Rare Disney art breaks records at Hakes (August 2008)

Geppi’s Entertainment Publishing & Auctions has announced that its Hake’s Americana & Collectibles unit has sold the first Donald Duck model sheet, created for the Disney cartoon The Wise Little Hen in 1934, for a record-breaking $75,000.

• The 9.5” x 12” sheet of animation paper was completed in pencil in advance of Donald’s first appearance.

• The model sheet is the first known drawings of the character.

• The Wise Little Hen was released on 6th June 1934 as a part of the Silly Symphony series of short cartoons.

The sale continues a pattern of sustained record prices for Disneyana, both in terms of art and collectables. ‘The record-breaking price paid for this rare Disney art demonstrates the continued vitality of the Disneyana market,’ said John K. Snyder Jr, President of Geppi’s Entertainment.

This model sheet art finalised Donald’s look for his first appearance on screen and contains eight different, full-body images of Donald as well as a preliminary body shape sketch and seven head shots, showing different views and emotions. The bottom right margin has ‘The Wise Little Hen’ text and cartoon serial number ‘U.S. 20’ (United Artists Silly Symphony No 20).

‘This model sheet is the most significant Donald Duck offering in the 41-year history of Hake’s Americana & Collectibles,’ Snyder said, ‘but I believe strongly that this is just a precursor of even more high-end activity in the realm of vintage Disneyana.’

* This was published in the August 2008 issue.  For more news from the auction world why not subscribe to Collectors Gazette.