Unlike T. K. Ryan, Dik Browne is no longer with us to confirm whether or not he did this lackluster drawing, or, for that matter, this one or this one, previously sold to satisfied customers on eBay by Gallery on Baum.
Fortunately, all we need to do is ask Dik Browne's son, cartoonist Chris Browne, who assisted his father on Hägar and took over the strip upon his death:
Hi, Mr. Browne:
I've been investigating a cartoon art dealer, Tony Greco of The Gallery on Baum in Pittsburgh, who is notorious for selling a lot of fake drawings.
Currently he has a suspicious-looking "Dik Browne" Hagar drawing for sale on eBay, and I was wondering if you think this is your father's work:
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Here's another one he sold recently:
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And another:
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So are these fakes, or did your father draw them while being smothered with a pillow?
Thanks, and keep up the good work!
To which Mr. Browne kindly replied:
Dear Peter,
This was really interesting to see- thanks! You're right, these were not drawn by my dad (or me for that matter). Interestingly the signatures are pretty good, but those aren't by him either. Probably traced from one of his cartoons or books. Really rather sad to think of someone scamming people like this. Crime in all it's many forms betrays a lack of character and imagination.
Thank you for sharing!
Best wishes, Chris Browne
So how many pieces of art from Tony "If one's fake, they're all fake" Greco's collection have we now conclusively demonstrated to be forgeries? I've already lost count.
On the other hand, just to show an even-handed approach, underground cartoonist Jay Lynch confirmed to me that this piece offered by Gallery on Baum is... genuine!
6 comments:
So he's even lying about "if one's fake, they're all fake"?
Is this a matter for criminal authorities or is there some way for eBay to revoke his license or at least put up some kind of Caveat Emptor message?
You'll notice how I keep not answering that question?
For now, I really want these things to remain on eBay and in the eBay archives, so please, Pony Pals, do not contact eBay and try to "help" by getting him shut down.
Chris Browne, bless him, meant to say "its" and not "it's." But at least he told PSP "thanks" and not "thanx"!
Spelling aside, couldn't agree more with his sentiment. One hates to see folks who admire cartoon and animated art so egregiously swindled.
This is really fascinating stuff, and one of the reasons I only buy dishes and such on e-Bay.
Great reading and good work!
I'm loving this series of posts. Keep it up, please!
Original Iraqi WMD facility photographs by CIA on medium paper stock, 6" x 5 1/2". Done by satellite. Nice detailing.
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