From The Scoop: Geppi Acquires Franklin's “Join, or Die” from Caren Collection
From the December 2 issue of Gemstone Publishing's The
Scoop:
Stephen A. Geppi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Comic
Distributors and founder of Geppi's Entertainment Museum, has acquired the May
9, 1754 edition of Benjamin Franklin's newspaper, The Pennsylvania
Gazette, from noted collector and historian Eric C. Caren for
$175,000.
This particular edition of Franklin's hugely successful colonial paper has
long been noted as one of one of the hallmarks of the American independence
movement. It contains the famous "Join, or Die" cartoon, which was penned by
Franklin himself as a challenge to the colonies to unite in their own interests
for concerns faced internally and abroad. The cartoon depicts a segmented snake,
labeled with the abbreviations for each of the then-British colonies.
"It is humbling to touch, let alone become the custodian of such a defining
piece of American history," Geppi said. "It is inexorably linked with both the
development of a true American art form, comics, and the influence of popular
culture on history."
The piece will reside in Geppi's Entertainment Museum at Camden Yards, in
Baltimore, Maryland, which is scheduled to open July 4, 2006, on the nation's
230th birthday.
"This is the only copy of this cartoon that I have ever seen in private
hands and I have been collecting since 1971," Caren said. "It is only
appropriate that this cornerstone piece finds a permanent home in what is
internationally recognized as the premier holding of comic and cartoon
memorabilia in the country. Its message has been invoked during the American
Revolution, The Civil War, etc. The strong sentiment, like the piece is timeless
and I am glad that Steve Geppi has added it to his world class
collection."
Caren is a noted author, historian and collector. He is considered to have
assembled the largest collection of rare newspapers and other news forms in the
nation. One of his collections was acquired by the Newseum in Washington, D.C.,
where it will be on permanent display at their new facility.
Franklin purchased and began publishing the newspaper in 1729, and it
became one of his most successful ventures behind Poor Richard's Almanac.
Born in 1706, Franklin was noted as a printer, publisher, scientist, statesman
and philosopher. By the time he passed away in 1790, he had his hand in most of
the major events of his day. He served on the committee that drafted the
Declaration of Independence, and importantly secured France's economic and
military support for the Revolution, among numerous other
achievements.
The "Join, or Die" piece was created in 1754, the same year he called for a
colonial council to organize defense and to develop policies for Native
Americans. The paper reportedly had the largest circulation of any in its
region.
For additional information about the early period of comics history, readers may wish to consult The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, 35th Edition, now on sale at comic shops and bookstores.
• Produced for the benefit of all who enjoy the hobby of collecting, Gemstone Publishing's The Scoop is available free of charge to anyone who wishes to receive it. To view the latest edition, or to sign up, visit The Scoop online by at http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com.
For additional information about the early period of comics history, readers may wish to consult The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, 35th Edition, now on sale at comic shops and bookstores.
• Produced for the benefit of all who enjoy the hobby of collecting, Gemstone Publishing's The Scoop is available free of charge to anyone who wishes to receive it. To view the latest edition, or to sign up, visit The Scoop online by at http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com.