The status of illustrative art as a collectible has never been stronger. That has been proven once more at a major Beverly Hills, California auction on March 1-2.
With a selection of works from the unequalled collection of Charles Martignette, it was clear once more who the unquestioned leader of the pack is amongst the mostly cheeky, titillating and pulp-type works. Gil Elvgren triumphed over all.
 I hope the boys don't draw straws tonight |
Of the top ten lots in the auction, seven were creations by Elvgren. The highest lot which was by someone other than Elvgren was a Spicy Stories cover by acknowledged pulp master Hugh Joseph Ward.
The cover depicts a blonde woman in a torn red dress imploring a heavy set foreign-looking gentleman, presumably for him not to use the wicked looking cleaver he holds on either her or her chained male companion. He looks unlikely to be sympathetic.
At $62,500, the cover was fourth in the final tally. Ward has topped off other auctions, notably with his Evil Flame cover.
 Hugh Joseph Ward's Spicy Adventure Stories cover |
The expected top lot was Elvgren's I Hope the Boys Don't Draw Straws Tonight - a cheeky piece taken from a 1946 Brown and Bigelow calendar illustration. Listed at $50,000-75,000, it didn't disappoint, achieving $68,000 - but it wasn't the top seller.
Two Elvgren works best it comprehensively. First was his 1967 work Let's Eat Out, presenting a glamorous, pouting housewife conveniently revealing her stocking tops and thighs by lifting her skirt to hold a failed attempt at baking. The claimed $104,500.
 Gil Elvgren's Let's Eat Out |
Then there was his most straightforward nude from 1967: Vision of Beauty (Unveiling), presenting a beautiful blonde naked on a red bedspread. This just left the rest standing, selling for $140,500.
Other Elvgren highlights included The Winner (A Fair Catch), showing a buxom woman apple-bobbing which realised $59,375; On the Fence, showing a leggy woman with her skirt, well, on the fence, which realised $59,375 and Everything Seems Awfully High Around Here! depicting a perky, short-skirted waitress which brought $54,688.
-Gil-Elvgren-410.jpg) Vision of Beauty (Unveiling) by Gil Elvgren |
Collectors interested in real pin-ups may wish to take a look at signed glamour photographs we're offering from stock of Goldie Hawn, Brigitte Bardot and Julie McCullogh.
