From the Dick Buchanan Files: William Steig Gag Cartoons 1946 - 1965

The terrific thing about seeing a collection of gag cartoons like this is that they are usually unseen since their initial publication. These aren't just the top cartoons that have been reprinted and reprinted over the years. And it's a reminder as well that most of the major magazines had gag cartoons.

Here are fifteen gag cartoons by the great William Steig. All have been lovingly clipped, scanned and cleaned up by Dick Buchanan. My thanks to you and -- take it away, Dick:


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WILLIAM STEIG GAG CARTOONS
1946 – 1965


William Steig was a cartoonist and sculptor as well as a renowned children’s books author and illustrator. He sold his first carton to Judge in 1930, soon followed by his first sale to The New Yorker. Over the next 73 years The New Yorker would publish 1600 of his drawings and 121 covers—that’s more than two years of covers.


Today Steig is perhaps best known as the author and illustrator of series of books for children. His Sylvester and the Magic Pebble was awarded the Caldecott Medal. It was followed by Abel’s Island, Doctor De Soto and many more, including Shrek! They are all marvelous books for children and adults alike.


These are William Steig gag cartoons from the era when he was hailed as “The King of Cartoons.” It’s a sampling of his drawings from Collier’s and Look Magazine from 1946 to 1965 . . .




1. Collier’s February 16, 1946.

2. Collier’s February 16, 1946.

3. Collier’s August 14, 1948.

4. Collier’s May 14, 1949.

5. Collier’s December 31, 1949.

6. Collier’s March 11, 1950.

7. Collier’s July 22, 1950.

8. Collier’s August 19, 1950.

9. Collier’s May 11, 1956.

10. Look February 3, 1959.

11. Look February 17, 1959.

12. Look September 15, 1959.

13. Look May 10,1963.

14. Look January 15, 1963.

15. Look August 10, 1965.

-- This is an edited version of a blog entry dated January 11, 2018.