Happy Birthday, Snoopy

One of the best-loved and most famous comic strips is Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz.

The story began on 2 October 1950, when Charlie Brown, Patty and Shermy first appeared in seven newspapers, and two days later Snoopy saw the light of day.

Its creator turned a childhood dream into one of the most influential comic strips of all time. During that first decade, the universe that millions of readers would later recognise took shape: Lucy, Linus, Schroeder and Sally joined the gang, while unforgettable elements were born, such as the security blanket, Schroeder's piano, the kite-eating tree, Lucy's psychiatric help stand and Snoopy's doghouse.

By the end of the 1950s, Peanuts had already begun to win over readers inside and outside the United States.

Snoopy around the world

In the 1960s, Peanuts ceased to be merely a newspaper strip and became an international cultural phenomenon. Its characters were already on television, in the cinema, in the theatre, in advertising and on all kinds of everyday objects. The work began to be translated all over the world, and Charlie Brown and Snoopy appeared on the covers of magazines such as Time and Life. The reach of Schulz's creation extended even into space: NASA adopted Snoopy as the symbol of its safety programme and, in 1969, the Apollo 10 modules were named Charlie Brown and Snoopy. By then, the gang no longer belonged solely to the newspapers: it had become part of popular culture.

Charles Monroe Schulz

He was born in 1922 and, shortly after his birth, was given the nickname "Sparky", inspired by Spark Plug, a popular racehorse from a comic strip of the time. From a very young age he felt a deep passion for drawing, and his ambition was to earn a living creating comics. His childhood unfolded during the Great Depression, among baseball, ice skating and pencils. He was a brilliant pupil and even skipped a grade. He was the youngest child in his class, which heightened a shyness that would stay with him throughout his life. Many of his insecurities, experiences and emotions were later reflected in Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts characters.

His parents were decisive in shaping his character. His mother nurtured his artistic vocation by showing him an advertisement for drawing classes, while his father, who worked as a barber, instilled in him a steady, disciplined work ethic. Schulz needed years of effort and had to face numerous rejections before fulfilling his dream and becoming one of the most acclaimed cartoonists in the world.

Family, his inspiration

In 1951 he married Joyce Halverson. Schulz adopted the daughter she had from a previous relationship, and the couple had five more children. Family experiences and antics served as inspiration for many Peanuts scenes. After the series' first successes, the family moved in 1958 from Minnesota to California, where Schulz would develop much of his career.

After divorcing, he married Jean Clyde, whom he had met at the ice rink in Santa Rosa. His family life, his friendships, his hobbies and his own insecurities constantly fed the Peanuts universe. That is why the work can also be understood as an emotional autobiography of its creator: behind Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and Linus there was always a part of Charles M. Schulz.

The book Peanuts, una historia visual de la legendaria tira cómica is an essential tribute for the whole family, with images, strips and objects featuring the beloved Charlie Brown, Snoopy and their gang.

This tribute to Schulz and his endearing work reveals little-known sketches. It is a special book for immersing yourself in the artistic evolution of Snoopy, Charlie Brown and their friends while tracing the rich history of Peanuts, from its beginnings in 1950 to today, from California to Japan. Every page of this visual guide is a genuine treasure for collectors.