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Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

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Sorry, It's Sold

Black Magic Holiday

Artist:Harold McCauley
Date:1955
Medium:Oil on stretched Canvas
Dimensions:Sight size 22" x 30" Framed 25 3/4" x 33 3/4"
Condition:Excellent
Original Use:Cover For Imaginative Tales- #3, January, 1955
Price: Sold
Full view
Full view
The artist's signature lower right and frame corner profile view
The artist’s signature lower right and frame corner profile view
Imaginative Tales # 3, January 1955 (included in sale)
Imaginative Tales # 3, January 1955 (included in sale)

This original oil on canvas painting, used as the cover for the January 1955 pulp digest, Imaginative Tales #3, shows a Vaudeville era magician and his pin-up girl assistant working a crowd and casting spells and presumably making things disappear. This was created to illustrate the interior story by Robert Bloch, titled Black Magic Holiday, the cover slug reads… Life A Bit Dull? Then Have Yourself A Ball! When Magicians Hold A Convention It’s A – Black Magic Holiday”. The illustration shows a sparkling pin-up “Mac Girl”, in erotic risque attire lost in the moment. The artist loved working for The Greenleaf Publishing Company, and was a frequent illustrator for Imagination-Stories of Science Fiction, and their sister title, Imaginative Tales. McCauley always tried to outdo himself with the high-spirited works he created for this publishing house, which he nicknamed “Madge”, we can see his immense commercial talent and artistic whimsy on display in this sparkling cover rendering.

Detail
Detail
Detail
Detail

In all regards just a defining example, handsomely framed in a Larson-Juhl gallery frame and sold with a complete edition of the Imaginative tales #3 – January, 1955.

Framed view
Framed view
Verso view of untouched canvas back on original pine stretchers
Verso view of untouched canvas back on original pine stretchers

Black Magic Holiday

Artist: Harold McCauley
Price:  Sold

Filed Under: Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: 1950s, Greenleaf Publishing, Harold McCauley, Imaginative Tales, magazine cover, Magic, original cover art, pin up, pulp, Robert Block, The Golden Gallery
Added to Gallery: June 1, 2015

 

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    About Grapefruit Moon Gallery

    Grapefruit Moon Gallery, based in Minneapolis MN, specializes in vintage pin up and original illustration art.  We are the proud home of the Bunny Yeager archives.

    Since 2003, Grapefruit Moon Gallery has been a leading dealer of exclusive original paintings by Gil Elvgren, Alberto Vargas, Earl Moran, Rolf Armstrong and Henry Clive, as well as vintage photographs, prints, and period decorative arts in ceramic and metal.

    All artworks featured are original, accurately represented, and guaranteed to be the work of the named artist.

    Interested buyers may view pieces by appointment and we are happy to answer any questions you may have. [Contact Us]

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