Description
Here is an original ca. 1901 Billy Bounce cigar box depicting W W Denslow-created character Billy Bounce. Denslow created a Billy Bounce comic strip just after he illustrated the Wizard of Oz in 1899/1900. He published Billy Bounce strips between 1901 and 1902, after which the comic was taken over by another illustrator, C W Kahles. The box has a 1901 tax stamp on the top, so it’s possibly the artwork was done by Denslow, but as it is unsigned it could be another illustrator after Denslow as well. The box has Billy Bounce smoking a cigar etched into the top, a side label and inner label with Billy Bounce and his pals Fuzzy White the Bear and the Pieman. The first image shows the inner label with the best graphics. Label says “John Hoffmann & Sons Company”, Litho Geo. Schlegel, NY. Cigars were Americanos.
The box exterior has heavy age darkening, the labels have some chipping, and the interior has a tobacco residual smell. Size is about 7″x5″x3″. A scarce Denslow-related collectible.
