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Thursday, November 27, 2025

Clare Briggs 1921 comic strip contract (From The Collection of Warren Bernard)

 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.

 






 

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