Unpublished Illustration - 1968 (Virgil Finlay)

Virgil Finlay gained tremendous acclaim through his work in the early Pulp magazines which preceded the comic book. His first published illustrations were in the December 1935 issue of Weird Tales. Literally thousands of intricate pen and ink illustrations would follow. Images filled with intricate cross-hatching, stippling and scratchboard techniques.

This illustration was purchased at the 2021 Windy City Paper and Pulp Convention in Lombard, Illinois. I obtained it from fellow CAF member, Doug Ellis (a scholar on all Pulp-related matters) who was offering it on behalf of the Virgil Finlay Estate.

I have wanted to add any Finlay piece into my collection and glad to have come upon this one. The image area is approximately 10 inches by 10 inches in size. Making it a larger example of his work. The artist tended to create most pieces at a small physical size despite their much more elaborate detail. This is pen and ink rendered on onion skin paper. The top of which contains some smoke damage from the tragic fire which burned a Finlay family home. The artist has signed and dated this work, which makes me excited to see. I feel as though Virgil Finlay saw this a more finished artwork which he deemed worthy of including a full signature. Something many of his sketches or concept work do not.

The illustration is unpublished that I know and therefore also untitled. The signature date is 1968 which means it was part of the last work he would create before undergoing major surgery for cancer in early 1969. Virgil Finlay would leave us on January 18, 1971 following a rich history of beautiful and imaginative artwork.