Original Signed Ink Cartoon

What Bill Mauldin and "Willie and Joe" were to World War Two G.I.s, "Wally" Wallgren and his "Helpful Hints" cartoons in "Stars and Stripes" were to World War One doughboys, for both poked fun and army life, army chores, army regulations and the drudgery of military life; Wallgren served with the 5th Marines in the First Division in France, after the war collecting his cartoons into the popular "Wally: His Cartoons of the A.E.F." in 1919; later he cartooned for "American Legion Magazine" and then had another strip called "Hoosegow Herman." Original cartoon in black ink, signed simply "W" at lower right, heavy stock 7" X 3¼" sheet, n.p., n.y. [Wallgren's Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania home address lightly inkstamped on verso). Near fine. Charming scene -- perhaps a "Helpful Hunts" installment -- depicting two soldiers side by side at a table, the G.I. at left showing the G.I. at right how to open a bottle of French wine. "See!!" he says as he thumps the underside of the bottle and the cork strikes with a "Pop" in his friend's eye. Cream 8½" X 6½" mat with 5¼" X 2½" opening. Wallgren's early work is surprisingly scarce, and this is a delightful example.…