Capp, Al. ORIGINAL PEN, INK AND WATERCOLOR DRAWING BY AL CAPP OF THE SHMOO. The drawing measures 8-3/16" x 6-1/16" on a piece of thick art board which measures 10-15/16" x 9-11/16"; board is age-tanned. The Shmoo is a fictional character created by Al Capp. The Shmoo made its first appearance in the comic strip Li'l Abner on August 31, 1948. The sequence of comic strip featuring the Shmoo ended less than four months later, just before Christmas of 1948. The Shmoo was massively popular, causing an unexpected national sensation that set the stage for a major licensing phenomenon. After their initial run, shmoos would make very few subsequent appearances in Li'l Abner, but thanks to their initial popularity and the popularity of the nearly one hundred Shmoo licensed products, some of which sold over five million units each, the Shmoo ultimately found itself firmly ensconced in American pop culture. The drawing is inscribed and signed by Al Capp as follows: "TO EDITH - - / I HOPE MY LI'L / SHMOO BRINGS / YOU GOOD HEALTH, / GOOD LUCK, AND / GOOD CHEER! / BEST WISHES, / AL CAPP". The condition of the drawing is VERY GOOD. # 000826