How to Sell an Original Charles Schulz Peanuts Cartoon

Peanuts is without a doubt one of the most influential and famous comic strips of all time. As a result, it should come as no surprise that there are numerous people out there that either want to know how to sell an original Charles Schulz Peanuts cartoon or they simply want to know its value.

However, there is one primary issue that people face when trying to determine how to sell an original Charles Schulz Peanuts cartoon at a fair (and profitable) price – the extensive history significantly affects the value. What is meant by this is that the Peanuts is not only one of the longest running comic strips but it is also one of the longest running comic strips that is written by one person. So there are lots of collectors, and they have surprisingly nuanced preferences.

Even though Charles Schulz’s extensive and illustrious career was primarily focused on this one lengthy story, his works from different time periods can have wildly varying values.

Using History To Understand The Value Of An Original Charles Schulz Peanuts Cartoon

Since it is now one of the most well known comic strips of all time, it may be hard to imagine a time when the Peanuts was anything less than popular.

In October of 1950, when Peanuts made its debut, the comic strip was actually published in seven newspapers in the United States. These included: The Washington Post, the Minneapolis Tribune, The Seattle Times, and the Chicago Tribune.

However, what should have been a strong debut was actually met with a noticeable amount of criticism at the time. In fact, during the comic strip’s first year, it placed dead last on a reader survey of cartoons that was published in the New York World Telegram.

Still, as time went on, the popularity of the comic strip gradually increased. Eventually leading to the first plastic toys of Peanuts characters being produced in 1958 and a whole slew of animated TV specials that started in the 1960s.

In fact, the “golden age of the Peanuts” is widely considered to be the 1960s and arguably the early 1970s as well. It was during this time that mainstream audiences and investors were taking note of: the comic strip, the media it inspired, and most importantly the man behind it all, Charles Schulz.

Pay Close Attention To When

Charles Schulz passed away at the age of 77 on February 12, 2000. Since then, no new official Peanuts comic strips have been drawn because he had stipulated in his contract that no other artist should take over the comic strip.

If you’re trying to figure out how to sell an original Charles Schulz Peanuts cartoon and not fall victim to an unfair deal, just remember that one of the most important factors to consider is the date.

Original Charles Schulz Peanuts cartoons that were drawn before the “golden age of the Peanuts” are generally rarer. This is because they had less apparent value to collectors during that era, since the Peanuts wasn’t yet a household name at the time.

Is The Earlier Art Style Worth More?

One of the most appealing things about the Peanuts comic strip, which has allowed it to endure throughout the decades, is its simple line drawn style.

For the most part, the art style has essentially remained unchanged – an intentional choice by Charles Schulz. However, during the early years of drawing the comic strip, Schulz actually utilized a significantly different style.

One of the most notable things about this style was that the characters were drawn to be short and squat. Also worth noting, was the main character Charlie Brown, who had a more oval-shaped head instead of his now iconic round head.

On the more technical side of things, Schulz’s art during these early years primarily featured thicker lines and overall it could be described as a simpler and cleaner style. Original Peanuts cartoons that feature this art style are relatively rare, extremely valuable, and highly sought after by collectors.

How To Sell An Original Charles Schulz Peanuts Cartoon And Make Sure That You Get A Good Deal?

With no new official Peanuts cartoons being produced for over two decades (due to the passing of Charles Schulz in 2000), today virtually all original Peanuts artwork has noticeably skyrocketed in value.

Yes, as we’ve stated before, Peanuts cartoons from the earlier “rocky” years of the comic strip usually have a higher inherent value because of their rarity and the different art style. Still, no matter if it’s from 1955 or 1995, if you’re trying to determine how to sell an original Charles Schulz Peanuts cartoon, the first thing that you need to do is get it  appraised.

Don’t wait, contact us today to learn more about our appraisal services or for a free auction estimate for any artwork that you own.

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