Walt Kelly
(1913-1973)
Pogo, Miz Beaver specialty drawing. Circa 1950.
Colored pencil, graphite, and ink on Bristol board.
Signed in lower . Inscribed, "Best wishes to Courtney, from Miz Beaver & Lil Beaver for Walt K." in center right.

  • Provenance:
    Private collection, Connecticut.

    Other notes:
    This large sketch of Pogo characters Miz Beaver and L'il Beaver likely dates to the early days of the strip, circa 1950 when the Miz Beaver character debuted.

    A fun early original Pogo daily comic strip from the storyline in which Pogo and friends decide to hunt a turkey for Thanksgiving, enlisting the help of a "Turkey Hunt Expert." The "expert" is actually a turkey in disguise, who of course leads them far off the trail.
    The strip was originally published November 23rd, 1949, the day before Thanksgiving that year.
    Main characters Pogo the possum and Albert the alligator are featured prominently in the strip, along with the hound Beauregard and the aforementioned turkey.

    Interestingly, some of Kelly's earlier dialogue ideas are visible in sketches beneath the inked art, e.g. the previous version of "Loud of mush" is written as "Loud of mouth."

    Original art from the early years of Walt Kelly's celebrated comic strip is especially scarce, and this is a superb example from the year after its newspaper debut.
  • Dimensions: 19 x 17 in. (48.3 x 43.2 cm.)
  • Medium: Colored pencil, graphite, and ink on Bristol board.
  • Condition: Vellum has areas of tattering as pictured.

    Please contact the Specialist for the auction to request a condition report.

    Condition reports and additional images are provided as a courtesy and should be used by you to aid in the formation of your own opinion regarding condition. All material is sold subject to Swann's standard Terms and Conditions of Sale as published in our catalogues and posted on our website, and include the following terms: (1) all property is sold "as-is"; and (2) works cannot be returned on the basis of condition.

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by Swann Auction Galleries
June 18, 2026 12:00 PM EDT
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