Original Pulp Illustration by "Lawrence" Signed by Le Sprague
Original Drawing for L. Sprague de Camp’s The Hungry Hercynian, Published in Universe Science Fiction (December 1953)
Publication: 1953.
Notes: This original pen-and-ink drawing appeared as a tailpiece on page 29 of the December 1953 issue of Universe Science Fiction illustrating a story in de Camp's Pusadian series. It is signed on the mat by Le Sprague.
The image is a rare example of male nudity in science fiction pulps. In this case, a naked man, drawn from the back, lunges toward a vision of a woman. In this drawing, Stevens used a scratchboard technique, painting ink onto a piece of cardstock and then scratching the surface to reveal white paper below. The image is 7-1/4 by 5-1/4 inches on a slightly larger piece of paper. The illustration appeared in Universe Science Fiction without a caption.
The image is mounted to a piece of mat board with a wax-paper overlay. The image is captioned in pencil with various production notes in the lower margin.
Stevens (1884–1960) took up illustrating pulp magazines during the Second World War, when he was a couple of decades older than most beginning artists. He retired in the 1950s, after just over a decade working as a pulp illustrator.
Edition + Condition: A fine drawing on cardstock. The image is not signed by Stevens, as usual. L. Sprague de Camp signed the mat (pulp illustrations signed by the SF authors are uncommon).
Item No: #363771
Price: $3,500