(Minnesota/California, 1922-2000)

The Doctor Is In, published June 30, 1969, United Feature Syndicate, signed in final block "Schulz", ink over graphite on Bristol board, four illustrated panels, 7-3/8 x 29 in., black frame, with conservation glass, 10-7/8 x 32-1/8 x 1/2 in.

Provenance: gifted from James (Jim) Freeman, Editor at United Feature Syndicate, to his niece, Joan Deen

Note: Always eager to help, Lucy (as Psychiatrist) reverses the roles and lays all her troubles on poor Charlie Brown. This before exclaiming "Don't come to me with your stupid troubles."

The Charles Schulz works that we are offering in this sale were originally gifted to our consignors, Joan and Peter Deen, by Jim Freeman who worked as Editor at United Feature Syndicate.

In the early years, Schulz shopped samples of his work around the country, eventually convincing his hometown St. Paul Pioneer Press to publish his Li’l Folks strip, which ran from June 1947 to January 1950.

It was then that veteran editor Jim Freeman picked up the strip and signed Schulz to a five-year contract. Freeman also suggested that the cartoon go from a single panel to a four panel strip. Schulz made the recommended change to a more standard format.

Freeman was also consequential in the name change from Li’l Folks to Peanuts. It is said that Schulz was opposed to the new name, although it has endured to the delight of many Peanuts fans across the globe.