Original Color Painting For Charles Willeford's 1955 Paperback Original Title "Pick-Up"

WILLEFORD, CHARLES [AUTHOR]. FRANK UPPWALL [ARTWORK]

Publication: Original Cover artwork by Frank Uppwall, 1953, N P

Original artwork by Frank Uppwall (1900 - ), rendered in oil on art board. A single sheet measuring 24" x 36 3/4," dry mounted to an art board for an overall size of 27" x 40." Signed by the artist at the lower center of the painting. This is a colorful and stunning cover painting for Charles Willeford's "Pick-Up," his second book issued as a paperback original by Beacon in 1955. A nihilistic early novel following "the pilgrimage of two lost and self-destructive lovers through the depths of San Francisco, from cheap bars and rooming houses to psychiatric clinics and police stations" (Polito, Robert (editor) Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1950s, Library of America). Though the image at the far right of the painting is the most recognizable, the artwork first saw publication as the wrap-around cover art for George Weller's "Highway Episode" published by Royal Giant # 21 in 1953. Upwall's painting ranks among the earliest original artwork for a Willeford novel of which we are aware. Included with this original artwork are first edition copies of "Pick-Up" (in fine condition) and "Highway Episode" (in very good condition). The artwork is in fine condition beautifully mounted and framed.

Inventory Number: 42288