George McManus Original Signed Ink Sketch – Jiggs & Maggie

George McManus Original Signed Ink Sketch – Jiggs & Maggie – Bringing Up Father Own a piece of comic history with this original signed ink sketch by the legendary George McManus, featuring the beloved characters Jiggs and Maggie from "Bringing Up Father." This unique artwork captures the charm and humour of the iconic comic strip. It is in good condition. Description An exceptional, beautifully preserved original hand-drawn illustration by legendary master cartoonist George McManus, creator of the seminal American comic strip Bringing Up Father. This rare piece features large, highly detailed profiles of his two iconic main characters: the cigar-chomping Jiggs and his formidable wife, Maggie. Maggie’s hair buns and earrings show the clean, intricate, art-deco-influenced linework that defined McManus’s historic career. The artwork features a bold, hand-lettered inscription reading "BEST WISHES FROM GEO MCMANUS". It concludes with his iconic, highly stylized signature—featuring his unmistakable trademark five vertical drop-lines and horizontal cross-baseline design. Unlike small autograph album clippings, this is a premium display-sized sketch measuring 7.75" x 9.75", making it a standout centerpiece for any vintage comic strip or pop-culture art collection. Condition Report Artwork: Excellent condition with crisp, strong black ink lines. Paper shows minimal, uniform age-toning consistent with age. No evidence of tears, stains, or fading. Presentation: Professionally housed in a clean, modern black frame with a custom multi-tiered matboard. Ready for immediate display Estimated Market Value Estimated Auction Range: $350 – $650 USD (~$480 – $900 CAD). Retail / Buy-It-Now Value: $500 – $750 USD (~$685 – $1,030 CAD). Value Drivers Premium Display Size: At 7.75" x 9.75", this is a highly desirable "display-sized sketch." It commands a significantly higher premium than the smaller 3" x 5" autograph album cuts or index cards, which typically sell on platforms like RR Auction for $150–$250 USD. Dual Primary Characters: Sketches featuring both Jiggs and Maggie are rarer and more commercially appealing to collectors than solo character portraits. Included Presentation: The professional custom double-matting and clean frame instantly elevate its perceived value by an additional $100+ USD in equivalent presentation costs. Historical Benchmarks Single-character sketches of Jiggs with minor framing or condition issues generally trade between $200 and $400 USD at general estate auctions. Premium multi-character inscribed drawings of similar dimensions hold steady between $500 and $700 USD through specialized autograph dealers like Schulson Autographs. Pickup at Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue