THE MONSTER MEN - Variant for the Canaveral Press edition
The Monster Men - Variant for Canaveral Press edition $8.99
The DJ mounted on my copy
The original front cover
THE MONSTER MEN - Fantasy-variant dust jacket for the Canaveral Press and Grosset & Dunlap
editions. I've never cared for the Mahlon Blaine Canaveral Press illustrations. Too me, Blaine was
ill-suited for the job. However, in an early entry for another variant, I criticized Blaine more
severely than I should have and was rightfully chastised for it.
In response to that earlier bit of accidental misinformation, Phil Normand of recoverings.com said
"Blaine was mostly known for the fabulous erotic and exotic illustrations that he did in the 1920s
and 30s. There is no real evidence that he won any awards in his lifetime. The work he did for
Canaveral was likely some of the very last he ever did as the sight in his only eye was failing badly
and he died a few years later. Bilbo and Tannen no doubt gave him the work for the Burroughs'
books out of respect for his reputation in the small specialty publication market and because he
would work for practically nothing having fallen on hard times. He was living in an apartment over
their bookshop at the time."
Tangor (www.erblist.com) also emailed saying "His erotic work is both intriguing and a bit scary!"
and "I don't expect folks to 'get' Mahlon Blaine... heck, even back then folks didn't get him, but his
images were always startling, odd, and steeped in "ancient looks". However, no matter what
Blaine's talents, Tangor admits that most ERB fans will believe Mahlon Blaine's illustration style to
be poorly matched to illustrate ERB when compared to the more "same old same old" of Krenkel
and Frazetta and many others.
Because I agree with most ERB fans, over the past year I've been slowly working to complete a
variant for each Mahlon Blaine Canaveral DJ. Apparently Blaine has many fans, and I admit that
his work is original - and very different. I'm just not one of those fans. Therefore I'm slowly trying
to create an alternative DJ for all the Blaine's.
The front cover illustration for this particular variant DJ is P. J. Monahan's magazine cover for
THE ALL-STORY of November 1913. I removed the magazine lettering and redesigned that
portion of the illustration. The back cover drawing is by Frank Frazetta and was originally the title
page illustration for the ACE edition of 1963. I don't normally use an illustration by an author
whose work is probably still copyrighted, but I decided to use this drawing because it was so
perfect for this place on the jacket. I hope the Frazetta heirs forgive me. And last, I redesigned the
spine and flaps.
I've added a G&D version of this variant, even though I do very much like the J. Allen St. John
dust jacket illustration for this title. St. John is unsurpassed and I recognize his preeminence. I'm
not seeking to replace his effort. I'm simply offering this alternative for those who want one for
their G&D book.
Once purchased, your dust jacket will be wrapped in a mylar dust cover, packed flat, and mailed
within twenty-four hours of payment, even on weekends --- It won't go out until the next workday,
but it will be dropped off at the post office within twenty-four hours of payment. Shipping in the
USA is free, calculated in the cost of the product.
International shipping to Canada and Great Britain only: $8.00 added to the overall costs. (See
SERVICES on the navbar above.)
eMail if there is a problem with fitting your DJ. I'll pre-fit it on my book just to be as sure as
possible that all is correct. However, anything is possible. So contact me immediately if you have
a problem.
editions. I've never cared for the Mahlon Blaine Canaveral Press illustrations. Too me, Blaine was
ill-suited for the job. However, in an early entry for another variant, I criticized Blaine more
severely than I should have and was rightfully chastised for it.
In response to that earlier bit of accidental misinformation, Phil Normand of recoverings.com said
"Blaine was mostly known for the fabulous erotic and exotic illustrations that he did in the 1920s
and 30s. There is no real evidence that he won any awards in his lifetime. The work he did for
Canaveral was likely some of the very last he ever did as the sight in his only eye was failing badly
and he died a few years later. Bilbo and Tannen no doubt gave him the work for the Burroughs'
books out of respect for his reputation in the small specialty publication market and because he
would work for practically nothing having fallen on hard times. He was living in an apartment over
their bookshop at the time."
Tangor (www.erblist.com) also emailed saying "His erotic work is both intriguing and a bit scary!"
and "I don't expect folks to 'get' Mahlon Blaine... heck, even back then folks didn't get him, but his
images were always startling, odd, and steeped in "ancient looks". However, no matter what
Blaine's talents, Tangor admits that most ERB fans will believe Mahlon Blaine's illustration style to
be poorly matched to illustrate ERB when compared to the more "same old same old" of Krenkel
and Frazetta and many others.
Because I agree with most ERB fans, over the past year I've been slowly working to complete a
variant for each Mahlon Blaine Canaveral DJ. Apparently Blaine has many fans, and I admit that
his work is original - and very different. I'm just not one of those fans. Therefore I'm slowly trying
to create an alternative DJ for all the Blaine's.
The front cover illustration for this particular variant DJ is P. J. Monahan's magazine cover for
THE ALL-STORY of November 1913. I removed the magazine lettering and redesigned that
portion of the illustration. The back cover drawing is by Frank Frazetta and was originally the title
page illustration for the ACE edition of 1963. I don't normally use an illustration by an author
whose work is probably still copyrighted, but I decided to use this drawing because it was so
perfect for this place on the jacket. I hope the Frazetta heirs forgive me. And last, I redesigned the
spine and flaps.
I've added a G&D version of this variant, even though I do very much like the J. Allen St. John
dust jacket illustration for this title. St. John is unsurpassed and I recognize his preeminence. I'm
not seeking to replace his effort. I'm simply offering this alternative for those who want one for
their G&D book.
Once purchased, your dust jacket will be wrapped in a mylar dust cover, packed flat, and mailed
within twenty-four hours of payment, even on weekends --- It won't go out until the next workday,
but it will be dropped off at the post office within twenty-four hours of payment. Shipping in the
USA is free, calculated in the cost of the product.
International shipping to Canada and Great Britain only: $8.00 added to the overall costs. (See
SERVICES on the navbar above.)
eMail if there is a problem with fitting your DJ. I'll pre-fit it on my book just to be as sure as
possible that all is correct. However, anything is possible. So contact me immediately if you have
a problem.
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The Monster Men - Variant for G&D editions $8.99