Rudolph Wendelin Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

Beginning in 1946, Rudolph Wendelin (1910-2000), a U.S. Forest Service artist and illustrator from 1933-1973, painted Smokey Bear in hundreds of situations to promote fire prevention and conservation of natural resources. Although he did not create the first Smokey Bear (introduced in 1945), be became known in Forest Service Circles as "Smokey's artist". He continued his association with the character long after his retirement, creating Smokey's 40th anniversary commemorative stamp in 1984.