When it comes to comic strips, none is as iconic or beloved as Peanuts, created by Charles “Sparky” Schulz over a half century.
Though Peanuts centered on children, its messages and themes explored were universal and eminently relatable to adults as well as kids.
Above strip dated July 1965 sold for $39,210 in October 2016
Collectors pay top dollar today to acquire original Peanuts comic strip art, especially for strips showcasing Charlie Brown and Snoopy, such as the 1966 strip detailing a battle between Snoopy and the Red Baron that brought $85,000 in February 2010 at Heritage Auctions
Auction Central News asked Benjamin L. Clark, curator for the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, Calif., to share some insights on the universality of Peanuts.
“Charles Schulz was a keen observer of human nature, distilling reflections on life’s big questions back to small moments of interaction. When Charlie Brown’s baseball team loses, readers nod knowing how it feels whether we’ve ever played baseball or not. Or when Charlie Brown nearly summons the courage to talk to the Little Red-Haired Girl, but can’t quite do it at the last moment, readers remember the things we’ve left unsaid and pile it onto our list of regrets. But Peanuts isn’t only about regret and failure, but also about the triumph of hope, imagination, and friendship. So, not only is it deeply touching and thought-provoking, but it’s also very funny, which is a rare combination.”
Above 1996 original illustration for a Sunday strip brought $27,500 in September 2018