God's Man

New York: Jonathan Cape and Harrison Smith, 1929. First Edition. Hardcover. Very good +. Ward, Lynd. First printing, octavo size, 150 pp. American artist Lynd Ward (1905-1985) demonstrates his masterful storytelling in "God's Man", a wordless novel made with wood engravings which depicts a man's pact with the devil in exchange for a magical paintbrush which enabled him to gain fame as an artist; it progresses through 139 engraved woodblocks to show his downfall, temporary redemption, and ultimate payment of the price for the deal he made.

Ward's wood engravings are rich in detail and emotion, and the story has a rhythm as the reader follows (truncated) the character through interactions with dark, forbidding characters and uncaring urban streets; "God's Man" was the first American wordless novel, and Ward's work is often seen as a precursor to the modern graphic novel in its ability to convey character and feeling through the use of image alone.

___DESCRIPTION: Decorated paper over boards with a black cloth shelfback, the front and back with an inset illustration by Ward, paper spine label with the publisher's device, top edge stained black, fore- and bottom edges rough-cut, black endpapers, small vignette and decorations on the title page, Ward's wood engravings on the recto only of each page telling the story; octavo size (8 1/4" by 6"), unpaginated, [i-vi] being the preliminary pages followed by 144 leaves of wood engravings which were reproduced by electrotypes.

___CONDITION: Better than very good, the decorated boards clean (albeit with overall light toning), the text block strong and square with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; light wear to the bottom board edges, spine label sunned and slightly worn, the flyleaf with light foxing; near fine internally in a very good binding.

___CITATION: Dance, no. 002.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.

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