"SUNSTROKE!" Original WWII Political Cartoon by Talburt

This is an original World War II era political cartoon illustration titled "SUNSTROKE!" by the American cartoonist Harold Talburt. The artwork is executed in black ink and lithographic crayon (or charcoal) on paper, common for mid-20th-century editorial illustrations. The composition features a satirical and racialized caricature of a Japanese soldier being struck by a large shell labeled "U.S. MARINES." The projectile has snapped a flagpole bearing the Rising Sun flag, which is depicted drooping as stars of impact surround the soldier's head. The soldier is shown falling from a small landmass labeled "SOLOMON," a direct reference to the Solomon Islands campaign (1942–1945). The artist's signature "TALBURT" is visible in the lower-left corner. The piece is professionally matted with a red accent border and housed in a dark wood frame. Condition-wise, the paper shows significant foxing and ambering consistent with age, particularly visible in the upper center and left margins. There are small stains appearing as darker brown spots, likely due to acidic contact or environmental exposure over decades. The hatching and cross-hatching demonstrate high-level illustrative skill typical of Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonists like Talburt, who worked for the Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance.

This original political cartoon, titled 'SUNSTROKE!' by Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Harold Talburt, is a striking example of American World War II propaganda art. Based on my visual examination, the work appears to be an authentic ink and lithographic crayon illustration on board, consistent with the materials used by Scripps-Howard cartoonists of the era. The subject matter—referencing the Solomon Islands campaign (likely August 1942)—places this piece at a pivotal moment in the Pacific Theater, increasing its historical relevance. However, the condition significantly impacts value. The paper exhibits pronounced acidification, manifested as heavy ambering and extensive foxing throughout the upper register and margins. While the dark, bold lines of the central image remain legible, these conservation issues suggest long-term environmental exposure. In the current market, pristine Talburt originals can fetch between $800 and $1,200, but the deterioration present here necessitates a conservative valuation. The framing is functional but not of conservation quality. Comparables for Talburt's work are steady, particularly for anti-Axis imagery; however, racialized caricatures of the Japanese enemy, while historically significant, sometimes face a narrower collector market than domestic political subjects. To provide a definitive authentication, I would need to physically inspect the work to verify the ink medium under magnification (ensuring it is not a period reproduction proof) and examine the reverse for editorial stamps or publishing notes often found on newspaper originals.