Virgil Finlay (American, 1914-1971) The Black Abbot of Puthuum, Weird Tales magazine interior illustration, March 1936 Ink on board 8 x 8 inches (20.3 x 20.3 cm) Signed and dated lower right From the Gary Munson Collection Featuring a trademark Finlay beauty, this is one of the rarest and most desirable pen-and-ink originals ever offered by this science fiction and fantasy great. Hailing from the classic era of Weird Tales, and illustrates a story by one of the famed publication's most important authors, Clark Ashton Smith. The provenance is as stellar as the usage: the artwork was given by Finlay to Smith, who gifted it to Rah Hoffman, an important figure in early fandom and art director of the 1940s fanzine The Acolyte, dedicated to the Lovecraft circle. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved