Print: A Quarterly Journal of the Graphic Arts

[Quato]

Received in the mail today a rare EC related set of publications. It is the volume III slipcase set of the magazine "Print: A Quarterly Journal of the Graphic Arts" Here they are:

The outside of the slipcase...


Print: A Quarterly Journal of the Graphic Arts Vol. 3 #1 (Not EC related)


Print: A Quarterly Journal of the Graphic Arts Vol. 3 #2 (EC related, Article with comic content inside)


Print: A Quarterly Journal of the Graphic Arts Vol. 3 #3 (EC related, Article only)


Print: A Quarterly Journal of the Graphic Arts Vol. 3 #4 (Not EC related)


More about the content is discussed here...
scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=34&s=259&ai=52083&ssd=3/4/2006&arch=y

Q

[Defiant1]

I asked my friend Sean what he thought they were worth. He pointed me to this auction that closed with no bids.

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300239430856

I'd be smiling if someone had triggered the "Buy it Now".

I snagged this picture from their auction. Now I don't have to get out the camera...



This was his auction text...

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This week I'm offering the original appearances of BOTH of the two articles on comics written by comics legend M.C. (Max) Gaines (considered the creator of the modern comic book) and published in succeeding issues of Print: A Quarterly Journal of the Graphic Arts in 1942 and 1943. Print was one of the most expensive and exclusive publications of its day, sold by subscription only to a select audience interested in fine press books, book binding and printing technology.

Gaines's contribution to the Spring, 1942 issue is the famous Narrative Illustration: The Story of the Comics, in which he links the comic books of the 20th Century to a tradition extending back to prehistoric cave paintings, and as far back in printed books as the 15th Century. There are numerous black and white illustrations in the article, including reproductions of the early works just mentioned as well as samples from Winsor MacKay, F.B. Opper, Max und Moritz, Terry and the Pirates, and the cover for the then unpublished Wonder Woman Number 1, which Gaines co-created with William Marston under the pseudonym "Charles Moulton". The article is also illustrated with two comic inserts in full color - The Minuteman Answers The Call, originally intended to promote the sales of War Bonds, and Picture Stories From the Bible. Picture Stories had originally appeared as a series of ten in the Sunday Herald and different extracts appeared with this article in its reprinted form - the one included this printing is Jonah and the Whale. (Picture Stories would be the only property from Gaines's company All-American Comics which he would retain when he sold it and later formed EC). One of the interesting design aspects of Print as a periodical was its use of different papers when preparing illustrations for its articles - another article in this issue, on Braille writing, has a stiff paper insert with the Braille alphabet on it, for example. The color comics pages inserted here were printed on typical paper used for comics in the day and most copies, including this one, have browned a little on those pages, but this copy is still bright and as good a copy as I've seen. The exterior shows some wear, with a split about 3" long between the front cover and spine.

Gaines's second contribution to Print came in the next issue, which did not appear until Autumn 1943, more than a year after the preceding issue. By now the strains of WWII were being felt in the magazine industry as well as everywhere else in the economy - in a letter from publisher William Edwin Rudge laid into the front of this issue he apologizes both for its being late and in a "simpler format", but pledges to "continue publication in the face of every present difficulty" (although this was not to be - the next issue of Print did not actually appear until two years later, after the war had ended). Although a color comics insert is not included with Gaines's article Good Triumphs Over Evil : More on the Comics, it is illustrated with a color plate on the title theme, taken from an oil painting done by an apprentice in Gaines's shop. While the first article covered the history of the comics, this one details the full process involved in producing a comic book in 1943 - illustrated with small black and white reproductions of a page of original script, the pencilled draft for the page and the final inked-in version, all taken from Wonder Woman Number 7. There are also three photos showing the engraving, printing and binding shops Gaines's company used for production. Again, this copy is in very good condition, clean inside and little used, with minor creasing and wear to the rear cover. Each magazine measures 7 1/4 x 10".

It is difficult to find either of these articles in their first printings, before the reprints in pamphlet form noted in the Overstreet Comics guide, which are in themselves considered exceedingly rare. Print magazine had a very limited circulation to begin with, and with wartime re-use of materials including paper it seems few copies have survived. Here's an unusual opportunity to get both at once.

Terms: Personal checks, money orders, and Paypal accepted. I will ship anywhere in the world. S/H: $6.00 (will be shipped Priority Mail or best Expedited shipping within the US). All foreign shipping charges will be determined depending on destination. All our items are packed properly and shipped promptly upon receipt of payment.

Thanks for looking!

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Defiant1

[Defiant1]

Was digging for info online and discovered the Hakes listing I had not seen before....

www.hakes.com/item.asp?AuctionItemID=28611



I'm at a loss to determine what they call an ad. If the page they picture is the ad, then mine has it and the page clearly states "page 1". The story starts on the back side of this page. I'm assuming as I've read elsewhere that other 8 page inserts were included in some copies of the magazine. I think this magazine is rare enough that it is improper to call this a variant since we don't know what the majority would have looked like.

Defiant1

[Quato]

Evidently the January-February 2007 edition of Print Magazine has an article about the 1942 story.

IN PRINT
Vol. 3/no. 2 Comics' ancient roots were explored in a 1942 issue of PRINT. Comics? In a serious arts journal?
BY MARTIN FOX

www.fwmagazines.com/product/320/30

Defiant1