Illustrated Horror Books

[bendk]

What are some of your favorite illustrated horror books? Near the top of my list is this collection of Poe's tales illustrated by Arthur Rackham.

[hypnogeist]

"Tales of Mystery and Imagination" by Poe, illustrated by Harry Clarke, Tudor Publishing Co., 1935 (Several other editions with Clarke illus. exist also, by same publisher and others.); "Faust" by Geothe, illus. by Harry Clarke, Grosset and Dunlap, Cameo Classics, year unknown (Entirely b&w illus., other editions exist with additional color plates, which I've not yet had the pleasure to see.); "The Golem" by Gustav Meyrink, illus. by Hugo-Steiner-Prag, Tartarus Press, 1995 (There is an inexpensive Dover paperback that has some of the illus. in the Tartarus ed.); "Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark" by Alvin Schwartz, illus. by Stephen Gammell, Harper Collins, 1981 (Often categorized as a children's book, this is actually a quite good collection of American folk tales with nice, evocative illustrations. There are 2 or 3 other books in this series, also by Schwartz and Gammell, equally well executed.).

[Russell Nash]

There is a book by W. H. Pugmire, "Dreams of Lovecraftian Horror" that has unbelievable artwork by Stanley C. Sargent.

http://www.stanleycsargent.com/
(ARTWORK)

[bendk]

I quite like this book edited by Eric Protter and illustrated by Edward Gorey. There is a small b&w title illustration and a full page b&w and red illustation for each story. Gorey's style is perfect for weird fiction.



CONTENTS


What Was It?
by Fitz-Jams O'Brien

Impulse
by Eric Frank Russell

Podolo
by L.P. Hartley

Moonlight Sonata
by Alexander Woolcott

Revelations in Black
by Carl Jacobi

The Thing in the Cellar
by David H. Keller

The Novel of the White Powder
by Arthur Machen

Thirteen at the Table
by Lord Dunsany

The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar
by Edgar Allen Poe

The Refugee
by Jane Rice

The Squaw
by Bram Stoker

Caterpillars
by E.F. Benson

The Tell-Tale Heart
by Edgar Allen Poe

The Judge's House
by Bram Stoker

A Diagnosis of Death
by Ambrose Bierce

Brenda
by Margaret St. Clair

The Deferred Appointment
by Algernon Blackwood

The Lost Room
by Fitz-James O'Brien

[Evans]

Quote Originally Posted by Russell Nash

There is a book by W. H. Pugmire, "Dreams of Lovecraftian Horror" that has unbelievable artwork by Stanley C. Sargent. http://www.stanleycsargent.com/ (ARTWORK)

While on the subject of W.H. Pugmire I think his Sesqua Valley & Other Haunts colllection from Mythos Books has some of the most beautiful illustrations I've ever seen in any books of this genre.

[MorganScorpion]

Quote Originally Posted by Evans

Quote Originally Posted by Russell Nash There is a book by W. H. Pugmire, "Dreams of Lovecraftian Horror" that has unbelievable artwork by Stanley C. Sargent. http://www.stanleycsargent.com/ (ARTWORK) While on the subject of W.H. Pugmire I think his Sesqua Valley & Other Haunts colllection from Mythos Books has some of the most beautiful illustrations I've ever seen in any books of this genre.

Thing is, the monsters in the Sesqua Valley book all look cute. Even the werewolf is waving hello.

[hopfrog]

Quote Originally Posted by MorganScorpion

Thing is, the monsters in the Sesqua Valley book all look cute. Even the werewolf is waving hello.

Girlfriend, Lycan need love too!

[MorganScorpion]

I once saw a volume of Poe's Horror Tales illustrated by Harry Clarke.

It was SO expensive, but how very wonderful.

[hypnogeist]

Quote Originally Posted by MorganScorpion

I once saw a volume of Poe's Horror Tales illustrated by Harry Clarke. It was SO expensive, but how very wonderful.

If you're looking at one of these in pristine condition with the dust jacket, then yeah, the price will be exorbitant. But if you can settle for a copy in about "good" condition (expect fraying of cloth at board corners, large portions of gilt lettering on spine flaked away, other minor stains and/scratches to boards, yet with all interior pages, plates, and spot illustrations present in clean, unmarked shape with minimal yellowing to pages, and an unbroken spine), as I did, you can probably still pick up one these treasures on eBay or Amazon for something like $60 to $85. In fact, there is a used 1928 edition copy on Amazon right now for $50 (it is missing one of the color plates, however). If you see something you like don't wait too long though, prices seem to be steadly rising year by year in something greater than linear fashion (think I paid around $35 two or three years ago for my copy).

Moreover, if you have no interest in authentic collectible relics from days of yore and just want to experience the magic of Harry Clarke's illustrations while reading Poe in a nice hardback, there is a brand new facsimile edition published by Calla for sale on Amazon for $30. Judging by comments left by customers, this is an outstanding replica made of quality materials. Of course, if you do want something collectible and are buying a used edition on Amazon, make sure you question the seller first about specifics of the publisher, publication date, condition, completeness of color plates, etcetera, as it is not uncommon for used books from secondary sellers to be listed inaccurately on Amazon.

[paeng]

If you are looking for cheaper editions, try the ones from Arcturus Publishing. The ISBN is 97818431937469.

Quote Originally Posted by MorganScorpion

I once saw a volume of Poe's Horror Tales illustrated by Harry Clarke. It was SO expensive, but how very wonderful.