HPL
[Belleville, NJ]: [Corwin F. Stickney], 1937.
First edition, limited to 25 copies. A fantastic association copy of this scarce chapbook, signed by illustrator Virgil Finlay beneath his iconic portrait of Lovecraft as an eighteenth-century gentleman, inscribed to small press publisher, "For Gerry de la Ree in memory of HPL, teller of weird tales and a beloved friend and correspondent." A longtime fan, de la Ree published seven books of Finlay's collected illustrations between 1975 and 1981. In 1937, the precocious teenager Corwin Francis Stickney published three issues of the sci-fi fanzine Amateur Correspondent. The inaugural May/June issue was a memorial issue to Lovecraft, who had died that March, with Finlay's now-iconic illustration gracing the front cover. This chapbook, which reproduced Finlay's illustration on the frontis, was printed in a run of 25 copies and offered to anyone who paid Stickney 25 cents for an annual subscription. The advertisement states: "Every admirer of Lovecraft will undoubtedly want a copy of this petite volume. Obviously, however, it cannot be placed on sale; and it would be much beyond our means to send a copy free of charge to everyone who would write in for one. We therefore believe the only logical method of distribution is to give a free copy with every subscription to the Correspondent, at the regular rate of twenty-five cents for a year." Sextodecimo, staple-bound in publisher's stiff textured wraps printed in black. 12 unnumbered leaves printed recto only. Near Fine with light toning and light soiling. Housed in a custom clamshell case, quarter red morocco over red cloth, black morocco title label to spine. A fantastic association copy of a horror rarity. Joshi I-A-12a.
Price: $12,500