John Held Paintings & Artwork for Sale | John Held Art Value Price Guide

Oct. 10, 2024
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958). NANTUCKET. 1925. 41¾x28 inches, 106x71 cm.
Est: $6,000 - $9,000
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) NANTUCKET. 1925. 41¾x28 inches, 106x71 cm. Condition B+ / B: expert overpainting in margins and around lower text; minor overpainting and expertly-repaired tears in image; colors faded. A bird's-eye view of a town and port on this small island off the Massachusetts coast. The inset at the top reflects Nantucket's history and former glory as "The Whaling Capital of the World." John Held Jr. was one of the top cartoonists in the 1920s and 1930s and was a regular contributor to The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, Redbook and other popular magazines. His flapper girls were a tremendous sensation, becoming the visual epitomization of the roaring 20s. In addition to designing movie posters, he was also employed by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railway to help promote their service. He designed at least eight posters advertising their routes around the Northeast.
Swann Auction Galleries
Aug. 17, 2024
TWO JOHN HELD THEATRICAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Est: $800 - $1,200
HELD JR., John James, (American, 1889-1958): Two Theatrical Pen & Ink Illustrations: 1) "Bring In the Old, Bring Out the New", with Watercolor, sight size 12" x 9", signed lower left, titled lower mid-margin, framed, 19" x 15"; 2) "The Chair Problem at a Party Today", sight size 12" x 9", signed lower left, titled lower mid-margin, framed, 19" x 15".
Burchard Galleries Inc
Aug. 03, 2024
Dapper Dan Cast Iron Doorstop by John Held Jr. for Hubley
Est: $400 - $600
Dapper Dan Cast Iron Doorstop, by John Held Jr. (1889-1958) for Hubley Height 7.75 in.
Rafael Osona Auctions
Jun. 20, 2024
JOHN HELD JR. (1889-1958) "Are you willing to divorce your wife the minute she falls in love with someone else?
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
JOHN HELD JR. (1889-1958) "Are you willing to divorce your wife the minute she falls in love with someone else? Cartoon published in Vanity Fair, circa 1920. Ink and graphite on paper. 9 1/4 x 13 1/4 inches. Unsigned. Vanity Fair stamp on verso. Includes instructions to print only the left portion of the full image, omitting the couple on the right.
Swann Auction Galleries
May. 23, 2024
GROUP OF SIX ITEMS BY JOHN HELD (AMERICAN, 1889-1958).
Est: $300 - $500
GROUP OF SIX ITEMS BY JOHN HELD (AMERICAN, 1889-1958). Including "Man wearing hat, driving 1920s automoblie". Unsigned pen and ink with colored highlights. 6 5/8" x 3 3/8". In lot with two Held illustrated magazine covers; advertisement for Arrow Shirts; set four framed tags with Held illustrations; and placard for play, "There You Are", 21" x 13". The lifelong collection of Charles Nau
Sloans & Kenyon
May. 23, 2024
FIVE JOHN HELD, JR. (AMERICAN, 1889-1958) PEN AND INK SKETCHES ON PAPER,
Est: $1,500 - $2,000
FIVE JOHN HELD, JR. (AMERICAN, 1889-1958) PEN AND INK SKETCHES ON PAPER. One enhanced with watercolor highlights. Each signed. Largest, sight size: 14" x 10". Each matted and framed. The lifelong collection of Charles Nau
Sloans & Kenyon
May. 01, 2024
John Held, Jr. (American 1889-1958), Caricature
Est: $300 - $500
John Jr Held American, 1889-1958 Smoking Man with Horse (Caricature) pen and ink on paper signed and inscribed 'To Lee' lower left, annotations on verso, framed.
South Bay Auctions Inc
Mar. 07, 2024
John Held Jr. (American, 1889-1958) Top Down Jalopy
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
John Held Jr. (American, 1889-1958) Top Down Jalopy gouache on paper signed John Held Jr. (lower left) 13 1/2 x 11 inches
Hindman
Dec. 11, 2022
JOHN HELD JR. (1889-1958) WOODCUT PRINT
Est: $50 - $100
"The Fatal Card". Posthumous printing by his wife Margaret Schuyler James. Pencil numbered 2/100 and signed Mrs. John Held Jr. '64 below image (along with paper size and other notations to bottom edge). Very good condition; slight mat line 3/8" from image. Held Jr. was an American cartoonist, printmaker, illustrator, sculptor, and was one of the best-known magazine illustrators of the 1920s. Print 9" x 12". Paper 13.75" x 20".
District Auction
Dec. 01, 2022
HELD, John, Jr. (American, 1889-1958). Woman Crying. Circa ...
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
HELD, John, Jr. (American, 1889-1958). Woman Crying. Circa 1920s. Original pen, ink, and watercolor drawing on paper. Signed by Held near the right margin. Visible area: 9 ¾ x 6 ½”. Minor occasional soiling. Matted (matte size: 16 x 11 ¾”). Not examined out of matte. An excellent item. Held was one of the most prolific magazine illustrators of the 1920s; today he is best known for the cover image of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tales of the Jazz Age (1922).
Potter & Potter Auctions Inc.
Nov. 10, 2022
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958). NANTUCKET. 1925. 41¾x28 inches, 106x71 cm.
Est: $10,000 - $15,000
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) NANTUCKET. 1925. 41 3/4x28 inches, 106x71 cm. Condition B+: expertly-repaired tears at edges, some into image; minor restoration in margins; minor creases in image; repaired pin holes in corners. A bird's-eye view of a town and port on this small island off the Massachusetts coast. The inset at the top reflects Nantucket's history and former glory as "The Whaling Capital of the World." John Held Jr. was one of the top cartoonists in the 1920s and 1930s and was a regular contributor to The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, Redbook and other popular magazines. His flapper girls were a tremendous sensation, becoming the visual epitomization of the roaring 20s. In addition to designing movie posters, he was also employed by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railway to help promote their service. He designed at least eight posters advertising their routes around the Northeast.
Swann Auction Galleries
Jun. 09, 2022
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) "For a Small House."
Est: $2,500 - $3,500
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) "For a Small House." Illustration published on page 72 of Saturday to Monday, by Newman Levy, illustrated by Held (New York: Knopf, 1930). Pen and ink on paper. 165x260 mm; 6 1/2x10 1/4 inches, image, on 11 3/4x7-inch board. Not signed. Tipped to matte and framed to 17 1/4x14 inches.
Swann Auction Galleries
Mar. 06, 2022
JOHN HELD JR (AMERICAN, 1889-1958).
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
Mixed media on paper. Golf Scene. Signed upper right. From a New York collection.
Clarke Auction Gallery
Dec. 15, 2021
RARE AMERICAN BRONZE JOHN HELD JR - 1939
Est: $800 - $1,200
JOHN HELD, JR. (American 1889-1958) Standing Horse - 1939 Bronze with blackish brown patina Signed JOHN and dated 39 Height 12.25 inches, length 13.25 inches SHIPPING NOTICE: Jackson's is your sole and only source for one stop packing and shipping. With over 50 years of experience, our professional, affordable and efficient in-house shipping department will be happy to provide you a fair and reasonable shipping quote on this lot. Simply email us before the auction for a quick quote: shipping@jacksonsauction.com or call 1-800-665-6743. Jackson's can expertly pack and ship to meet any of your needs. To ensure quality control Jackson's DOES NOT release to third party shippers.
Jackson's International
Nov. 23, 2021
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958). NANTUCKET. 1925. 41¾x28 inches, 106x71 cm. Andrew H. Kellog Co., New York.
Est: $10,000 - $15,000
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) NANTUCKET. 1925. 41 3/4x28 inches, 106x71 cm. Andrew H. Kellog Co., New York. Condition A-: expertly-repaired tear at top left margin; minor creases and expert restoration in margins; repaired pin holes in top corners. A bird's-eye view of a town and port on this small island off the Massachusetts coast. The inset at the top reflects Nantucket's history and former glory as "The Whaling Capital of the World." John Held Jr. was one of the top cartoonists in the 1920s and 1930s and was a regular contributor to The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, Redbook and other popular magazines. His flapper girls were a tremendous sensation, becoming the visual epitomization of the roaring 20s. In addition to designing movie posters, he was also employed by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railway to help promote their service. He designed at least eight posters advertising their routes around the Northeast. Rare.
Swann Auction Galleries
Nov. 23, 2021
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958). THE NEW HAVEN R.R. / NORTHWARD. Circa 1930. 42x28¼ inches, 106½x78¾ cm. Plampin Litho Co., New York.
Est: $1,500 - $2,000
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) THE NEW HAVEN R.R. / NORTHWARD. Circa 1930. 42x28 1/4 inches, 106 1/2x78 3/4 cm. Plampin Litho Co., New York. Condition A: minor restoration in margins; repaired pin holes in corners. In his classic cartoon style, Held colorfully shows golfers, flappers and others all heading "Northward," along with the migrating ducks depicted above them. Having created advertisements for the New Haven Railroad since 1924, "Held became known for his 'outrageous combinations of violent hues,' of which Northward! is a fine example" (Zega, 63). The New Haven Railroad was an essential means of transportation in New England, and "by 1929, the company reached the peak of its operational reach, controlling 2,131 miles of track in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts" (New Haven to Boston, p. 29). Held p. 91, Zega 65.
Swann Auction Galleries
Jul. 15, 2021
John Held, Jr. (American, 1889-1958) Cocktail Shaker Painted glass 13 x 5-1/2 in
Est: $600 - $800
John Held, Jr. (American, 1889-1958) Cocktail Shaker Painted glass 13 x 5-1/2 inches (33.0 x 14.0 cm) HID01801242017
Heritage Auctions
Jul. 13, 2021
John Held Jr. (1889-1958, American) 11.25" H x 12.125" W x 1.875" D
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
John Held Jr. (1889-1958, American) "Outlines of Sports" New York: Duttons, Inc., 1930 Signed: John Held Jr. First edition, limited edition numbered 69/100 11.25" H x 12.125" W x 1.875" D Provenance: From the Collection of the Dharam Damama's
John Moran Auctioneers
Jun. 24, 2021
JOHN HELD JR., American (1889-1958), "Button Up Your Nose", watercolor and ink on board, signed, titled and inscribed lower left "Al...
Est: $800 - $1,200
JOHN HELD JR. American, (1889-1958) "Button Up Your Nose" watercolor and ink on board, signed, titled and inscribed lower left "Always yours, John Held Jr."
Shannon's
Jan. 28, 2021
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) "The well-dressed member..."[CARTOONS / CALENDAR / GOLF]
Est: $5,000 - $7,500
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) "The well-dressed member finds his new english sweater is perfect protective coloration..." Probable calendar image, November, circa 1922. Watercolor, pen, and ink over graphite on board. 390x285 mm; 15 1/4x11 1/4 inches, on 18 1/4x12-inch board. Signed "John Held Jr." in lower left image. Tipped to window matte; framed. Provenance: American Illustrators Gallery, July 1992, with their label on verso of frame's backing board; thence to Dick McDonough. The full caption reads: "The well dressed member finds his new english sweater is perfect protective coloration in the presence of a process server." Arguably the most famous cartoonist and illustrator of "Jazz Age" America, Held produced a series of golf illustrations in the 1920s. Some of these were published in monthly commercial calendars with notes on golf instruction by famed professionals on the reverse. While the exact publisher and year are unknown, the illustration is speculated to have been for a calendar produced for Bryant Electric Company or Brown & Bigelow.
Swann Auction Galleries
Jan. 28, 2021
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) "The Nest of Hornets." [CARTOONS / CALENDAR / GOLF]
Est: $5,000 - $7,500
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) "The Nest of Hornets." Probable calendar image, September, circa 1922. Opaque watercolor on board. 392x295 mm; 15 1/2x11 3/4 inches, on 18 1/2x12 1/2-inch board. Signed "John Held Jr." near lower center image. Taped to window matte; framed. Hard crease at lower left. Provenance: American Illustrators Gallery, July 1992, with their label on verso of frame's backing board; thence to Dick McDonough. Illustrated in The Most of John Held, Jr. by Marc Connelly (foreword) and Carl J. Weinhardt (introduction) (Brattleboro, VT: Stephen Greene Press, 1972, page 42), and again in America's Great Illustrators by Susan E. Meyer (New York: Galahad Books, 1978, page 295). Arguably the most famous cartoonist and illustrator of "Jazz Age" America, Held produced a series of golf illustrations in the 1920s. Some of these were published in monthly commercial calendars with notes on golf instruction by famed professionals on the reverse. While the exact publisher and year are unknown, the illustration is speculated to have been for a calendar produced for Bryant Electric Company or Brown & Bigelow.
Swann Auction Galleries
Jan. 28, 2021
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) "The Senior Member Drops His False Teeth at the Water Hole." [CARTOONS / CALENDAR / GOLF]
Est: $5,000 - $7,500
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) "The Senior Member Drops His False Teeth at the Water Hole." Probable calendar image, July, circa 1922. Mixed media, including gouache, watercolor, pen, and ink over graphite on board. 395x287 mm; 15 1/2x11 1/4 inches, on 18 1/4x12-inch board. Signed "John Held Jr." in lower right image. Tipped to window matte. Provenance: Illustration House, May 1994, with their stamp and label on verso of previous frame's backing board; thence to Dick McDonough. Arguably the most famous cartoonist and illustrator of "Jazz Age" America, Held produced a series of golf illustrations in the 1920s. Some of these were published in monthly commercial calendars with notes on golf instruction by famed professionals on the reverse. While the exact publisher and year are unknown, the illustration is speculated to have been for a calendar produced for Bryant Electric Company or Brown & Bigelow.
Swann Auction Galleries
Jan. 28, 2021
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) Flappers.
Est: $1,200 - $1,800
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) Flappers. Two charming illustrations for unknown publication. Pen, ink, and watercolor on board. 254x331 mm; 10x13 inches, on 11 3/4x16-inch board. Signed "John Held Jr." in lower center, between images. Matted with simple wood frame. Provenance: Ursula Hanlon, New York (possibly purchased from/or gift of the artist, 1930s); thence by descent through daughter Claire Hanlon Brown to current family collection.
Swann Auction Galleries
Dec. 05, 2020
JOHN HELD, JR. (American, 1889-1958)
Est: $500 - $700
JOHN HELD, JR. (American, 1889-1958), smoking man and horse, pen and ink drawing on paper, signed and inscribed ''To Lee'' lower left, annotations on verso, framed. Toning, mat burn, some surface staining. Sight 10''h, 14-1/2''w.
South Bay Auctions Inc
Oct. 15, 2020
John Held, Jr. (1889-1958). THE NEW HAVEN R.R. / NORTHWARD. Circa 1930.
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) THE NEW HAVEN R.R. / NORTHWARD. Circa 1930. 42x28 1/4 inches, 106 1/2x71 3/4 cm. Plampin Litho Co., New York. Condition A / A-: small repaired tears at edges; minor creases in margins and image. In his classic cartoon style, Held colorfully shows golfers, flappers and others all heading "Northward," along with the migrating ducks depicted above them. Having created advertisements for the New Haven Railroad since 1924, "Held became known for his 'outrageous combinations of violent hues,' of which Northward! is a fine example" (Zega, 63). The New Haven Railroad was an essential means of transportation in New England, and "by 1929, the company reached the peak of its operational reach, controlling 2,131 miles of track in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts" (New Haven to Boston, p. 29). Held p. 91, Zega 65.
Swann Auction Galleries
Oct. 15, 2020
John Held, Jr. (1889-1958). NANTUCKET. 1925.
Est: $6,000 - $9,000
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) NANTUCKET. 1925. 42x28 inches, 106 3/4x71 cm. Andrew H. Kellog Co., New York. Condition B+: extensive expert overpainting in margins and outer border; expertly-repaired tears, some into image and text; small spot in left image. A bird's-eye view of a town and port on this small island off the Massachusetts coast. The inset at the top reflects Nantucket's history and former glory as "The Whaling Capital of the World." John Held Jr., was one of the top cartoonists in the 1920s and 1930s and was a regular contributor to The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, Redbook and other popular magazines. His flapper girls were a tremendous sensation, becoming the visual epitomization of the roaring 20s.
Swann Auction Galleries
Sep. 15, 2019
Possibly John Held, Jr., (American, 1889-1958), Street parade, circa 1925, ink and wash on paper, 10 x 16 1/4in (25.5 x 41cm)
Est: $600 - $800
Possibly John Held, Jr. (American, 1889-1958) Street parade, circa 1925 ink and wash on paper signed lower right Held Jr. 10 x 16 1/4in (25.5 x 41cm) Provenance: Property from The McNally Company Antiques, Rancho Santa Fe, California.
Andrew Jones Auctions
Feb. 07, 2019
JOHN HELD JR. (1889-1958). EASTERN CANADA AND NEWFOUNDLAND ARE CALLING. 1926. 41x27 inches, 106x69 cm. The De Vinne-Hallenbeck Co., Inc
Est: $600 - $900
JOHN HELD JR. (1889-1958) EASTERN CANADA AND NEWFOUNDLAND ARE CALLING. 1926. 41 3/4x27 1/4 inches, 106x69 1/4 cm. The De Vinne-Hallenbeck Co., Inc., New York. Condition B / B-: repaired tears, creases and overpainting in margins and through image; bleach spots and staining in image; extensively faded. Framed.
Swann Auction Galleries
Jan. 26, 2019
2 John Held Cowboy Cartoons
Est: $350 - $450
Two (2) John Held, Jr. (American, 1889-1958) Cowboy related original cartoon illustrations, ink, graphite and red and black watercolor, titled "Branding Iron" and "Dude Ranch". Each with illegible inscriptions from Held upper left. Housed in later frames. Sight - 12 5/8" H x 10 5/8" W. Framed - 13 1/2" H x 11 1/2" W. Early 20th century. Biography: John Held, Jr.'s cartoons were said to epitomize the spirit of the 1920s "Jazz Age". He was best known for his cartoons of the flapper Betty Co-ed, and her friend, Joe College. He got a job as a cartoonist for The Salt Lake Tribune as a teenager, and eventually went to New York, where he designed commercial posters. His work appeared in magazines such as Judge, Life, and Collier's, as well as in The New Yorker. He also wrote a syndicated cartoon strip, Merely Margy, for the Hearst newspapers. Cowboys and Western themes were among his favorite subjects, along with flappers and Art Deco themed scenes. Provenance: Estate of Celia (Cece) Webb, Nashville, Tennessee. (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com.)
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Nov. 20, 2018
John Held, Jr. American, 1889-1958 The Highbrow, 1919
Est: $700 - $900
John Held, Jr. American, 1889-1958 The Highbrow, 1919 Ink and wash on illustration board 11 3/4 x 7 inches Provenance: Graham Gallery, New York James Cummins Bookseller, New York Literature: Oberlin, Ohio, Ripin Print Gallery, Oberlin College, Reading Between the Wars: Books and Readers, 1915-1950, Oct. 15 - Dec. 4, 1994, no. 28 C The Patricia and Donald Oresman Collection
DOYLE Auctioneers & Appraisers
Nov. 20, 2018
John Held, Jr American, 1889-1958 Nocturne, circa 1920
Est: $700 - $900
John Held, Jr American, 1889-1958 Nocturne, circa 1920 Signed John Held Jr. (lr) Ink on illustration board 12 x 7 1/4 inches Unframed Provenance: Graham Gallery, New York [Sale] Heritage Galleries Auction, Dallas, May 11, 2005, lot no. 23110 Susan Teller Gallery, New York C The Patricia and Donald Oresman Collection
DOYLE Auctioneers & Appraisers
Sep. 22, 2018
JOHN HELD JR. (AMERICAN, 1889-1958) R.C.A. BUILDING IN SILHOUETTE GOUACHE ON PAP
Est: $1,200 - $1,800
John Held Jr. (American, 1889-1958) R.C.A. Building in Silhouette Gouache on paper 14 x 10 inches (35.6 x 25.4 cm) (sight) Signed lower right: John Held Jr. PROPERTY FROM A DISTINGUISHED SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLECTION HID04901242017
Heritage Auctions
Nov. 11, 2017
John Held Jr., American, 1889-1958, original
Est: $300 - $400
John Held Jr. Held was the premier illustrator and cartoonist of the jazz age. When he was just fifteen, Held sold a work of his art to Life magazine. He continued creating illustrations for magazines including Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. Held developed his characteristic style by 1920, which pictured stiff, stylized figures prior to their symbolic definition of the decade. His magazine covers offered humor for dismayed traditionalists, and style models for the younger flappers with shorter skirts and pencil-like necks. Held was incredibly successful, earning over one million dollars a year at one point and owning a private zoo and golf course. This drawing shows three young boys standing and holding books. The boy at right hides a pipe with billowing smoke behind his back as he points to it with a smug look. The center boy shushes the mischievous boy, and the left boy laughs as he holds one hand over his mouth. The inclusion of books suggest that the boys have just been released from school and are playing with bad behavior.
Revere Auctions
Nov. 11, 2017
John Held Jr., American, 1889-1958, original
Est: $300 - $400
Held was the premier illustrator and cartoonist of the jazz age. When he was just fifteen, Held sold a work of his art to Life magazine. He continued creating illustrations for magazines including Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. Held developed his characteristic style by 1920, which pictured stiff, stylized figures prior to their symbolic definition of the decade. His magazine covers offered humor for dismayed traditionalists, and style models for the younger flappers with shorter skirts and pencil-like necks. Held was incredibly successful, earning over one million dollars a year at one point and owning a private zoo and golf course. This drawing shows three figures, a couple seated on a couch and an older man reading a book. The couple on the couch are going on a date or to a dance, wearing corsages. They sit far away from each other, perhaps communicating shyness or even dissatisfaction with one another or with the night. The male folds his arms as he peeks over to the left, while the female looks down towards her side, with hands folded.
Revere Auctions
Nov. 11, 2017
John Held Jr., American, 1889-1958, original
Est: $300 - $400
Held was the premier illustrator and cartoonist of the jazz age. When he was just fifteen, Held sold a work of his art to Life magazine. He continued creating illustrations for magazines including Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. Held developed his characteristic style by 1920, which pictured stiff, stylized figures prior to their symbolic definition of the decade. His magazine covers offered humor for dismayed traditionalists, and style models for the younger flappers with shorter skirts and pencil-like necks. Held was incredibly successful, earning over one million dollars a year at one point and owning a private zoo and golf course. This drawing shows two couples with a large space separating the two. The older couple at left shows a man escorting a woman. The younger couple at right embrace with arms around each other. This female is a flapper with very short hair. The corsage on the young man suggests that all came from a dance or date.
Revere Auctions
Nov. 03, 2017
JOHN HELD JR. (AMERICAN, 1889-1958) THE THINKER, LIFE MAGAZINE COVER, MARCH 18,
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
John Held Jr. (American, 1889-1958) The Thinker, Life magazine cover, March 18, 1926 Watercolor and ink on board 13-1/2 x 10-1/2 inches (34.3 x 26.7 cm) (sight) Signed center right: John / Held Jr. PROVENANCE: Graham Gallery, New York; Neal Barr, New York, acquired from the above; Illustration House, New York; Acquired by the present owner from the above. HID04901242017
Heritage Auctions
Oct. 26, 2017
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958). THE NEW HAVEN R.R. / NORTHWARD. Circa 1930. 41x28 inches, 106x71 cm. Plampin Litho Co., New York.
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
JOHN HELD, JR. (1889-1958) THE NEW HAVEN R.R. / NORTHWARD. Circa 1930. 41 3/4x28 1/4 inches, 106x71 3/4 cm. Plampin Litho Co., New York. Condition A-: repaired tears in margins. In his classic cartoon style, Held colorfully shows golfers, flappers and others all heading "Northward," along with the migrating ducks depicted above them. Having created advertisements for the New Haven Railroad since 1924, "Held became known for his 'outrageous combinations of violent hues,' of which Northward! is a fine example" (Zega, 63). The New Haven Railroad was an essential means of transportation in New England, and "by 1929, the company reached the peak of its operational reach, controlling 2,131 miles of track in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts" (New Haven to Boston, p. 29). Held p. 91, Zega 65.
Swann Auction Galleries
Sep. 16, 2017
John Held Jr., American, 1889-1958,original
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
John Held Jr., American, 1889-1958. Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida. Jazz-Age genre, flapper figures, illustration. “Untitled (Smoking Boys)” is signed lower right in cursive: John Held Jr. Held was the premier illustrator and cartoonist of the jazz age. When he was just fifteen, Held sold a work of his art to Life magazine. He continued creating illustrations for magazines including Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. Held developed his characteristic style by 1920, which pictured stiff, stylized figures prior to their symbolic definition of the decade. His magazine covers offered humor for dismayed traditionalists, and style models for the younger flappers with shorter skirts and pencil-like necks. Held was incredibly successful, earning over one million dollars a year at one point and owning a private zoo and golf course. This drawing shows three young boys standing and holding books. The boy at right hides a pipe with billowing smoke behind his back as he points to it with a smug look. The center boy shushes the mischievous boy, and the left boy laughs as he holds one hand over his mouth. The inclusion of books suggest that the boys have just been released from school and are playing with bad behavior.
Revere Auctions
Sep. 16, 2017
John Held Jr., American, 1889-1958, original
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
John Held Jr., American, 1889-1958. Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida. Jazz-Age genre, flapper figures, illustration. “Untitled (Two Couples)” is signed right center in cursive: John Held Jr.. Inscription Lower center containing the following: Blend in ½ [indecipherable] Black plate 34.6. Held was the premier illustrator and cartoonist of the jazz age. When he was just fifteen, Held sold a work of his art to Life magazine. He continued creating illustrations for magazines including Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. Held developed his characteristic style by 1920, which pictured stiff, stylized figures prior to their symbolic definition of the decade. His magazine covers offered humor for dismayed traditionalists, and style models for the younger flappers with shorter skirts and pencil-like necks. Held was incredibly successful, earning over one million dollars a year at one point and owning a private zoo and golf course. This drawing shows two couples with a large space separating the two. The older couple at left shows a man escorting a woman. The younger couple at right embrace with arms around each other. This female is a flapper with very short hair. The corsage on the young man suggests that all came from a dance or date.
Revere Auctions
Sep. 16, 2017
John Held Jr., American, 1889-1958, original
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
John Held Jr., American, 1889-1958. Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida. Jazz-Age genre, flapper figures, illustration. “Untitled (Couple on Couch)” bears graphite inscriptions with numbers and plate instructions. Held was the premier illustrator and cartoonist of the jazz age. When he was just fifteen, Held sold a work of his art to Life magazine. He continued creating illustrations for magazines including Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. Held developed his characteristic style by 1920, which pictured stiff, stylized figures prior to their symbolic definition of the decade. His magazine covers offered humor for dismayed traditionalists, and style models for the younger flappers with shorter skirts and pencil-like necks. Held was incredibly successful, earning over one million dollars a year at one point and owning a private zoo and golf course. This drawing shows three figures, a couple seated on a couch and an older man reading a book. The couple on the couch are going on a date or to a dance, wearing corsages. They sit far away from each other, perhaps communicating shyness or even dissatisfaction with one another or with the night. The male folds his arms as he peeks over to the left, while the female looks down towards her side, with hands folded.
Revere Auctions
Sep. 16, 2017
John Held Jr., American, 1889-1958, original
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
John Held Jr., American, 1889-1958. Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida. Jazz-Age genre, flapper figures, illustration. “Untitled (Ford T Model Car)” is signed lower right in ink: John Held Jr. Numbered lower right in graphite. John Held Jr. was the premier illustrator and cartoonist of the jazz age. When he was just fifteen, Held sold a work of his art to Life magazine. He continued creating illustrations for magazines including Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. Held developed his characteristic style by 1920, which pictured stiff, stylized figures prior to their symbolic definition of the decade. His magazine covers offered humor for dismayed traditionalists, and stylish models for the younger flappers with shorter skirts and pencil-like necks. Held was incredibly successful, earning over one million dollars a year at one point and owning a private zoo and golf course. This drawing shows three separate pairs of figures. A man plays the saxophone while a woman sings and dances with knees facing inwards. One couple embraces in the Ford T model car, while the third leans on the back of the car, which contains text. Keywords: figure, figural, car, automotive
Revere Auctions
Mar. 17, 2017
John Held Jr. (American, 1889-1958) Hose and Pipe, Look Magazine interior illust
Est: $1,500 - $2,500
John Held Jr. (American, 1889-1958) Hose and Pipe, Look Magazine interior illustrations (two works), 1924 Ink and watercolor on board, each 10 x 10 inches (25.4 x 25.4 cm) (each) HID04901242017
Heritage Auctions
Sep. 20, 2016
John Held Jr (American, 1889-1958), color linocut, Ship Bonetta Salem, Departing From Leghorn, pencil signed lower right, 13-3/4" x ...
Est: $100 - $200
John Held Jr (American, 1889-1958), color linocut, Ship Bonetta Salem, Departing From Leghorn, pencil signed lower right, 13-3/4" x 20" sheet, unframed , Property from the Estate of Daniel Dietrich, II
William Bunch Auctions & Appraisals
Aug. 03, 2016
JOHN HELD JR. (1889-1958). HAVE A REAL VACATION! / ROMP IN RHODE ISLAND. 1925. 41x27 inches, 106x70 cm. DeVinne Hallenbeck Co., New Yor
Est: $800 - $1,200
JOHN HELD JR. (1889-1958) HAVE A REAL VACATION! / ROMP IN RHODE ISLAND. 1925. 41 3/4x27 1/2 inches, 106x70 cm. DeVinne Hallenbeck Co., New York. Condition B / B-: repaired tears from top and bottom edges, through central image; minor losses at edges; extensive tears, sharp creases and abrasions in margins and image; archival tape on verso. Paper. By all appearances this is a poster map designed by the great early 20th century American cartoonist John Held, Jr., a regular contributor to The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, Redbook and other popular magazines. Held also designed posters for the New Haven Railway, whose tracks are delineated in this image.
Swann Auction Galleries
Aug. 03, 2016
JOHN HELD JR. (1889-1958). A BEAUTIFULLY ENGROSSED MAP OF SUMMER PLAY LAND. 1930. 42x28 inches, 106x71 cm. Rogers-Kellogg-Stillson Comp
Est: $800 - $1,200
JOHN HELD JR. (1889-1958) A BEAUTIFULLY ENGROSSED MAP OF SUMMER PLAY LAND. 1930. 42x28 inches, 106 3/4x71 cm. Rogers-Kellogg-Stillson Company, New York. Condition B-: extensive repaired tears at top and bottom edges, through central image; losses in upper right corner and margins; tears and minor losses at edges; creases, abrasions and light foxing in margins and image; archival tape on verso along tears. Paper. Held had a penchant for humorous, cartoon maps and designed more than his fair share. The Most of John Held Jr. (The Stephen Greene Press, Vermont 1972) illustrates nine such maps, each with an identical black and white alternating border and a colorful and elaborate compass rose. Here, to promote the celebration of Massachusetts Bay's Tercentenary, he depicts such indulgent activities throughout New England as "getting sunburned," "shouting for joy," "doing nothing" and "sleeping under blankets."
Swann Auction Galleries
Nov. 19, 2015
JOHN HELD JR. (1889-1958). EASTERN CANADA AND NEWFOUNDLAND ARE CALLING. 1926. 42x27 inches, 106x70 cm. The De Vinne-Hallenbeck Co., Inc
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
JOHN HELD JR. (1889-1958) EASTERN CANADA AND NEWFOUNDLAND ARE CALLING. 1926. 42x27 3/4 inches, 106 1/2x70 1/2 cm. The De Vinne-Hallenbeck Co., Inc., New York. Condition B+: repaired tear in bottom edge into image; minor restoration in image. "In 1924 [The New Haven Railroad] commissioned New York City artist John Held, Jr., to design a series of posters selling New England resorts and vacations . . . Held, a well known delineator of eastern establishment culture whose Vanity Fair and Life magazine illustrations and cartoons introduced two of the era's defining caricatures - the happy-go-lucky flapper and her straw-hatted guy, Joe College - proved a prescient choice. His New Haven designs talked to the new, jazzy cultural elite" (Zega p. 63).
Swann Auction Galleries
Nov. 19, 2015
JOHN HELD JR. (1889-1958). TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN / THE NEW HAVEN R.R. 1932. 42x28 inches, 106x71 cm. Plampin Litho. Co. Inc. New Yor
Est: $3,000 - $4,000
JOHN HELD JR. (1889-1958) TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN / THE NEW HAVEN R.R. 1932. 42x28 inches, 106 3/4x71 cm. Plampin Litho. Co. Inc. New York, N.Y. Condition A-: abrasions and restoration in margins; slight discoloration in lower image. This rare/span poster advertised train travel for a one-day, cosmic event - a solar eclipse on August 31, 1932, which would be especially visible in New England. It illustrates vignettes of people enjoying the rare occurrence and the path the eclipse would take. The same vignettes were also used by the railroad on various brochures advertising eclipse excursions to Provincetown, MA and Fabyan, NH.
Swann Auction Galleries
Mar. 21, 2015
John Held terra cotta pitcher
Est: $150 - $250
John Held (American 1889-1958)- ''Don Quixote''- terra cotta pitcher, signed John Held at base, some soiling and staining from being handled. 11 3/4''
Rachel Davis Fine Arts