James Allen St. John (American, 1872-1957) The Chessmen of Mars, book dust jacket, 1922 Oil on board 34-3/4 x 24-1/2 inches (88.3 x 62.2 cm) (sight) Signed lower center From the Gary Munson Collection PROVENANCE: Previously from the Glynn and Suzanne Crain Collection. This illustration was published as the first edition hardcover dust jacket for The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs (A.C. McClurg & Co., 1922). The relationship between St. John and the writings of Burroughs cemented the illustrator as an important figure in the development of fantasy illustration. Starting with chapter headers for Tarzan Returns, St. John would continue to work with publisher A.C. McClurg & Co to illustrate further Burroughs stories and dust jackets as seen above. The dynamic composition, heroic figures, and convincing anatomy pictured within The Chessmen of Mars are all hallmarks of a St. John piece. These conventions as defined by St.John would later be codified in the work of subsequent greats such as Frank Frazetta, and even Edgar Rice Burroughs' son, John Coleman Burroughs. Such images are captivating, leaving an indelible mark on what we understand to be fantasy illustration. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved