Original vintage hand-painted animation cel, gouache on celluloid, featuring an angry Donald Duck shouting into a candlestick telephone, presented against an airbrushed background, 7.25 x 6.75, signed and inscribed in red pencil on the mat, “To Wendy with best wishes from Walt Disney.” Penned, in another hand, at mat edge beneath cel, “From ‘Der Fuehrer’s Face” at left (faded but legible) and “original” with encircled Walt Disney Productions “WDP” stamped at right. Accompanied by a 3.75 x 6 label from Courvoisier Galleries, San Francisco, affixed onto a 5.25 x 7.5 sheet advising that “This picture is fragile and should be framed under glass. This sticker can be removed and used on the exterior of the new back.” The sticker certifies that “This is an original painting on celluloid, actually used in the Walt Disney Production of ‘Der Fuehrer’s Face’ It is one of a select few that have been released to art collectors. The remainder have been destroyed.” The background of this cel, with Donald’s shadow, is reminiscent of the last scene of Der Fuehrer’s Face, we have been unable to find this image in the cartoon; we can only assume that it was cut from the final print. “Der Fuehrer’s Face” won the 1942 Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Cartoon). It is Donald Duck’s only Oscar. In "The 50 Greatest Cartoons: As Selected by 1,000 Animation Professionals,” a 1994 book by animation historian Jerry Beck, “Der Fuehrer’s Face” was ranked as the 22nd greatest cartoon of all time, the 6th greatest Disney cartoon. Creatively matted and framed to an overall size of 16.75 x 16.25. In very good condition, with a few chips and cracks to paint, a touch of very subtle toning to mat, trimming to cel (as usual). Mat creased at lower left corner and slightly soiled with plastic tape remnant at lower left edge. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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