Comic Art Teaching and Study Workshop (CATS) collection

This collection of original and printed comic art forms part of the Comic Art and Teaching Workshop at Rice University. A portion of the works have been created by American artists, including a three-panel Mickey Mouse comic strip by Walt Disney, a Bil Keane “Family Circus” illustration and multiple works from Chic Young’s famed “Blondie” series. Mexican, German, Chinese, and Japanese artists are also featured.

Processing, digitization, and exhibit creation for this material has been undertaken by Rice undergraduates under the leadership of Chris Sperandio, as part of Fondren Fellows projects in 2023-2024 and 2024-2025.

Eleven (11) ink drawings on single sheet of heavy paper for Sunday February 26, 1984 comic strip, signed, dated and titled with mixed media margin publication notes 15"x26". Source: Swann Auction Gallery New York June 24, 2021 Lot 225. Digitized: filename CATS-001-FamilyCircus

Four (4) ink drawings on single sheet of heavy paper for Sunday December 13, 1987 comic strip, signed and dated with mixed media margin publication notes 13"x24". Digitized: filename CATS_003-Lockhorns

Five (5) ink drawings on single sheet of heavy paper for Sunday May 20, 1990 comic strip, signed and dated with mixed media margin publication notes 16"x28". Digitized: filename CATS_004-Lockhorns

Series of intricate ink drawings on single sheet of heavy paper for 1961 Sunday cartoon strip, signed and dated with mixed media margin publication notes 18"x24". Digitized: filename CATS_013-TheyllDoItEveryTime.TIF

Nine (9) ink drawings with collage on single sheet of heavy paper for Sunday March 12, 1972 comic strip, signed and dated with mixed media margin publication notes 20"x28". Source: Swann Auction Gallery New York June 24, 2021 Lot 250. Digitized: filename CATS_014-HiLois.TIF

Nine (9) ink drawings with collage on single sheet of heavy paper for Sunday 1972 comic strip, signed and dated with mixed media margin publication notes 20"x28."

Seven ink and color marker on single sheet of paper drawings with collage for Sunday April 21, 1985 comic strip, signed and dated with mixed media margin publication notes. 13"x26" Digitized: Filename CATS_002-BerrysWorld.TIF

Three ink and zipatone drawings with collage on single sheet of heavy paper for February 10, 1965 comic strip, signed "Walt Disney" in upper right and dated with margin publication notes, 9" x 18". Filename cats-012

Color screenprint on heavy paper, pencil signed in lower right margin and inscribed "AP" (for artist proof) in lower left. 29.5"x22" (Not scanned / no digital filename)

Eight ink and zipatone drawings with collage on two illustration boards for Sunday February 25, 1932 comic strip, signed, dated, noted "Great Britain Rights Reserved" with mixed media margin publication notes. 9"x18". Note: An early example when Dagwoodwas still the wealthy son. Digitized: filenames CATS_008-Blondie.TIF and CATS_009-Blondie.TIF

Four ink and zipatone drawings with collage on illustration board for Daily November 22, 1944 comic strip, signed and dated with mixed media margin publication notes. 9"x15". Digitized filename: cats-005.tif

Four ink and zipatone drawings with collage on illustration board for Daily September 17, 1953 comic strip, signed and dated with mixed media margin publication notes. 9"x15" Digitized: filename cats-011.tiff

Twelve ink and zipatone drawings with collage on two illustration boards for Sunday 1966 comic strip, signed and dated with mixed media margin publication notes. 9"x18" each. Digitized: fienames cats-006.tiff and cats-007.tiff

Four ink drawings on illustration board, 1953. Digitized: filename cats-010.tiff

India and color inks on paper, signed 8”x10”, Source: Bonham’s New York April 10, 2024 Lot 183; Skinner Boston September 13, 2021 Lot 129

Three pen and ink drawings “Chocolate Cake” 10”x14” Source: Heritage Dallas April 7, 2024 Lot 94640; Finarte Rome November 17, 2023 Lot 618

Production cel gouache “Bear holding Puffin in stocking cap” on watercolor “storefront” background 14”x17” Source: Heritage Dallas August 8, 2021 Lots 16021 and 16133 and December 13, 2020 Lot 98427

Production cel gouache “Bear chasing running Puffin in stocking cap” on watercolor “mountain landscape” background, signed 14”x17” Source Heritage Dallas August 8, 2021 Lots 16021 and 16133 and December 13, 2020 Lot 98427

Eight pen & ink drawings from Sunday “9-13-81” (September 13, 1981) 18”x20” Source Gardner Galleries Ontario July 26, 2022 Lot 1174

Nine India & color inks drawings from Sunday “6-17-84” (June 17, 1984) 12”x18” Source Swann Auction Gallery New York June 24, 2021 Lots 219 and 240

Ten India and color inks drawings from Sunday “3-11-84” (March 11, 1984) 13”x20” Source Swann Auction Gallery New York June 24, 2021 Lots 219 and 240

Five pen & ink drawings from Sunday “6-7-92” (June 7, 1992) “He turned up his hearing aid” 13”x18” Source: South Bay Auction New York December 5, 2020 Lot 241; History for Sale Las Vegas

Eight pen & ink drawings from Sunday “5-18-80” (May 18, 1980) 15”x18” Source: Heritage Dallas January 19, 2016 Lot 11200

Production cell gouache, signed by both artists 12”x12” Source: Scammell Australia August 13, 2023 Lot 3; Minerva Rome May 6, 2022 Lot 549

Production cel gouache “Witch in tree” on watercolor background from “Pocahontis” 1995 feature film 20”x16” Source: Cornette St Cyr Paris May 22, 2021 Lot 239

Seven pen & ink drawings for “3-25-90” (March 25, 1990) signed Hagar in Doctor’s Waiting Room “The doctor is running a little late today” 12”x17” Source: Finarte Rome November 17, 2023 Lot 579; Swann Auction Gallery New York December 1, 2022; Minerva Rome October 22, 2022 Lot 616

Nine pen & ink drawings “Facial exercises” dedicated to Dr Kaminester 18”x20”

Four black & color marker drawings from “8-31-86” (August 31, 1986) 12”x16” Source: Clars Auctions Oakland November 14, 2020 Lot 4111

Production cel gouache from “Chip ‘N Dale” of two chipmunks, one with hobo stick 17”x17”

Seven black & color marker drawings from Sunday “4-21-85” (April 21, 1985) 14”x20” dedicated to Dr Kaminester