Geppi’s Entertainment Publishing & Auctions has announced that its Hake’s Americana & Collectibles unit has sold the first Donald Duck model sheet, created for the Disney cartoon The Wise Little Hen in 1934, for a recording-breaking $75,000.
The 9.5” x12″ sheet of animation paper with four peg holes along bottom margin and two peg holes along top margin was completed in pencil in advance of Donald’s first appearance. The model sheet is the first known drawings of the character. The Wise Little Hen was released June 6, 1934, as a part of the Silly Symphony series of short cartoons.
The sale, to a private collector and longtime Hake’s customer, continues a pattern of sustained record prices for Disneyana, both in terms of art and collectibles.
“The record-breaking price paid for this rare Disney art demonstrates the continued vitality of the Disneyana market,” said John K. Snyder, Jr., President of Geppi’s Entertainment. “Over the past few auctions, we have seen a robust, positive reaction to high-grade and unique Disney items beyond the sustained growth we’ve all witnessed the past few years.”
This model sheet art finalized Donald’s look for his first appearance on screen and contains eight different, full-body images of Donald as well as a preliminary body shape sketch and seven head shots, showing different views and emotions. The bottom right margin has “The Wise Little Hen” text and cartoon serial number “U.S. 20” (United Artists Silly Symphony #20).
“This model sheet is the most significant Donald Duck offering in the 41-year history of Hake’s Americana & Collectibles,” Snyder said, “but I believe strongly that this is just a precursor of even more high-end activity in the realm of vintage Disneyana.”
For more information about the Hake’s Americana & Collectibles unit of Geppi’s Entertainment Publishing & Auctions, visit www.Hakes.com