Stevens, Dave - The Pandora Principle

I bought this original from Albert Moy in January 1999, who got it from Tom Neal, who bought it from Dave Stevens.

It was originally used as the title page to the story by Dave's ex-wife Brinke along with the classic SF author, A.E. Van Vogt. It appeared in the Fall 1984 issue of WEIRD TALES. The magazine cover featured the same story, but unfortunately, the cover illustration was not by the illustrious Mr. Stevens, but DID still feature Brinke. The magazine also had a long novelette by Harlan Ellison entitled "Laugh Track" and a short stories by both Ray Bradbury and Robert Bloch. The lettering on this illustration was all done by Dave and is part of the original -- there are no stats on this illustration.

After buying the original art I had to track down the magazine, which I brought to show Dave. He kind of turned up his nose at it because - I thought - he didn't think much of the cover illustration. I talked to him about it and Dave was still upset that the publisher had shot the illustration from a photocopy he sent along in advance of sending the art itself. Dave was always miffed when a publisher printed something of his from less than the perfect sources. Dave said to me "if he just waited a few more days he could have shot from the artwork itself. Instead he shot from that stupid photocopy...!"