The Mansion in the Mist by John Bellairs features a wrap around dust jacket design and a frontis illustration by Edward Gorey. Published in 1992 by Dial Books for Young Readers, this is the fourth (and final) outing for Anthony Monday and Miss Eells. This title was also the last to be written completely by Mr. Bellairs before his death on March 8, 1991. At the request of the estate, subsequent titles from this series have been completed, expanded, or completely written by Brad Strickland.
Edward Gorey created a dust jacket design for this title that has a definite front and back which does not blend seamlessly. Because of this, the art from this title was cut in half and the two sections were sold separately by Gotham Book Mart in the mid 1990's. The rear portion of this art (the mansion) sold on eBay in July 2000 along with two other pieces of original Edward Gorey artwork. I was bidding (and won the auction) on one of the other pieces of art.
i think the back would have made a better front, and vice versa.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the front is lacking a sense of drama that the back cover illustration has. It does not surprise me that this DJ illustration was cut in half.
ReplyDeleteThe white statues on the back cover are such a wonderfully eerie touch...
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