For our 99th e-catalogue, we present a cross-section of Lynd Ward’s oeuvre from a small private collection. Those who have fallen under the spell Ward conjured from the dramatic interplay of light and dark in his wood engravings typically encounter it through the six wordless novels he published between 1929 and 1937. And yet, Ward illustrated more than 200 books over a half-century career. Ward imbued his spirit—the spirit of his age, of hope and resiliency, of grief and recognition—into each of his projects. As a collected corpus, such as that assembled here, they likewise portray the spirit of a life.
NY: Vanguard Press, 1928. Ward’s mezzotints, scattered throughout the poem as both borders and full-page illustrations, wield his characteristically soft lines, keen gestures, and ominous shading to emotionally portray the undue hardship endured by Wilde and his fellow prisoners at Reading. Wilde drew particular inspiration from his own experience, having..... More
NY: Equinox Cooperative Press, 1935. Thirty lithographs by Ward illustrate Hicks’ biography of Reed, the author of Ten Days that Shook the World and the first American ambassador to the Soviet Union. Reed witnessed firsthand the Bolshevik Revolution, and through his articles in The Masses, transmitted his impressions to an..... More
(Newton Center, MA: c. 1918). Original watercolor, ink, and graphite on paper mounted to cardstock, depicting a young World War One soldier parading an American flag. A note on the verso states that Ward created the image in eighth grade, and later gave it as a gift to a classmate..... More
(N.p. n.d.). Christmas card with only one side printed, and with woodcut tipped-in. The woodcut shows the New Year's baby grasping a torch and artist's tools and flying away from sinister figures, an eagle, and planes dropping bombs. The facing text reads, "...And a/happy new year/May and Lynd Ward." Faint..... More
(N.p. n.d.). Color woodcut by Lynd Ward, portraying a cherub hovering over a cannon. Signed by Ward and inscribed to "DBJ"—presumably Dan Burne Jones, who was working on a bibliography of Ward's work alongside one of Rockwell Kent's. Although the latter reached publication, the former apparently did not. Fine. Matted..... More
NY: Jonathan Cape, 1930. Large octavo. xxi, 262pp. One of 501 copies, signed by the translator. Although not mentioned in the limitation statement, the frontispiece is signed by the illustrator, Lynd Ward. Illustrated with six tipped-in woodcuts on tissue paper. Translated by Alice Raphael, and with an Introduction by Mark..... More
Echo Bay, ON; Cresskill, NJ; McLean, VA: 1971-72. Five handwritten ALs sent by Lynd Ward to an unknown Mr. Fletcher. The first three letters describe a prolonged purchase of the print "Cup of Sky." The last two provide Ward's measured replies to Fletcher's apparent inquiry regarding the possibility of working..... More
NY: Jonathan Cape and Harrison Smith, (1930). First edition, second printing. This is Ward's second woodcut novel, with the story told exclusively via woodcut illustrations. Through this dramatic and expressive non-verbal style, Ward communicated situations and emotions using nothing more than the woodcut's stark contrast of black and white. A...... More
Cleveland and NY: World Publishing Company, 1967. Octavo. (viii), (194)pp. Inscribed on the half-title by Lynd Ward to Dan Burne Jones, who worked, albeit without public fruition, on a bibliography of Ward's works. Without text, this "story" tells with pictures the tale of a young man trapped in a drab..... More
