God's Man

A Novel in Woodcuts

by Lynd Ward 

Special edition, signed.  New York:  Jonathan Cape and Harrison Smith, 1929  

Hardback is overall in VERY GOOD+ condition, with a GOOD slipcase.

• Black cloth covers are mostly clean, with woodcut illustration laid on.  Corners are sharp. 
• Spine has text label and is sunned with firm ends.
• Binding is strong.  
• Black end papers/ pastedowns show little to no sign of age or wear.  Ffep has a gift inscription.  
• Illustrations are bright and clear, plates are printed on recto only.  
• Interior is gently age-toned.  Inside pages are free of writing and intentional marks.
• Text block edges have gilt along head, deckle fore and foot edges. 
• Slipcase of black paper over boards shows splitting along edges, some repairs, edgewear.  See photos. 
• PS2026.0114

Unpaginated. 6.25 x 9.5 inches

Special Edition, numbered and Signed by the author.  Black boards with woodcut mounted to top board, paper title label to spine, gilt along head.  In a slipcase of black paper over boards.  Binding is tight, interior is gently tanned, spine is a little sunned.  Gift inscription on end paper.  Condition is Very Good Plus.    

This striking wordless novel is the first created by American artist Lynd Ward (1905-1985).  In 144 captionless woodblock prints, it tells the Faustian story of an artist who signs away his soul for a magic paintbrush.  Lynd Ward relates this dark and atmospheric story through the bold geometry of Art Deco.  Influenced by German Expressionism and Frans Masereel, Ward's sequential wood engravings feature stark contrasts that add weight to the narrative. 

Gods' Man was the first American wordless novel.  Lynd Ward's exaggerated perspectives would later be adopted by graphic novels and comics, influencing generations of sequential artists. 

Incribed on the free front end paper:  "To- Harold and Viola, Just something to remember, to remember me by.  "Teddy"  Just wanted to make sure you would remember me, so wrote it several times."

Special Edition, 409 copies (of which 376 were for sale), numbered and signed by the author.  Printed from woodblocks for the publishers by the Aldus Printers.  Bound by the J.F. Tapley Company.  This is copy #291.

Please see photos. More photos available upon request.

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