Emilie de Tessier, who used the pseudonym Marie Duval, was the wife of British comic artist Charles Henry Ross. Ross was the artist and Duval the writer of the 'Ally Sloper' series, which was launched on August 14, 1867 in Judy magazine. 'Ally Sloper' could be considered the first recurring character in a comic strip ('Yellow Kid' appeared three decades later). Ross lacked the artistic talent to successfully draw the strip, so his wife Marie Duval helped him on the inking. She eventually took over the artwork completely. Ross and Duval left the comic in the 1880s, and it was continued by William G. Baxter. Ally Sloper inspired the name of the short-lived Ally Sloper Awards, a British comics prize established in 1976, but disestablished around 1982.
