AAEC Cartoon Auction to Benefit 'Cartoons for the Classroom'

Currently used by thousands of educators worldwide, 'Cartoons for the Classroom' provides a bi-weekly lesson plan that employs editorial cartoons as a tool for instruction in history, civics, current events, and critical thinking. Offered at no cost, the program has proved to be an entertaining and valuable resource to students of all ages and teachers in a variety of subjects. The success of 'Cartoons for the Classroom' is a testament to both the versatility of the program and the enduring popularity of editorial cartoons.

The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists hopes to keep this program available for some time to come. With that goal in mind, the AAEC is raising funds for 'Cartoons for the Classroom' by auctioning off the work of some of America's top editorial cartoonists (including 17 Pulitzer Prize winners). Some of the items up for auction are original drawings, others are signed prints, but every cartoon in the collection is a piece by one of finest political cartoonists working today.

The list of participants reads like a who's who in American editorial cartooning: Nick Anderson, Tony Auth, Rex Babin, Clay Bennett, Stephen Breen, Jeff Danziger, Matt Davies, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Kevin Kallaugher, Mike Keefe, Steve Kelley, Dick Locher, Mike Luckovich, Jimmy Margulies, Jim Morin, Jack Ohman, Joel Pett, Bruce Plante, Ted Rall, Michael Ramirez, Rob Rogers, Steve Sack, Ben Sargent, John Sherffius, Ed Stein, Ann Telnaes, Mike Thompson, Tom Toles, and Signe Wilkinson.

The clock is ticking on this auction though, so don't miss your chance to bid on your favorite cartoons. Not only will you be supporting a terrific program, but also you'll be collecting a unique example of American editorial cartooning at its very best.

Thanks so much for your support!

Drawn in the wake of The Washington Post's series on substandard care at Walter Reed Medical Army Medical Center, this item includes three separate pieces: the original pencil drawing, the original line art drawing and a high quality color reproduction of the final art (each is approximately 10"x 13.25"). Anderson uses a computer painting program (Corel Painter) with a stylus and touch-sensitive monitor to digitally color his cartoons. Most of Anderson's cartoons are donated to The Ohio State University Cartoon Art Museum and are rarely made available to the public.

Editorial cartoonist for The Courier-Journal in Louisville for many years, Nick Anderson moved to the Houston Chronicle in 2006 where he now produces both conventional and animated editorial cartoons. Syndicated nationally through The Washington Post Writers Group, his work has earned him the John Fischetti Award (1999), the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi Award (2000), the Best of Gannett Award three times (1996, 1997, 1999), and The Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning (2005).

9" x 12" original pen and ink drawing on paper, signed by the artist.

Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Tony Auth has been drawing for The Philadelphia Inquirer since 1971. His work, distributed nationally by Universal Press Syndicate, has earned Auth not only The Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning (1976), but also the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi Award (1975), the Thomas Nast Prize (2002), The Herblock Prize (2005), and the Overseas Press Club Award four times (1974, 1975, 1985, 1991).

Originally published 2/22/04, this signed, 9.5" X 6" giclee print was the first installment of the innovative and wildly popular 'Caleeforneeya' series of cartoons lampooning California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Formerly the editorial cartoonist for the Times Union in Albany, New York, Rex Babin has been drawing for The Sacramento Bee since 1999. Syndicated to hundreds of newspapers nationwide through King Features, Babin was a nominated finalist for The Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 2003, and the recipient of the National Press Foundation's Berryman Award in 2001.

Inspired by the USA Patriot Act being signed into law on 10/26/2001, this cartoon was published on 10/29/2001. This 9" X 6.5" giclee print is personally signed, dated and numbered by the artist. Tenth in a series limited to 10, this is the final remaining print of a cartoon included in the portfolio of work that earned The 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning.

Editorial cartoonist for The Christian Science Monitor, Bennett has received the John Fischetti Award twice (2001, 2005), the National Headliner Award three times (1999, 2000, 2004), the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi Award (2001), the Scripps Howard Foundation's National Journalism Award (2002), the National Cartoonists Society Award for Editorial Cartoons (2002), the Overseas Press Club Award (2005), and the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award (2007). A nominated finalist for the Pulitzer for five consecutive years (1999-2003), Bennett received The Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 2002.

9" x 12" original pen and ink drawing on paper, signed by the artist.

Beginning his career at the Asbury Park Press, Steve Breen has been the editorial cartoonist for the Union-Tribune in San Diego since 2001. Breen's work received early recognition- earning him the Charles M. Schulz Award as the top college cartoonist from the Scripps Howard Foundation and the John Locher Award for Outstanding College Editorial Cartoonist from the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Syndicated nationally by Copley News Service, Breen was the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1998.