Robert Ripley Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

Robert Ripley was born on February 22nd, 1890, in Santa Rosa, California and he was an American cartoonist, entrepreneur, and collector best known as the creator of Ripley's Believe It or Not!.

He began his career as a sports cartoonist for the New York Globe in 1913. His first Believe It or Not! cartoon appeared in 1918 and featured odd and unusual facts from around the world. The cartoon gained popularity and was soon syndicated internationally. Ripley traveled extensively during the 1920s and 1930s, visiting over 200 countries in search of material for his cartoon series. His travels and findings were chronicled in various media formats, including books, radio broadcasts, and newsreels. In 1929, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! debuted as a radio program, which aired for nearly two decades. That same year, the first compilation of his work was published in book form. In 1933, Ripley opened his first Odditorium at the Chicago World’s Fair, showcasing artifacts and exhibits related to his cartoons. The success of the Odditorium led to permanent installations and traveling exhibitions in the U.S. and abroad. Ripley’s work extended into the early days of television. In 1949, he hosted a weekly television program based on his cartoon series, but he died shortly after filming the 13th episode.