I'm sure there's a name for this sort of endlessly repeating cover, but I don't know enough about art to know what it is. Frank Richardson Pierce and Peter Henry Morland are the biggest names among the authors, "Morland" really being Frederick Faust. This issue contains the conclusion of the serial "Beyond the Outposts", which was later reprinted under Faust's more famous pseudonym Max Brand. I've heard great things about this novel and have a copy of it, but I haven't read it yet.
10 comments:
I have at least 3 other WESTERN STORY covers showing cowboys reading the magazine:
January 8, 1921
May 5, 1923
July 12, 1924
These are not the endlessly repeating covers that James mentions but for some reason I like covers showing people reading the pulps. ADVENTURE had a nice one showing a man smoking a pipe and relaxing, reading the magazine in front of a fireplace.
Walker,
I like the "reading pulps" covers, too. Cowboys really did read Western pulps. I never will forget Elmer Kelton telling me there were always Western pulps around the ranch his father managed.
There is a nice photo showing cowboys in a bunkhouse with one of them reading to the others from a pulp. Looks like ADVENTURE. The photo is in THE WAR, THE WEST, AND THE WILDERNESS by Kevin Brownlow, page 318.
Harry Noble served in Panama during WW II and used to tell me about the barracks being full of pulps. One time all the soldiers were restricted to quarters but they allowed one guy to go to town and buy magazines. Everyone chipped in money assuming the guy would buy pulps. He came back with about a hundred comic books. To him, that was reading matter. 60 years later, it still made Harry laugh thinking about it.
I have heard it is called and "infinity Cover"
Sheila Vanderbeek
Don't forget the Land O'Lakes girl with the Dale Evans Indian outfit, holding a box with the same picture repeated infinitely. I also am reminded of the Charles Addams cartoon showing a man in a barber chair in a mirror with a series of reflections of the same scene--except smack in the middle is a werewolf instead of the man.
Recursive imagery. In commercial design, such as the butter label, the Droste effect.
I wonder if US pulps, and other magazines, sold particularly well in such outposts as the Canal Zone. Probably.
Two things...
James,
Yes, Beyond the Outposts is incredible. My favorite Max Brand book and one of my five favorite western novels ever. Well plotted and exciting while being morally complicated and atmospherically rich.
Walker,
We had the gotham pulp collectors club meeting in New York today and a couple of people--Ed Hulse included--mentioned I should ask you if you had any Argosy cover paintings for sale or knew anybody who might...?
Craig, I still have one ARGOSY cover painting left. It's by Paul Stahr and from 1932 but I'm not thinking of selling it right now. Your best bet to get paintings and pulps is to attend the two major pulp shows. I know you are busy in the film business plus writing novels but my priorities have always been with my collection. Needless to say, I have not run into many people who agree with me!
I even had a friend who would rather romance the room maid rather than buy pulps! I mean what a waste of time at a book convention. My advice is to fly in for Friday or Saturday at Pulpfest and get a taste of the Pulp Jungle. Frank Gruber knew what he was talking about when he titled his book, THE PULP JUNGLE...
Love repeating covers, this one is especially good.
Walker,
Thanks. I have the desire to attend the conventions, though I've been too busy with work during all of these recent events. I like conventions, but yes, work will take precedence for me and I hate getting on planes. And if I have a small break, reading is usually the first thing i do with that time, not travel.
And speaking of gatherings...I'd be happy to treat you to dinner and talk pulps/fiction if you came in NY for a GPCC meeting or at another time I was available.
Let me know if you ever decide to the sell that Argosy (and of course which one it is if so).
Thanks.
scraigzahler.com
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