This large 12.5x21" sheet of art board was probably created in 1944. Within 1-1/8" circles are beautiful original art prototype portraits of 25 of the 86 different characters in the set. All art is pen and ink watercolor. The board has several penciled production notes including text for copyright above Popeye image "Copr. 1946 King Feat. Syn.," various color designations, name of famous printer "Einson-Freeman" and by one button the dimension "13/16" which became the actual button size. Art on this board except for possible color change or tiny detail, exactly matches the final button designs for Popeye, Olive Oyl, Wimpy, Casper, Toots, Fritz, The Captain and Little King. The art for the following characters is significantly different on the actual buttons: Maggie, Jiggs, Flash Gordon, Mama Katzenjammer, Hans, Snuffy Smith, Henry, Dagwood, Blondie, Andy Gump, Lord Plushbottom, Uncle Willie, Don Winslow, Emmy, Junior Tracy, Rip Winkle and Pop Jenks. Board has minor pencil smudges, .25x.5" glue mark at upper left of Little King, 1" dia. tan stain above Uncle Willie. All color art images are bright and fresh as painted. This is a file copy from the archives of premium creators Sam and Gordon Gold. Unique.

$3000- $4000