THE GLAMOUR GIRLS OF BILL WARD

Edited by Alex Chun

When Bill Ward passed away in 1998, he left behind a body of work that encompassed six decades and more than 10,000 cartoon pin-up illustrations. Ward's stunning and provocative glamour girl cartoon pin-ups left an indelible mark on generations of the male psyche. By mastering a medium called the Conté crayon, Ward was able to produce pin-ups with unparalleled detail and textures, including the extraordinary sheen on black thigh-high stockings that became a Ward trademark. Ward's other trademark, or course, was his penchant for drawing well-endowed women, a trait accentuated by tiny waists and tight-fitting clothes. Sometimes bawdy, but never tawdry, Ward's top-heavy women still managed to maintain the allure, innocence, sophistication, and most importantly, the glamour that epitomized 1950s pin-up art and presaged the Playboy idealization of the American woman.

The majority of images in this book were originally published between 1956 and 1963, when Ward was at the height of his skill. While the master of the Conté crayon has gone, his glamour girls continue to rekindle memories, harkening back to a more innocent moment in American pop culture.

Contains material for mature readers -- by bidding on this auction, you state that you are over 18 years of age.

Fantagraphic Books; trade hardcover, 9" x 12", 176 pages. First paperback edition, May 2007. Book in new condition. No reserve price. Buyers in California must pay state sales tax. Buyer pays shipping and handling. (International buyer pays appropriate S&H costs.)