Hon Billy (1 results)

HON, Billy. PROMINENT SHRINERS IN CARICATURE. San Francisco: Published by Billy Hon, 1929. Quarto: brown full-morocco leather, stamped in gilt, with the gilt-stamped name of "Jack Spaulding" on the front cover; 176 pages. First- and only- edition. Billy Hon [Wilfred Honigsberg] created the Billy Hon School of Cartooning, also known as the Western School of Cartooning. In its day, the school was the most-famous cartoon school in the country. Known as a hard-drinking and drawing guy, at one time Hon lived with Bud Fisher, the creator of Mutt and Jeff. The book has almost 200 caricatures of well-known Shriners, especially in the San Francisco area. This copy belonged to Jack Spaulding, who turned the annual Shriner's football game into the nation's first real all-star game, with players representing colleges from both the eastern and western sections of the country. The game attracts dozens of NFL scouts and is often a launch pad for future professional players. Spaulding's caricature appears on page 32. Signed presentation from Hon on the verso of the front endpaper: "To my real pal, Jack Spaulding- a regular fellow. Sincerely, Billy Hon." Very Good (some rubbing spine & edges, few tiny spots; contents clean & tight). Scarce! $275.00.