Early Mock-Up of Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace: "Here I am flying high over the enemy lines"

No place, ca. 1965. One sheet folded to make four-pages. Manuscript booklet, completely in the hand of Charles Schulz, featuring a full-page drawing, in pencil, of Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace; manuscript text in pencil on facing page, "Here I am flying high over the enemy lines. Inscribed by Schulz on first page to Frank Close, sales manager at Schulz's publisher, Holt, Rhinehart and Winston: "Frank--How would this be for actual page size? I think colored stock would be good, too." 7 x 7 in. (178 x 178 mm).

A fantastic and rare mock-up by Charles Schulz, given by him to Frank Close, a sales manager at his publisher Holt, Rhinehart and Winston. Schulz writes to Close suggesting a square format and colored paper stock for a possible book-form publication of Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace. He includes a wonderful full-page drawing of Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace in hot pursuit of his nemesis, the Red Baron. Both of Schulz's suggested design elements would feature in his series of square-shaped Peanuts books, printed on bright multi-colored paper-stock, and published by Determined Publications throughout the 1960s.

Snoopy first appeared as the Flying Ace in Schulz's October 10, 1965 Peanuts comic strip, where he climbed atop his doghouse--reimagined as his Sopwith Camel--clad in aviator cap, goggles, and scarf, to do battle with the Red Baron. The Flying Ace would become one of Snoopy's most beloved and enduring characters, first featured in book-form in 1966, in the animated special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966), and more.