#h. wesso

[bookmaven]

THE CRYSTAL HORDE by John Taine [aka Eric Temple Bell] (Reading, PA: Fantasy Press, 1952) Cover by Hannes Bok.

Published in an edition of 2,328 copies, the novel is a science horror story that involves silicon crystalline lifeforms threatening to overwhelm carbon life on Earth. It was substantially rewritten from a version that originally appeared in the magazine Amazing Stories Quarterly in 1930 under the title White Lily.

Amazing Stories Quarterly, Winter 1930. Cover by H. Wesso.

WHITE LILY by John Taine. Illustrated by H. Wesso

“The Astounding Enemy” by Louise Rice & Tonjoroff-Roberts. Illustrated by Leo Morey

“Tani of Ekkis” by Aladra Septama. Illustrated by H. Wesso [Severus Masonby]

“Dirigibles of Death” by A. Hyatt Verrill. Illustrated by Leo Morey

[ladythatsmyskull]

Interesting to me that sometimes even robots (this one by Wesso) follow the Frank Paul alien body design.

[ladythatsmyskull]

I think my favorite part of this cover is that the Renaissance bestiary style of the art in the reference book differs slightly from the creature that makes a surprise appearance in the library. It lends one to assume the monster is fanciful until it shuffles into view, revealing itself and its no doubt murderous intentions.

Strange Tales (October 1932) featuring The Hunters From Beyond by Clark Ashton Smith. Cover art by H. Wesso with story illustration by Elliot Dold.

[ladythatsmyskull]

Dark Eternity from John Russell Fearn published in Astounding (December 1937). The cover was painted by Howard V. Brown with interior art for the title story by regular contributor H. Wesso.

This issue exemplifies one of the problems in identifying the artist in pulp magazines. Crediting the artists was often considered unnecessary by the industry. It has been established that the cover of this issue was painted by the prolific artist Howard V. Brown. The interior art has a few sources recording it variously as uncredited, by Brown or from Astounding house artist Wesso. Fortunately for posterity the Wesso signature can be seen in  the illustrations so there is no mystery there,