Auction #6 - October 2020
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/26/2020
The F277-1 Heinz Rice Flakes Modern Aviation set is arguably one of the most popular cereal sets ever made. The set has multiple printings as noted by the codes printed on the back. The twenty-five card set pictures some of the most popular airplanes of the early 1930's. Modern Aviation, as termed, had only been around for 30 odd years by the time this set was published. The Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk in December of 1903. The growth of aviation between that momentous flight and when this set was published mirrored the upheaval and growth of technology of the early 20th century.
The set was issued in 1936 and the beautiful artwork is traced to William Heaslip--a well-known illustrator from the time period. Heaslip painted the (25) airplanes in the F277-1 series as well as the (25) aviators in the F277-4 series. Heaslip painted covers for the Saturday Evening Post as well as many other 1930's projects both big and small and his work is part of the Smithsonian's and National Gallery permanent collection in Washington, DC.
It is rare to find original artwork for many of the sets we all collect. Original artwork is, by definition, original. It is almost always one of a kind and rarely found. When found, it is usually gobbled up by a small number of advanced collectors.
This piece is the original artwork for the Heinz Rice Flakes Modern Aviators set of card #3 picturing Captain "Eddie" Rickenbacker. The artwork measures 12" wide by 7-5/16" high--just slightly larger than the other original artwork in this auction. Unlike some of the existing artwork for some of the early 1930's Candy and Gum cards such as Horrors of War, this artwork is much more substantial in size and has more of the characteristics of 'real' artwork. This piece exhibits beautiful brush strokes and the surface has the finish of a true painting. Eddie Rickenbacker is one of the most substantial heroes of World War I and, with 26 aerial victories, the most prolific ace of that war. The back of the piece exhibits some glue where it was removed from a backing but this does not interfere with the phenomenal artwork of the front. This represents an opportunity to get original artwork for one of the most popular sets of the 1930's pre-war period.
ORIGINAL ARTWORK for Heinz Rice Flakes Modern Aviators #3 Eddie Rickenbacker
Click above for larger image.