Lot 164: Courtney Allen (American, 1896-1969), Pair of studies for the cover of the novel "Gold Mountain,"

Courtney Allen (American, 1896-1969), Pair of studies for the cover of the novel "Gold Mountain," written by Charlotte Paul, c. 1952-53, gouache on artist's board, one depicting the spine and front cover, the other showing the entire cover, front and back, both unsigned but inscibed with artist's name on verso, the first measures 8 x 9 inches to the matt edge, overall in the frame 14.50 x 15.0 inches; the second measuring 8 x 12.50 inches to the matt edge, overall in the frame 15 x 20 inches. A version of this design was selected for the final cover for the book. CONDITION: Good, some foxing present on both. Courtney Allen was a noted book and magazine illustrator, who worked from his studio in New Rochelle, New York and also was an educator and painter. He trained at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington DC, and in Provincetown at the Cape Cod School with Charles Webster Hawthorne. Charlotte Paul (1916-1989) led a life marked by the pursuit of numerous careers -- news editor, wife, back-to-the-lander, freelance writer, mother, novelist, memoirist, parole board official -- and usually several of these at once. In the 1950s, she and her husband ran a small weekly newspaper in Washington state's remote Snoqualmie Valley, where she collected from old-timers the tales of the valley's pioneers. These tales she wove into two of her bestselling novels, "Gold Mountain" and "The Cup of Strength," later renamed "Wild Valley."

the first measures 8 x 9 inches to the matt edge, overall in the frame 14.50 x 15.0 inches; the second measuring 8 x 12.50 inches to the matt edge, overall in the frame 15 x 20 inches

watercolor/gouache

Good, some foxing present on both

Private Collection, New York