Summer 2019 - Item detail
Famous Norm Saunders "Mars Attacks" Self-Portrait Original Artwork
- Sold For:
- $25,800
- Year:
- 1984
- Auction:
- 2019 Summer
- Lot #:
- 2762
- Category:
- Non-Sports Cards/Sheets/Card Artwork
The offered original self-portrait by Norm Saunders is one of the collecting world's most famous images relating to the Mars Attacks set. It is also the ONLY known original artwork signed by Saunders that was later used on a trade card. As such, it is the definitive Mars Attacks/Norm Saunders original artwork . This artwork first appeared in the August 1984 edition of Krause Publications' Baseball Cards Magazine, accompanying an article on Norm Saunders. The author of the article, Jim Nicewander, has provided a one-page signed letter of provenance, dated "6/12/96," in which he details the history of the piece (the letter can be read in its entirety on our website). In part:
After our very entertaining and informative conversations were completed, I asked Mr. Saunders if he would be so kind as to send me a photograph of himself. The picture would be published with the magazine story on his contributions to the Non-Sport card collecting hobby, as most collectors did not know what 'the man behind the cards' looked like. He said that he would find something and send it to me. A week or so later, I received a parcel from Mr. Saunders. Inside was the colorful water-color/gouache painting of a MARS ATTACKS Martian, sitting at an easel, paintbrush in hand, completing a portrait of his creator, Norm Saunders. Mr. Saunders had signed and dated the self portrait, and he had sent it to me to illustrate the story I was writing on him.
Ten years later, Topps used the artwork on card #99 of its 1994 Mars Attacks Archives set. The artwork was also used to produce a very well known Limited Edition print issued in honor of Norm Saunders and his great contributions to the collecting world. When this artwork was originally created for Krause Publications in 1984, Norm Saunders was just beginning to be recognized for his great contributions to the world of non-sport cards, especially as the artist responsible for creating the Mars Attacks set. Saunders died in 1990 and this is, to the best of our knowledge, the only self portrait he ever created. This is a fascinating and unique artwork by the legendary Norm Saunders, directly relating to his most enduring creation. Watercolor/gouache on paper, 7.5 x 10 inches, signed and dated "Saunders 84" in lower right. Near Mint to Mint condition. The artwork has been matted and framed together with two 1994 Topps Mars Attacks Archive cards (including the Saunders card) and a reproduction wrapper from the 1962 Topps Mars Attacks set. Also accompanied by aforementioned letter from Jim Nicewander and the original Topps production board for the Saunders card. Total dimensions: 25 x 29 inches. The substantial size/weight of this item requires that there will be an additional shipping charge for this lot. Reserve $2,500. Estimate (open).
After our very entertaining and informative conversations were completed, I asked Mr. Saunders if he would be so kind as to send me a photograph of himself. The picture would be published with the magazine story on his contributions to the Non-Sport card collecting hobby, as most collectors did not know what 'the man behind the cards' looked like. He said that he would find something and send it to me. A week or so later, I received a parcel from Mr. Saunders. Inside was the colorful water-color/gouache painting of a MARS ATTACKS Martian, sitting at an easel, paintbrush in hand, completing a portrait of his creator, Norm Saunders. Mr. Saunders had signed and dated the self portrait, and he had sent it to me to illustrate the story I was writing on him.
Ten years later, Topps used the artwork on card #99 of its 1994 Mars Attacks Archives set. The artwork was also used to produce a very well known Limited Edition print issued in honor of Norm Saunders and his great contributions to the collecting world. When this artwork was originally created for Krause Publications in 1984, Norm Saunders was just beginning to be recognized for his great contributions to the world of non-sport cards, especially as the artist responsible for creating the Mars Attacks set. Saunders died in 1990 and this is, to the best of our knowledge, the only self portrait he ever created. This is a fascinating and unique artwork by the legendary Norm Saunders, directly relating to his most enduring creation. Watercolor/gouache on paper, 7.5 x 10 inches, signed and dated "Saunders 84" in lower right. Near Mint to Mint condition. The artwork has been matted and framed together with two 1994 Topps Mars Attacks Archive cards (including the Saunders card) and a reproduction wrapper from the 1962 Topps Mars Attacks set. Also accompanied by aforementioned letter from Jim Nicewander and the original Topps production board for the Saunders card. Total dimensions: 25 x 29 inches. The substantial size/weight of this item requires that there will be an additional shipping charge for this lot. Reserve $2,500. Estimate (open).