Record Prices Spent for Pulp Fiction Art

(Above) Hugh Joseph Ward (American, 1909 - 1945). The Evil Flame, Spicy Mystery Stories pulp cover, August 1936. 28.5 x 19.5 inches; Oil on canvas; Sold for $143,400.00

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(Above) Margaret Brundage (American, 1900 - 1976). A Rival From the Grave, Weird Tales illustration, January 1936; 20 x 13.5 inches; Pastel on paper board. Sold for $37,344.00

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(Above) Robert Fuqua (American, 20th century). Revolt of the Robots, Fantastic Adventures pulp illustration. First Issue, May 1030; Sold for $27,485.00

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(Above) Frank R. Paul (American, 1884 - 1963). The Robot Aliens , Wonder Stories pulp cover, February 1935. Oil on canvas. Sold for $19,120.00.

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HERITAGE AUCTION GALLERIES, located in Dallas, Texas is one of the top auction houses in the United States. For illustration art, they are second to none. For years, in this category, Pin-up and Glamour Art has dominated the auction house scene. Until, surprisingly, these pulp fiction illustrations burst into the fray with some record prices. The high seller was a piece in the collection/estate of John McLaughlin. It was entitled “The Evil Flame, pulp cover. Spicy Mystery Stories (see top illustration).

According to the auction house, this particular illustration has an interesting history:

“This is not only the most important Ward pulp cover we’ve ever offered — it’s one of the absolute best pulp covers that exists, by any artist. Iconic is the adjective that best sums up the entire over-the-top approach that pulps are now celebrated for. As pulp art historian Robert Lesser so vividly recounted about the Ward approach in his book, Pulp Art, Gramercy Books, 1997, “One day in April 1942 Mayor la Guardia spied an unusual Spicy mystery on the newsstand and exploded in instant rage. He ruled on the spot: ‘No more Spicy pulps in this city.’

H. J. Ward was the cover artist and it was one of his most daring: sexual tension, violence in action, a beautiful woman, all painted with aggressive brushwork to create a cover that couldn't fail to catch the eye.”

Gil Evlgren: The Man Who Loved Women

(Above) Gil Evlgren (1914 - 1980): Self Portrait, charcoal on paper, 20” x 15”
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(Above) Gil Evlgren: On the House, 1958, oil on canvas, 24” x 30”
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(Above) Gil Evlgren: Darlene (Bedside Manner), 1958, oil on canvas, 24” x 30”
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(Above) Gil Evlgren: It’s Nothing to Sneeze At, 1947, oil on canvas, 24” x 30”
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(Above) Gil Evlgren: A Polished Performance, 1964, oil on canvas, 24” x 30”
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(Above) Gil Evlgren: Something’s Bothering You (What’s Wrong?), 1957, oil on canvas, 24” x 30” Click any image for larger view.


(Above) Gil Evlgren: Check and Double Check (Now Don’t Get Me in a Corner), 1946, oil on canvas, 24” x 30”
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(Above) Gil Evlgren: Sheer Delight (This Soots Me), 1948, oil on canvas, 30” x 24” Click any image for larger view.



I WISH I HAD KNOWN GIL EVLGREN, WHO PASSED AWAY IN 1980. THIS MAN WAS A GREAT PAINTER, AND AS AN ARTIST, he chose to be an illustrator. He is best remembered for his work as a painter of pin-up models. Most consider Mr. Evlgren the greatest pin up artist of all time.

I titled my post “The Man Who Loved Women” because in my mind, there is no way a person could paint women so beautifully without loving his subject. Always with class and style, and the highest standards of taste, Evlgren painted beautiful women like no other. When you click on the images, you can see his painterly technique. It’s rich and lush—like the women he painted. I would have liked Gil, I know it.

Heritage Auction Galleries upcoming online auction, has 8 vintage Evlgren oil paintings up for grabs this Tuesday, Oct 27. The auction is called the 2009 October Signature Illustration Auction #7016. It will be held in Dallas, TX. If you would like to bid, click here. I do need to let you know that most of his paintings will begin bidding at $30,000 - $40,000.

There is a Web site about Mr. Evlgren here.

Heritage Auction Galleries, located in Dallas, TX is the largest collectibles auctioneer and third largest auction house in the world.

An Obsessed Collector

(Above) LESLIE THRASHER (American, 1889-1936)
She Loves Me ...She Loves Me Not
Oil on canvas
17 x 15 in.
Signed lower right
From the Estate of Charles Martignette. Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000.

(Above) AMERICAN ARTIST (20th Century)
Crack Detective, pulp cover, July 1943
Oil on canvas
19 x 16 in.
Not signed
From the Estate of Charles Martignette. Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500.

(Above) AMERICAN ARTIST (20th Century)
The Couple in the Green Light
Oil on canvas
16 x 22 in.
Not signed
From the Estate of Charles Martignette. Estimate: $800 - $1,200.

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(Above) ELLEN BARBARA SEGNER (American, d. 2001)
Sunbeam/Stroehmann’s Bread ad illustration
Gouache on board
11 x 15.5 in.
Not signed
From the Estate of Charles Martignette. Estimate: $700 - $900.

(Above) AMERICAN ARTIST (20th Century)
The Wire Tap, men’s magazine illustration
Gouache on board
20 x 15 in.
Not signed
From the Estate of Charles Martignette. Estimate: $200 - $400.

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(Above) “When I asked for a divorce, I told him I only wanted one thing -- everything!”

BILL WARD (American, 1919-1998)
Men’s magazine cartoon illustration, 1963
Mixed-media on paper
23 x 15.5 in.
Signed lower left
From the Estate of Charles Martignette. Estimate: $800 - $1,200.



(Above) CHARLES CLYDE SQUIRES (American, 1883-1970)
The Intruder
Oil on canvas
24 x 36 in.
Signed lower right
From the Estate of Charles Martignette. Estimate: $600 - $800.


A FRIEND AND GALLERY OWNER IN CALIFORNIA alerted me to this great auction of the late Charles G. Martignette who died in 2008 at the age of 57. Martignette traveled all over the U.S. in the 70s and 80s buying illustration art when no one else was interested. His house was found to be filled floor to ceiling with paintings, as were several warehouses. Pulp fiction, romance, sports, gunslingers, cowboys, science fiction, cartoons—you name it, Martignette bought it. His only criteria— it had to be American and aimed for a mass audience. But before you call Charles crazy, remember this: the best collections in the world come from people just like him. His lifestyle and habits may be abnormal to most people (he never married, btw) but his life must have been full and exciting.

There are many great illustrators in this auction, with some extremely high prices (some have already been sold)—but for this post I selected 7 illustrations with an estimated selling price under $2,000. Check out the auction here.

Heritage Auction Galleries is the largest collectibles auctioneer and third largest auction house in the world. With nearly 460,000 registered online bidder-members, they are also a leader in internet auction sales. Their reputation for professional business practices and vast expertise in the field of art and collectibles make Heritage a great place for those seeking to add to their collections.