History of the World: Part I (TCF, 1981), Josh Kirby Highly Suggestive Publicity Illustration, "It's GOOD to be the Ki...

Description

History of the World: Part I (TCF, 1981), Josh Kirby Highly Suggestive Publicity Illustration, "It's GOOD to be the King!". Vintage original film publicity "comp" illustration for History of the World: Part I depicting King Louis XVI (Mel Brooks) and Mademoiselle Rimbaud (Pamela Stephenson) in a very humorous, compromising situation. Accomplished in watercolor, colored pencil and stylographic pen on 15.5" x 17.75" artist's board (image size 9.25" x 9.25") and retaining "FEREF ASSOCIATES LIMITED" labeled protective overlay, with verso notation "Josh Kirby book illustration/ or video inlay/ from Brian Bysouth collection". This unique work is the most graphic representation we are aware of anywhere, for a particular scene from the film in which the Mademoiselle generously offers her rather bountiful assets to the King in exchange for her father's freedom. Josh Kirby worked as a freelance artist all of his storied career spanning some six decades, having left his only employment for half a day. Upon leaving art school in 1950, Kirby decided against portraiture as a career and turned to illustration for film posters and books. He illustrated film posters for studios in both London and Paris, eventually for legendary illustrator Brian Bysouth's publicity agency FEREF. Working alongside designer Eddie Paul, Kirby depicted the characters for Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, The Beastmaster, Krull, and countless others. When the market for film poster illustration dried up in the mid 1980s, Kirby switched his attention to role-playing games. He provided cover art for Duelmasters, Tunnels & Trolls and Wizards & Warriors. However, Kirby's major output between the late 1950s to the 1980s was artwork for book covers and interior illustrations for a very wide range of books including westerns, crime novels, science fiction and non-fiction, as well as covers and interior art for science fiction magazines. His first published book cover art was for the 1955 science fiction novel Cee-Tee Man, by Dan Morgan. In 1956, he created a cover for Ian Fleming's James Bond/007 book Moonraker. Working for publishers including Panther, Corgi, Four Square and NEL/Mayflower, he illustrated over 400 covers for authors including Brian Aldiss, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Stephen Briggs, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Craig Shaw Gardner, Ron Goulart, Robert Heinlein, Alfred Hitchcock, Jack Kerouac, Ursula Le Guin, Richard Matheson, Guy de Maupassant, Terry Pratchett, Robert Rankin, Jimmy Sangster, Jules Verne, and H. G. Wells. Kirby's most significant work in the 1980s was the covers for the Discworld series, a commission that Kirby thought would be a "one-off". Starting with The Colour of Magic, he eventually produced the covers for 26 of the series until his death in 2001. The artwork area itself remains fresh and undisturbed, showing only the most minute traces of age or handling from storage; the surrounding blank margins exhibit some surface losses, presumed from masking and overlay removals, toning and light staining (horizontal line) two inches from the top of margin. Accompanied by a single photo-illustration page from the film's trade paperback publication. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.

Heritage Auctions provides as much information as possible but strongly encourages in-person inspection. Condition statements are offered as general guidance only, not as complete representations of fact, and do not constitute a warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted but may be visible in the photos, which are considered part of the condition report. Lots estimated at $1,000 or less are not de-framed for inspection, and we may be unable to provide additional details for lots valued under $500. Heritage does not guarantee the condition of frames and is not liable for damage to frames, glass/acrylic coverings, original boxes, display accessories, or artwork that has shifted in the frame. All lots are sold "AS IS" under our Terms & Conditions of Auction.