1947 Allen Shapiro A JAY Harry Chess 1st GAY Cartoonist Illustration

Allen J. Shapiro, known as A. Jay, was one of the earliest and most prominent US gay illustrators and cartoonists of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He was a pioneer in the genre, creating the first ongoing gay comic strip ever, called 'The Adventures of Harry Chess: The Man from A.U.N.T.I.E.' Art historian Michael Murphy links Drums decision to publish Shapiro's strip to a key shift in gay publications and gay politics. Al Shapiro was known for his work as the Art Editor of the gay magazine Drummer. Shapiro also gained notoriety for the erotic artwork he created for the infamous Cauldron Club and Slot Bathhouse in San Francisco, in addition to the posters for many other gay bathhouses. This is his personal 1940's H igh School sketchbook, his earliest surviving work. This sketchpad is how he learned how to draw figures. This art tablet sketchbook is the basis of his fundamentals that would enable him to go on and become known for drawing his muscle men in his famed comic strip. The book is complete and unmolested with a total 20 page sketches on. I could only add 12 photos for the listing since that is Pricetronics photo limit. It was purchased at his family's estate sale. I have several other pieces of his artwork as a high school junior - senior. He was quite talented . This is the one and only sketchbook in  existence, I have many other works but this is the starting point of his  Guaranteed authentic original art by the hand of A. Jay .  A. Jay's Full name was Allen Jonas Shapiro.

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