120

Rockwell Kent

(1882-1971)

Sketch for Black Jack Chewing Gum.

Pencil on tissue-thin vellum, circa 1917.
Inscribed "Black Jack" lower right, and with composition notes.
13 3/4 x 10 in. (35 x 25.5 cm.)

  • Provenance:
    Estate of the artist, with the ink stamp lower left.
    Private collection, New York.
    Swann Auction Galleries, New York, June 5, 2003, lot 147 (as Young Man on a Bed with a Man Holding Switch).
    Private collection, New York.
  • Notes:
    During World War I, Rockwell Kent's funds dwindled, as building and architect shops closed and laid off their draftsmen. Kent moved to a small apartment in New York and tried to find work in advertising. Kent met a writer Herbert Kaufman, and in July 1917, the two began to collaborate on ad campaign ideas for Black Jack Chewing Gum. According to Kent's 1955 autobiography, It's Me, O'Lord one such pitch to Black Jack was "'Dad's Days' or some such brilliant title to a series that should show the older generation kids all chewing Black Jack gum. Boys playing baseball, marbles, spinning tops or riding bikes: the text by Kaufman, with designs by me." Ultimately, Kent created a dozen drawings, however in a letter to his wife Kathleen in September 1917, Kent lamented, "After all my work on those Black Jack drawings and having been told the job was mine and to go ahead on it, the chewing gum people think maybe they don't want any pictures in their ads!"
  • Condition:
    Please contact the Specialist for the auction to request a condition report.

    Condition reports and additional images are provided as a courtesy and should be used by you to aid in the formation of your own opinion regarding condition. All material is sold subject to Swann's standard Terms and Conditions of Sale as published in our catalogues and posted on our website, and include the following terms: (1) all property is sold "as-is"; and (2) works cannot be returned on the basis of condition.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Upon request, Swann will facilitate the shipping of purchases to out-of-town buyers at an additional charge for packing, shipping and insurance, but will not be responsible for any loss, damage or delay resulting from the packing, handling and shipping thereof. Unless specific instructions are received, Swann is the sole judge of the method to be used for shipment. Packing and shipping costs will be noted on the invoice mailed to successful bidders after the sale, and are based on the actual costs involved. Be advised that a full commercial invoice must accompany any purchase shipped outside the US.

March 12, 2026 12:00 PM EDT
New York, NY, US

Swann Auction Galleries

You agree to pay a buyer’s premium, as outlined below, and any applicable taxes and shipping.
Buyer's Premium
$0 - $100,000:
27.00%
$100,001 - $1,000,000:
22.00%
$1,000,001+:
12.00%

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $149 $10
$150 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $5,999 $200
$6,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $499,999 $20,000
$500,000 + $50,000