Norman Saunders [Hardcover]

David Saunders (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 2009

This spectacular new 368-page hardcover monograph is the catalog raisonne of the extensive career of the legendary artist Norman Saunders. From his work as one of the top pulp illustrators, to his paintings for men's adventure magazines, paperbacks, comics, Mars Attacks, Wacky Packages, and more, this book provides a thorough overview of his life's work. Illustrated in full-color with hundreds of images culled from Saunder's extensive archives.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Saunders is the son of Norman Saunders, and a noted fine artist showing with the Fischbach Gallery in New York. He is an authority on the art of the pulp magazines, and has contributed numerous articles on this subject to Illustration magazine. Some of these articles have featured the artists Norman Saunders, Rafael DeSoto, John W. Scott, Allen Anderson, Frederick Blakeslee, and Gloria Stoll. David Saunders lives in Long Island, NY.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: The Illustrated Press, Inc.; First Edition edition (January 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982004109
• ISBN-13: 978-0982004104
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Saunders (born 1954 in NYC) is a pulp art historian. He has written several biographical essays for ILLUSTRATION magazine on artists who contributed to the pulp magazine industry of the 1940s. His website - www.pulpartists.com - provides biographical information on many classic American illustrators, including his father, Norman Saunders (1907-1989). Please visit his website - www.NormanSaunders.com - to see a selection of his father's work.
David Saunders grew up within a community of family friends that included many sensational artists, writers, and editors from the American popular culture magazine industry. His many colorful accounts of these historic figures have only been preserved thanks to the inspired genius of Dan Zimmer, publisher of ILLUSTRATION magazine, who has the unique vision to produce respectful publications in honor of the many deserving artists who contributed to the classic era of American illustration art. Please visit - www.TheIllustratedPress.com - to see more about Dan Zimmer's many exciting projects.
Aside from his efforts on behalf of pulp art history, David Saunders has also taught at dozens of art schools, including Yale, Oberlin, and KCAI (BFA '75). He is an artist exhibiting with Fischbach Gallery in NYC since 2000. Before that he showed with David Beitzel Gallery since 1996, and before that he showed with Grace Borgenicht Gallery since 1980. His work is in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the New Museum, the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum, Japan National Rail, New York Penn Station, and New York LaGuardia Airport. Please visit - www.DavidSaunders.biz - to see a selection of his work. He lives and works in New York with his wife, Mary, and their two children, Zoe and Joe.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb pulp artist's pulp art, February 6, 2009

By 

Ken McDaniel - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Norman Saunders (Hardcover)

Saunders was likely easily in the top 5 quality cover artists of the pulp magazines from mid-1930's to mid-1950's. He was one of the most prolific artist during this period also. The artist's son has authored a wonderful exhibition of his work in an extremely well-made book by Illustrated Press. Dust jacket notes there are over 800 illustrations(300+ from original art), 30 working drawings, 30 reference photos, 30 family photos. Has a great deal of full color. Heavy, massive size book. Does not err by reproducing thumbnail size magazine covers(typically ones in this book are 3.5 by 4.75--large enough for genuine appreciation. There are many full page and half page pieces of art reproduced. Repro is impeccable and taken from either originals or copies that are not damaged. Book is not burdened by overage of prose or vague, ramblings of children/grandchildren who had little memories and records to go by when doing book. Norm Saunders also excelled in art for paperbacks, for the few digests he did(wonderful Mysterious Travelers art), and did excellent covers for Zip-Davis/Fawcett(Crime Clinic, Space Busters, Amazing Adventures, etc). He had excellent work across many genres(mystery, horror, western, science fiction, western). His interior art work for the men's adventure magazines was excellent also--but many of his Nazi-type, torture/bondage covers for the lesser such magazines in the late 1950's and early 1960's do not display his best work by any means. New to me was his misc. early work for Modern Mechanix, Spicy/Saucy, Sports Afield magazine work and also his Oriental work from his period in China(World War 2). There are many detailed repros of his Mars Attack, Batman, Ugly, Battle cards/stickers work which he was reduced to when magazine/slick publications died out.. Primarily finished art work where you see his work as he wanted it seen. A massive bibliography divided into 6 categories(one of which is his paperback covers). No index(not needed). Heavy enameled paper stock, sewn-in signatures. Art of front and rear of dust jacket are imprinted onto board boards. Professionally written accompanying text by David Saunders. A trememdous bargin at $40 list price. Thank you, David Saunders.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Norman Saunders book, March 13, 2009

By 

I'm shopping (Michigan) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Norman Saunders (Hardcover)

Great book. Very illustrative of this person's work whose work I've greatly appreciated in the past. I hope to see more books like this of other artists from this publisher. Recommend.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning full color on every page, February 15, 2011

By 

Thomas E. Stazer "torgotom2008" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Norman Saunders (Hardcover)

I just want to assure anyone considering this book that it is well worth the pricetag - unlike a lot of other "pulp" art books, it is superbly printed and bound on heavyweight stock; the original art reproductions and sketches and paintings are also excellently done. There's just a lot more than $40 worth of craft gone into the making of this book, on top of the author and his father's acheivements.