Napoleon and Uncle Elby and Little Mary Big Little Book by Clifford McBride

 

The wonderful pen lines of Clifford McBride, who drew the Napoleon and Uncle Elby comic strip (1932 - 1961).

My grandmother and grandfather knew Clifford and Margot McBride. The two couples and would meet up at a Los Angeles restaurant back in the day (1940s I think) from time to time. My grandmother was highly amused that Clifford would routinely pause and gaze around to see if people recognized him. As if people knew what a cartoonist looks like!

Clifford McBride's assistant was Disney artist Roger Armstrong, who would continue the feature after McBride's death in 1951, with Margot McBride writing. It's more than likely we are looking at Armstrong's work for this Big Little Book.

Thanks to George Topham Hayes for these scans!