So I got to thinking tonight, is it known when or who was the first to add word balloons to their doodles? We have some old raggedy ann books circa early 1900's with cartoon drawings interspersed within the text of the story, so this leads to the natural question above.

Any comic or art historians know?

Todd

Speech Balloon's certainly predate the 20th century, even through they didn't really become popular until the 1890s explosion of the newspaper comic strip. There is a rather good site called Andy's Early Cartoon Archive with a page on speech balloons. The earliest ones have people holding what looks like prompt cards with their lines on. The earliest one that, to me, looks like speech balloons is this one from 1493.




[Think I many be going for the most edited post ever here. Wrote answer, added to answer, deleted answer when noticing Q was directed to JB, then reinstating post when noticing that Todd ended with "Any comic or art historians know?" which opens it up. Suggestion for new board: section where you use a web form to send in a question. JB can then answer the Q as a new thread at his leisure.]

JB can then answer the Q as a new thread at his leisure.

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Or maybe just out of common courtesy you might have waited for me to answer a question posted directly to me?

Todd muddied the waters by throwing it to any comic or art historians, as well as you JB. Do you have any additional insights about word ballons?

JB, and everyone else.

Sorry I messed up protocol, and added the free for all at the end.

I have been impressed with JB's knowledge of the history of our beloved media, and figured he could start the ball rolling and then others might elaborate, add, enhance, etc.

Careless on my part.

Todd

Todd muddied the waters by throwing it to any comic or art historians, as well as you JB.

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Disagree, Dave. The question is addressed to me, and me alone, in the title of the thread. While others are also invited to contribute comments, it seems, as I noted, that nothing greater than common courtesy would dictate others wait until I at least have the opportunity to say I have nothing to offer in this regard.

Sorry I messed up protocol, and added the free for all at the end.

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Nothing you need to apologize for, Todd. You are not the one at fault, here. The "protocol" in this regard has been established since Day One of this board, and your phrasing was well within those bounds.

Thanks for that John.

Todd