Ed Bortz

I am proud to present the 4th installment of the worst comic artists in the world series. The horrendous two-tone fetishistic images of one Ed Bortz! Even with his unusual last name, I was unable to find anything about him. A shame. Imagine the duo-tone nightmares he must have suffered as cross-hatched beards and brick-hard bosoms danced in his head, forcing him to jot down his most recent hilarious ideas at 3:00 am. Grisaille? NO, these miniature marvels demand a full palette of TWO colors! I turned these up in Michigan, likely sent home to the spouse by hunters and fishermen up north to drink. As Milwaukee publisher L. L. Cook (shame on you) is across the lake, maybe the cards snuck over on the ferry and multiplied like weeds in bait and ammo shops of Northern Michigan.

To see previous entries of the most putrid postcards in history, click subject heading below.

Four red and black postcards by Bortz. 1954, 1955 Collection Jim Linderman

Elmer Anderson Returns with a Powerful Show of Incomprehensible Images! Art of the Lowest Order!

My second staggering post devoted to the most remarkable talentless artist in postcard history. Previous Post is HERE. (Collect them all!)

Group of Elmer Anderson Postcards, circa 1950 Collection Jim Linderman

Elmer Anderson, The Third Worst Cartoonist in History Postcards

(Click to Enlarge)

The esteemed Elmer Anderson. Or as he is known anywhere a stamp would reach, the GENUINE Elmer Anderson. Biographical information on the prolific post card Picasso is precious... but his primary genres have been identified:
Tit Jokes
Stinky Things
Why did I get Married?
Occupationals and Situationals (Bars, Fisherman, Doctors)
Animal Kingdom (Peeing Dogs and Unwelcome Storks)

And most notable, the renowned "Ugly People" series done at the peak of his Elmer powers in 1951. (Interestingly, the year before Mad Magazine debuted) Early Elmers were self-published with a plain reverse. As his fame spread, Elmer created a "stamp here" logo, presumably a self-portrait. All seem to have come from Waterloo, Iowa, certainly an artistic hotbed of the 1950's.

Group of Genuine Elmer Anderson Postcards, c. 1950 Collection Jim Linderman

(For previous entries in the World's Worst Cartoonist Series click blue subject heading, or use search box above)

Anon, The Second Worst Cartoonist in History Privately Printed Postcard Set

The only thing worse than worst is one worser. This one comes close. A few months ago, I profiled the world's worst cartoonist, one Rod Raymond and his privately published set of dreadful, dreary, gruesome and just plain bad homemade postcards. (See Dull Tool Dim Bulb of June 25 2009) Rod retains his title, but barely. Along comes "Anon" to give Rod a run for his money. Again, self-published. Unfortunately, this time anonymous, he didn't even sign his name. The least he could have done was typed it. Whoever he was, I presume he learned "there ain't no money in postcards"...something I hear at antique shows all the time.

Set of five anonymous privately published postcards c. 1950. Collection Jim Linderman

Rod Raymond, The Worst Cartoonist in History Privately Printed Postcard Set

A set of privately printed postcards by "artist" Rod Raymond of Clare, Michigan from his "cash in on the folks driving up north to see the Mackinaw Bridge being built" period.

Printed postcards Rob Raymond c. 1950 Collection Jim Linderman