouveau and Dutch Kids.

  **SMITH, JESSIE WILLCOX: (1863-1935)  Wonderful children's artist who was and is very popular...paid top money for her work!  She illustrated for such companies as Kodak and Ivory Soap and did over 200 magazine covers for Good Housekeeping alone.  Her art was touted back in the early 1900s as "suitable for framing." She also did postcards and illustrated such children's books as "Evangeline," "The Child's Garden of Verses" and "Water Babies."

  **SOWERBY,  MILLICENT: (1878-1967) An English artist of children's books and postcards who is not so well known.  Her publishers included Reinthal & Newman and American Postcard Company, producing postcards of children in proper English attire.  She illustrated children's classics and fairy tales, including "Alice in Wonderland" and "A Child's Garden of Verses."

  **STANLAWS, PENRHYN: (c. 1920)  A frequent illustrator of SEP magazine covers, Stanlaws specialized in portraits of  pretty ladies.  Initially, these were only head illustrations of beautiful women with big hats.  After the The Great War, however, his women were full body portraits depicting life and sports.  His work was also reproduced on postcards; his last SEP cover was in l935.

  **SUNDBLOM, HADDON: (c. 1930) When the Coca-Cola company started its tradition of holiday ads in 1931, it was this artist who gave us his vision of the Coca-Cola Santa..a plump, cheerful, jolly body of red and white (drinking Coca-Cola, of course).  These Santas are very much in demand by Coke collectors.

  **TEMPEST, DOUGLAS: (c. l91l) An English postcard artist who illustrated comic cards, especially with children, for the Bamforth Company between 1911 and 1950.  Often signed his work "D.Tempest."

  **THIELE, ARTHUR: (1841-1916)  Anthopomorphic animals was the specialty of this wonderful Dutch postcard illustrator.  That is, animals doing people things--especially cats.  If you're a cat-lover, seek out cats by Thiele.

  **TWELVETREES, CHARLES R.: (c. l907) A common American postcard artist who started out illustrating the "Johnny Quack" series for the New York Herald and later did covers for the Pictorial Review, Collier's & Capper's Farmer.  His postcards usually depicted chunky-cheeked children and some popular sets include the "Days of the Week," "National Cupid" series and the "World's Fighters." The United State card was called "The Rough Rider."

  **UNDERWOOD, CLARENCE F.: (1871-1929) A prolific illustrator of postcards, books and magazine covers, some might call Underwood a poor man's Harrison Fisher--his work considered a notch or two below Fisher.  He frequently depicted women as the leisured upperclass and publishers included both Tuck and Reinthal and Newman.  He did numerous SEP covers along same lines.

  **VARGA, ALBERTO: (1896-?)  A Peruvian-born artist who illustrated glamorous pin-up women during the 30s and 40s, usually on over-sized stock.  His work included postcards, playing cards, calendars and magazine covers.  The Varga Girl is considered erotic by middle century standards.

  **WAIN, LOUIS: (1860-1939) A British postcard artist who continues to thrill collectors with his anthpomorphic animals--mainly cats of all kinds doing silly and stupid things.  He began illustrating these comedic critters for such publications as the Illustrated London News and Sporting and Dramatic News between 1890 and 1900.  These later became postcards.  His Tuck paper doll cat cut-outs are quite a find.  Should you encounter any of his Santa Claus cats, be prepared to pay the price for this premium postcard.  All you cat lovers, be on the lookout for Wain (along with Arthur Thiele).  They're great animal artists.

  **WALL, BERNHARDT  DR.: (1872-1956) An American artist who tried to enroll in New York's Art Students League, but was told he already knew enough.  So he opened up his own art school and later fought in the Spanish American War.  When a competitor stole one of his art designs, he got into the postcard business to make money on his art.  In his prime, his work was being published by more than 15 companies.  Some of his most notable postcard sets include the "Busy Bears," the "Sunbonnet" series; "Days of the Week," "Dutch Kids" and he also did some pro and anti-suffrage cards.  After the postcard craze faded, he began etching volumes of historical books on Lincoln and Jefferson.

  **WEBER, SARAH STILWELL: (c. 1910) An artist specializing in small children, producing prints, book illustrations and magazine covers, especially for SEP.  Her last SEP cover was in 1921.

  **WIEDERSEIM, GRACE: (1877-1936)  See "GRACE DRAYTON."

  **WRIGHT, BLANCHE FISHER: (1916)  Artist who was the original illustrator back in 1916 of the very popular children's book classic "The Real Mother Goose," still published today by Rand McNally.  Still using the same illustrations by Blanche Fisher Wright, but without her signature on each illustration.  The original book is signed-artist on each page and has been reprinted over 70 times since 1916.

  **WYETH, N.C.: (1882-1945)  A successful commercial artist who studied under Howard Pyle in Pennsylvania and did over 3000 magazine illustrations for SEP and others.  Most of his art ran along the American West theme, like those for Cream of Wheat--filled with cowboys and gold-miners.  But he also illustrated popular kid's books--Treasure Island, Tom Sawyer and Robin Hood--which set the image for decades to come.  Famous for being the father of Andrew and the grandfather of Jamie Wyeth.  N.C. also illustrated some Coca-Cola ads in the 40s.  Still, not a lot of collectors know about N.C. Wyeth.