Description:

Nast Thomas 1840 - 1902 Thomas Nast published pen and ink political illustration of William Newell, politician and founder of the Coast Guard
Illustration original art. Pen and Ink on scratchboard, 10.25" x 14.25". Detail is so incredibly fine that his mustache appears three dimensional. Soft soiling/handling marks. Several intact tears with tiny chips which were rudimentarily repaired to verso. Overall presents very well. Faint pencil marks. Signed by Thomas Nast lower left "Th Nast".


Thomas Nast was considered to be the "Father of the American Cartoon". He was the scourge of Democratic Representative "Boss" Tweed and the Tammany Hall Democratic party political machine. While there, Nast quickly made a name for himself as a political cartoonist, focusing on such topics as the Civil War, slavery and corruption. Nast would also become known for the modern representation of Santa Claus as a jolly, rotund man living at the North Pole.

Mostly known as a cartoon crusader against corruption, Nast used his fantastic images to help remove William Magear "Boss" Tweed and his peers from power. Tweed ran the Democratic Party in New York. In September 1871, Nast depicted Tweed, New York Mayor A. Oakey Hall and several others as a group of vultures surrounding a corpse labeled "New York." The cartoon supposedly upset Tweed so much that he offered Nast a bribe of $500,000 (100 times Nast's annual salary at the time) to leave town. Nast refused and continued to draw attention to Tweed's misdeeds.

This spectacular inked political cartoon of William Newell has him appearing quite dapper in a proper double breasted suit while holding a book with N.J. on the cover (perhaps a book on NJ state law?) Newell was a politician, who was a three-term member of the United States of Representatives, served as a Republican as the 18th Governor of New Jersey, and as the 11th Governor of the Washington Territory from 1880-1884. He is probably best known for, and was most proud of, the Newell Act, which created the United States Life-Saving Service (a Federal agency that grew out of private and local humanitarian efforts to save the lives of shipwrecked mariners and passengers). This effort ultimately became formally the United States Coast Guard in 1915. Under this Act, the humble beginnings started with a series of light house stations that were set up between Sandy Hook and Little Egg Harbor. Each station was equipped with a cannon that could shoot a line out to a ship for aiding in rescue efforts. The service was extended from Long Island Long Island to Cape May, and after rescuing 200 passengers and crewmembers from the Scottish brig Ayrshire, it was extended over the entire East Coast.

Highly detailed and vibrantly inked. Although unclear which publication this was ultimately included in, Thomas Nast was a regular contributor to Harpers Weekly for over 25 years.

Signed by Nast lower right, this large spectacular piece is in collectible condition and would display beautifully framed.

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