Ther name that reads DISNEY on UPPER RIGHT CORNER is written by Disney Animation Artist T HEE from whose papers I got this from.
I got this in a box from the ESTATE OF T HEE who worked at the OLD WALT DISNEY studio in 1937 and was also teaching a class IN CARICATURES there.
Inside there are several RED GREASE PENCIL MARKS - AND THESE ARE PRETTY MUCH 99.9% from Walt's Hand that highlight a Great FRENCH CARTOONIST named "DEBOUT"
THE T HEE BOXES of art i found at the PASADENA ROSE BOWL SWAP MEET in the 1980s had many other RED GREASE PENCIL MARKS on storyboard art and scripts ( i already sold those )
Walt Disney famously used a red grease pencil (also called a China marker or wax pencil) to write notes, review scripts, and make marks on documents.
Script Markups: Walt's family and studio staff noted that he frequently carried scripts and memos home and used a red grease pencil to cross-reference, edit, and write notes.
Famous Final Notes: Even on his final hospital notepad pages before his passing, he used his signature red grease pencil to scribble project and person ideas like "Ron Miller" and "CIA".
This was 1937 and a few years later in the 40s / 50s WALT DISNEY tried to hire ALBERT DEBOUT but DEBOUT refused .
Walt Disney did try to hire the famous French cartoonist and animator Albert Dubout.
After Albert Dubout created animated short films in France during the 1940s, Walt Disney discovered his work and offered him a position to come work in the United States as a studio director.
Preferring his independence, Albert Dubout turned down the offer, famously stating that being a salaried employee was the start of trouble.
The connection between the French artist Albert Dubout and the Walt Disney Studio is rooted in a legendary, yet ultimately unfulfilled, job offer from Walt Disney himself.
The Direct Offer
During the 1950s, Albert Dubout released two animated films that he had created during the German Occupation of France.
Walt Disney saw these films and was so deeply impressed by Dubout's work that he personally asked him to become his studio director.
Disney famously told Dubout to "name his price," but the French illustrator ultimately refused the offer.
Why the Collaboration Never Happened
Artistic Independence: Dubout was a fiercely independent creator who spent his time between Paris and the south of France.
He was highly secretive about his creative process, not allowing anyone—including his own son—into his workshop.
Cultural and Stylistic Differences:
While Disney was building a wholesome, globally accessible brand, Dubout’s intricate, satirical drawings were deeply embedded in French visual culture.
His crowded scenes often featured subtle, cultural erotica and sharp social satire that wouldn't necessarily align with the mid-century American studio system
Dubout's Lasting Legacy
Though he turned down the chance to lead the Walt Disney Studio, Dubout remains an iconic figure in European illustration.
He is celebrated for his packed, chaotic crowd scenes and his highly collectible, whimsical illustrations of black and white cats.
Today, his life and satirical eye are preserved at the dedicated Albert Dubout Museum in Palavas-les-Flots, France.
Albert Dubout (1905–1976) was a highly influential French cartoonist, illustrator, painter, and caricaturist celebrated for his intricate, humorous, and satirical depictions of 20th-century French society.
Born in Marseille, he became a towering figure in French visual culture, renowned for his distinct artistic hallmarks and massive popular appeal.
Key Artistic Hallmarks
Teeming Crowds: Dubout was famous for creating incredibly dense, chaotic scenes packed with hundreds of finely detailed, unique characters.
In the 1930s, he famously composed these sprawling miniature masterpieces using a special steel nib and a magnifying glass
The "Dubout Couple": A recurring satirical motif in his work featuring a tiny, submissive husband paired with an imposing, larger-than-life wife.
Famous Cat Illustrations: He was a passionate cat lover who created whimsical, highly expressive sketches and paintings of cats.
His feline drawings, characterized by large, mischievous eyes, remain highly sought-after on merchandise and art prints today.
Regional Satire: He frequently poked fun at southern French life, most notably mocking the antiquated "little train of Palavas" and the tourists who used it.
Literary Illustrations:
Over his lifetime, Dubout illustrated 67 great classics of literature.
This included works by Molière, Honoré de Balzac, François Rabelais, and Marcel Pagnol.
Massive Prolificacy: His work was published in more than 250 newspapers and magazines, and he created over 130 albums, some selling over a million copies.
Commercial and Film Art:
He designed dozens of theatrical and movie posters, particularly for filmmaker Marcel Pagnol, helping shape the visual identity of mid-century Provençal cinema.
National Recognition: In 1953, French President Vincent Auriol awarded him the prestigious Legion of Honour. In 1992, a dedicated museum celebrating his life and legacy was opened in Palavas-les-Flots.
The connection between the Walt Disney Studios and the French weekly magazine Ric et Rac around May 1937 was an informative feature article explaining how Walt Disney prepared and created his animated films.
The 1937 era Featured a different recent edition on The Walt Disney Studio
The Article: ( not in this issue )
The French humor and general-interest magazine published a behind-the-scenes piece titled "Comment Walt Disney prépare ses films" (How Walt Disney prepares his films) during that period.
The Content:
It gave French readers a rare look into the animation process, storyboarding, and studio methods used in California just as Disney was finishing work on his first full-length feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
So I'm pretty sure of the WALT DISNEY ORIGINAL RED GREASE PENCIL markings.
Item in FAIR VINTAGE CONDITION
CENTER AREA SPLIT AT SEAMS - please see pics for condition
SOLD AS-IS
Please see photos
PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU NEED MORE INFO - thanks