Before Dr. Seuss became a popular children's author, he apparently worked as an illustrator of racist cartoons. Now one of the works is up for auction as his legacy take a major blow.
In a 1929 illustration for Judge magazine, he depicted black people for sale with a racist sign in the image's background, according to BET. "Take home a high-grade [n—ger] for your woodpile. Satisfaction guaranteed," reads the heading.
According to BET, the illustration went to auction with a minimum bid of $20,000 in California Thursday at Nate D. Sanders Inc., which offers "fine autographs and memorabilia." By the end, there hadn't been any bids, but it could receive a post-auction bid, according to Laura Yntema, the auction manager, according to the site. The drawing is one part of the four-part panel drawing Cross-Section of the World's Most Prosperous Department Store, the report notes.
Dr. Seuss created several offensive cartoons early in his career but began to atone for his previous views, producing several anti-racism illustrations and cartoons, notes the news site.
Read more at BET.