EXTRACTS: Illustrators issue 23 © 2018 The Book Palace (96 PAGES in Full edition)

48 many of the writers as well; with Henry Kuttner becoming a close friend. Even H. P. Lovecraft, in a letter addressed to C. L. Moore, had this to say about the artist: “ All of Finlay’s WT ( Weird Tales ) work is good — especially the designs for your Lost Paradise & Bloch’s Faceless God. Bloch tells me that Wright considers the latter the finest illustration ever drawn for WT, & that the original hangs framed in the office.” Abraham Merritt (better known as A. Merritt) who had also written for Weird Tales , took notice of the artist, and when he became the assistant editor for The American Weekly (a Hearst corporation Sunday newspaper supplement, with a colour cover and 50 million readers, which employed many top illustrators of the era) he recruited Finlay in 1938, employing him to illustrate articles, stories, and make decorations as well. That same year, Finlay moved from Rochester to New York, to be closer to his editors Text continued from page 45 FACING PAGE: Female Spirit , pen and ink and white gouache on board, 1936. Interior illustration for Weird Tales , reproduced slightly larger than its original size! The pen and ink illustrations on these pages demonstrate Finlay’s talent at drawing all sort of subjects. The illustration below, Faceless God , was considered by author H. P. Lovecraft to be the finest illustration ever done for Weird Tales, probably the most popular fantasy and horror pulp magazine of all time.