Early American Comics

This digital collection brings together two publications integral to the history of American comics: The Adventures of Mr. Obadiah Oldbuck (circa 1840s) and The Fortunes of Ferdinand Flipper (circa 1850s). Both narratives are told by way of black-and-white illustrations and corresponding captions, bound within bordered panels. 

Obadiah Oldbuck, which follows the (failed) courtship of Oldbuck and his “ladye-love,” is the first comic book printed in the United States. The narrative, alternating between Obadiah's love-sick despair and obsessive determination, involves dueling lovers, robbery, imprisonment, drag, missing persons, enraged monks, a hermitage, pastoral living, two elopements, and five attempted suicides. It is an adaptation of Historie de Monsieur Vieux-Bois, also referred to as Les Amours de Mr. Vieux Bois (Geneva, 1837), by Rodolphe Töpffer (1799-1846). Töpffer’s work went through several iterations before its American printing, including pirated editions in France and English translations that appeared first in Britain and then in the United States. 

The Fortunes of Ferdinand Flipper, a rambling episodic tale that narrates Ferdinand Flipper’s birth, education, employment, romance, fortunes, and death, is the first comic book written in the United States. Unlike Obadiah Oldbuck, however, it cannot be traced to a single author. Instead, the recycled woodcuts that make up the pages direct the meandering narrative. 

The Adventures of Mr. Obadiah Oldbuck and The Fortunes of Ferdinand Flipper form part of the rare book collection of Rauner Special Collections Library at Dartmouth College. The original documents are available for research and may be requested by asking for Rare Book ; NC1420 .F68 and Rare Book ; NC1659.T58 A6213 1840z.

Dartmouth Libraries assigns a Creative Commons BY-NC license to the digital work and associated web site.