Marginalia

Sauk City, WI: Arkham House, 1944. First Edition. Near Fine/Near Fine. First edition, first printing. Association copy signed by dust jacket artist Virgil Finlay on the front free endpaper and inscribed to science fiction fanzine publisher Gerry de la Ree (his bookplate to front pastedown): "In memory of HPL, a master of the Weird tale, many of which I had the pleasure of illustrating." An adhesive label affixed below is signed by editor August Derleth and inscribed: "For George de la Ree - The 8th A.H. book." Finlay has additionally inscribed the dust jacket. Joshi 19 (Lovecraft), 8 (Arkham).

x, 377, [1] pp. Bound in publisher's black cloth (truncated) lettered in gilt on the spine. Near Fine with very light wear to covers and black strip to bottom edge of endpapers from old-style asphaultic dust jacket protector. In a Near Fine unclipped dust jacket, lightly worn with tanned spine panel lightly soiled near tail. Inscribed on the front flap by Finlay: "In memory of HPL, Master of the Mythos." Housed in a custom mustard yellow clamshell case, quarter morocco over cloth, dark blue morocco title label to spine. A beautiful copy of the eighth book from Arkham House, which was founded by writers August Derleth and Donald Wandrei to publish their late friend Lovecraft's work.

Marginalia contains Lovecraft's essays and lesser stories, as well as reproductions of his drawings and tributes from his peers. The book, printed in a run of 2,035 copies, was intended to sate the public's appetite for Lovecraftiana until his letters could be published. The jacket reproduces artwork created by Finlay for Lovecraft's story "The Shunned House" in 1937. Gerald de la Ree was a lifelong devotee of the artist and published seven books of his collected illustrations between 1975 and 1981. He undoubtedly treasured this charmingly inscribed book. (Inventory #: 140947819)