Happy Thanksgiving, here in the US. Warren Bernard has a gift for us - a 1921 contract showing just how much money a cartoonist could make at the height of the golden age of newspaper cartooning.
"Clare Briggs first came to NYC from Chicago in 1914 with a 7-year contract to work for the New York Tribune. By this time, November 1, 1921, his base salary was a whopping $75,000/year plus 50% of the syndicated revenue. But alas, he passed away in 1930 at the age of only 55.
His branded tobacco "When A Feller Needs A friends", named after his most famous cartoon series, was sold from the 1920's into the 1950's.
By any stretch of the imagination, he was rich, as $75,000 in 1925 is around $1.37 million today."
- notes from Warren Bernard
Please cite "From The Collection of Warren Bernard" if used.
