Saturday, January 21, 2017

Donald Trump's 2004 Doodle For Hunger

Celebrities not infrequently are asked to donate doodles and drawings to charities and they not infrequently comply. The value of such drawings is usually based not merely on artistic merit, although that certainly should help, but on the perceived desirability of each unique object of celebrity memorabilia. The value would naturally be expected to increase if the celebrity who created it were to become, say, President of the United States.

Ronald Reagan could draw with a confident hand. George W. Bush has devoted much time to painting since leaving office. How does Donald Trump fare?

The St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters held its fifth annual Doodle for Hunger event in 2004 at Tavern on the Green in New York. A drawing donated by Mr. Trump has the real estate developer keeping to a subject with which he has long been associated: the New York City skyline. The neighborhood depicted could be the Upper West Side near the Henry Hudson Parkway. The buildings demonstrate a variety of geometric surface decorations. One building has a crenellated top more like a castle than a skyscraper. On the left are steps which may indicate an elevated plaza. Each building has its own plaza or sidewalk space. These spaces appear to be at markedly different ground levels and they overlap jaggedly in an inconsistent manner, street corners unevenly protruding. There is no real sense of perspective but a reasonable sense of proportion nevertheless. Stick figures standing in front of the buildings are just a little larger than they should be. There are no trees or foliage.

The eBay seller asserts, "This drawing is highly detailed and would have taken President Trump several hours to draw..." Perhaps, but it plausibly could have taken far less time. The drawing was offered on eBay for $55,000 just prior to the Presidential Inauguration. After the Inauguration, the price was reduced to $25,000. Back in 2004, the entire celebrity art auction raised over $250,000.





Donald Trump's signature




The plaque reads "DONALD TRUMP/'You're Fired"/Doodle for Hunger/Capuchin Food Pantry"



eBay Listing Ended January 20, 2017


"The listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available."

No longer available? Look again:
eBay Listing as of January 21, 2017
New questions:
Questions as of January 21, 2017
Image added January 28, 2017


Donald Trump, Doodle For Hunger, 2004

January 23, 2017 Update:  Our shrewd eBay seller apparently found this drawing on eBay in November after Election Day for $2,500 and tried to flip if for $55,000. Certainly this drawing would have appreciated once it was learned that Donald Trump would become the 45th President of the United States, but the current owner is trying to make a ten- to twenty-fold profit on this all after the Election. Whatever the final selling price, the seller bought well and can expect to make a handy profit.



eBay Listing Ended November 21, 2016

eBay Item Description

eBay Bid Historyt






Note:  Is there a catalogue from the 2004 auction? Does anyone know what this originally sold for?

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