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#comicbooks history
A new clue from @PrintMuseumCA in looking back to 1933 and asking "What kind of printing press might have been used to create the first comic book?"
Our starting point - a web fed rotary Letterpress by R Hoe of NY, used by newspapers.
A new clue from @PrintMuseumCA in looking back to 1933 and asking "What kind of printing press might have been used to create the first comic book?"
Our starting point - a web fed rotary Letterpress by R Hoe of NY, used by newspapers.
#comicbook history
A R Hoe press might have run off the first comic book in 1933. Here is a photo of R Hoe's exhibit at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo.
The Exposition was lit by electric power from Niagara Falls, and where President McKinley was assassinated
A R Hoe press might have run off the first comic book in 1933. Here is a photo of R Hoe's exhibit at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo.
The Exposition was lit by electric power from Niagara Falls, and where President McKinley was assassinated
#comicbook history
There is the argument the first comic is *after* Funnies on Parade, which was just 8 pages, and never retailed. Eastern teamed with Dell for a 36 page Famous Funnies A Carnival of Comics, retailed at Woolworth
There is the argument the first comic is *after* Funnies on Parade, which was just 8 pages, and never retailed. Eastern teamed with Dell for a 36 page Famous Funnies A Carnival of Comics, retailed at Woolworth
#comicbooks history
However, Famous Funnies A Carnival of Comics has no price on the cover. The legend is that Gaines stuck 10c price stickers on them.
If they weren't retailed but given away, then maybe we DQ it and look behind door number 3
However, Famous Funnies A Carnival of Comics has no price on the cover. The legend is that Gaines stuck 10c price stickers on them.
If they weren't retailed but given away, then maybe we DQ it and look behind door number 3
Other candidates for "First Comic Book" are Famous Funnies 1, the tricky part is that there are TWO of them. "Series 1" came first, but while it sold out, there was disagreement on going forward. The second 1 (with the golfer) is sold through newsstands, printed by Eastern
If this foundational part of #comicbook history interests you, then I can recommend going to an old website thecomicbooks.com. This era is sometimes called the Platinum Age.
thecomicbooks.com/old/frames.html
thecomicbooks.com/old/frames.html
At this 1934 stage of #comicbook history, we should remember that Eastern Color is *a printer*. This is very different from talking about DC or Marvel today, which are publishers. With Famous Funnies #2 we also start to get original material, making Easter Color a publisher
When people talk about #comicbook history, its often starting with Superman, but we're diving a bit deeper in the 1930s to the works of Eastern Color Printing.
There is some good information at a site dedicated to Mills of Connecticut
connecticutmills.org/find/details/e…
There is some good information at a site dedicated to Mills of Connecticut
connecticutmills.org/find/details/e…
