The Naked Ape

The Naked Ape

Oil on Board

19 1/4" x 16 1/4"

Cover to the initial paperback edition of The Naked Ape by Desmond Morris (Dell, 1969).

James Bama was one of THE main book cover artists in the 60's and 70's. He is probably best known for creating (in conjunction with actor/model Steve Holland) the iconic look of Doc Savage. All together Bama painted 62 covers for Bantam's paperback run of Doc Savage novels.
But Bama also painted covers for Westerns, Crime, Romance, Historical Fiction & Non-fiction ... he did it all.

For the cover of The Naked Ape Bama again utilized Steve Holland. The book itself - a zoology and anthropology study - was somewhat controversial when it was first published in 1967. That man is basically a naked ape - along with the nudity on the paperback cover - did not set well with some people.