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Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

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Sorry, It's Sold

Illicit Pleasure

Artist:Rudy Nappi
Date:1950
Medium:Oil on Illustration Board
Dimensions:Sight Size 12" x 16" Framed 21" x 25"
Condition:Excellent
Original Use:Cover for Illicit Pleasure, Published by Quarter Books
Price: S O L D
Above: Full view of cover painting
Above: The image as it appeared as cover of Illicit Pleasure
Above: Framed and silk lined behind glass in antique wide profile handsome frame

A lurid and genre defining erotic paperback book cover for the 1950 Quarter Books Publishing Company title “Illicit Pleasure” written by Peggy Gaddis. The artwork is unsigned with verso information by our colleague Fred Taraba with affirmation that this work was done by Rudy Nappi. This is an inspired subversive image with our cover girl Linda Blaine showing her “body that could make even the most confirmed woman-hater sit up and beg…” Though the plot of the novel centers around office romances, here our golddigging heroine is imagined enticing an impressionable military recruit to take notice of her dangerous curves down at the pier.

Above: Detail
Above: View before framing
Above: Detail
Above: Verso view before framing
Above: Attribution by Fred Taraba on verso naming artist Rudy Nappi

Peggy Gaddis was a pseudonym used by Peggy Dern, Gaddis produced an amazing number of books under her name and pseudonyms over a thirty year career. Along with scandalous pulp fiction romance potboilers such as “Illicit Pleasure” Gaddis’s name became nearly synonymous with the subgenre of naughty nurse titles.

Above: Title Page of Illicit Pleasure
Above: Back Cover

This original paperback cover painting is beautifully framed and silk matted behind glass. A copy of the printed book is included in the sale.

Above: Frame profile corner view

Illicit Pleasure

Artist: Rudy Nappi
Price:  S O L D

Filed Under: Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: 1950s, american, paperback, pin up, Rudy Nappi, skyline, sleaze, stockings, subversive
Added to Gallery: July 16, 2012

 

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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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