( 
)BEWARE OF FAKE LYND WARD "PRINTS" --especially signed "prints" which are roughly 4" by 4" or smaller, on paper smaller than about 8" by 10". Get educated! Look into what you are bidding on! These small "prints" are very seldom genuine --they are just part of an old book "broken" so the image can be sold at a huge mark-up. If you like the image, buy the book! Below is a genuine Ward signature on a genuine print. Note the distinctive signature and also the distinctive paper qualities.
This is a guide to help you spot fake Lynd Ward woodcuts or wood engravings. Much of what you see on eBay is simply a page torn from one of the famous "novels without words." These are not real prints! The titles of these books are listed below in detail. When Lynd Ward produced actual prints, 97% of the time they are printed on cream or white Japan, a type of very thin tissue paper which is almost transparent. The paper should also be large, as in like, 16" x 20" on the real prints. There are a few exceptions. There are a select very few prints which were printed on thick paper or a few where he actually signed a page from one of the books; HOWEVER, these are a tiny minority and this type of "print" should always be looked at with suspicion. CHECK THE SIGNATURE! When Ward signs a print, the "L" in "Lynd" will look much more like a "Z" and there are several reputable places online where you can view his signature. If you have questions about any print, please feel free to ask me! I have access to dozens of genuine prints and books signed by Ward and will be happy to provide you with scans within reason.
Detailed information about Ward (text written by me incidently, not lifted from a website...) follows:
Lynd Kendall Ward (June 26, 1905 – June 28, 1985) first became a hit in 1929 --despite The Great Depression. He was married to noted author May McNeer and over the years they collaborated on several historical projects; mostly titles for young adults --such as biographies of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. Other titles of note from the team include Waif Maid, Prince Bantam and The Golden Flash. McNeer also wrote many other volumes illustrated by other artists of the day.
Ward is said to have noticed his name was "draw" backwards and then decided to become an artist. Ward was highly influenced by the work of Franz Masereel and the Art Deco and Expressionist styles. Ward most assuredly influenced many later graphic novelists, artists and cartoonists. Even Beat poet Allen Ginsberg admits being influenced by Ward. Ward won a Caldecott for The Biggest Bear in 1953. The depth of his life work can most easily be described as "brilliant and prolific." Some really dense people seem to think his name is Lynn Ward. Go figure.
Ward is perhaps most noted for his wordless novels of all woodcuts such as Madman's Drum (1930), Gods' Man (1929), Wild Pilgrimage (1932), Vertigo (1937), Song Without Words (1936), and Prelude to a Million Years (1933). He illustrated hundreds of books in his lifetime, exploring wood, stone, and watercolor among other mediums. A large collection of Lynd Ward material is held at Rutgers University. Other books commonly "broken" for his prints include Some Women, Hot Countries, Frankenstein, Faust, and Midsummernight, among many others.
You might encounter prints designed by Lynd Ward but signed by E.M. Washington. Mr. Washington has personally contacted me and asked me to correct some misconceptions about these prints. The wood was carved by Washington. He taught himself how to make prints by copying these designs. They were printed after Ward's death and are technically referred to as "afters" or "sculpsit" (which literally translates to "he engraved it"). Washington is a talented artist and worthy of your attention. Do some research on him if you are interested but realize that much of the information you may find is not very accurate.
These days, most of the Lynd Ward work you see offered is simply a page torn from one of the fantastic wordless novels or worse --the endless lower quality reprints. If you really want to get a start with Ward, acquire the compilation, Storyteller Without Words. It gives reasonable representations of the graphic novels and most of the prints; although at reduced quality.
AGAIN, if you have questions about any Lynd Ward material please feel free to ask me!
-Roger (beckorro)
beckorro -at- beckorro -dot- com
This is a guide to help you spot fake Lynd Ward woodcuts or wood engravings. Much of what you see on eBay is simply a page torn from one of the famous "novels without words." These are not real prints! The titles of these books are listed below in detail. When Lynd Ward produced actual prints, 97% of the time they are printed on cream or white Japan, a type of very thin tissue paper which is almost transparent. The paper should also be large, as in like, 16" x 20" on the real prints. There are a few exceptions. There are a select very few prints which were printed on thick paper or a few where he actually signed a page from one of the books; HOWEVER, these are a tiny minority and this type of "print" should always be looked at with suspicion. CHECK THE SIGNATURE! When Ward signs a print, the "L" in "Lynd" will look much more like a "Z" and there are several reputable places online where you can view his signature. If you have questions about any print, please feel free to ask me! I have access to dozens of genuine prints and books signed by Ward and will be happy to provide you with scans within reason.
Detailed information about Ward (text written by me incidently, not lifted from a website...) follows:
Lynd Kendall Ward (June 26, 1905 – June 28, 1985) first became a hit in 1929 --despite The Great Depression. He was married to noted author May McNeer and over the years they collaborated on several historical projects; mostly titles for young adults --such as biographies of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. Other titles of note from the team include Waif Maid, Prince Bantam and The Golden Flash. McNeer also wrote many other volumes illustrated by other artists of the day.
Ward is said to have noticed his name was "draw" backwards and then decided to become an artist. Ward was highly influenced by the work of Franz Masereel and the Art Deco and Expressionist styles. Ward most assuredly influenced many later graphic novelists, artists and cartoonists. Even Beat poet Allen Ginsberg admits being influenced by Ward. Ward won a Caldecott for The Biggest Bear in 1953. The depth of his life work can most easily be described as "brilliant and prolific." Some really dense people seem to think his name is Lynn Ward. Go figure.
Ward is perhaps most noted for his wordless novels of all woodcuts such as Madman's Drum (1930), Gods' Man (1929), Wild Pilgrimage (1932), Vertigo (1937), Song Without Words (1936), and Prelude to a Million Years (1933). He illustrated hundreds of books in his lifetime, exploring wood, stone, and watercolor among other mediums. A large collection of Lynd Ward material is held at Rutgers University. Other books commonly "broken" for his prints include Some Women, Hot Countries, Frankenstein, Faust, and Midsummernight, among many others.
You might encounter prints designed by Lynd Ward but signed by E.M. Washington. Mr. Washington has personally contacted me and asked me to correct some misconceptions about these prints. The wood was carved by Washington. He taught himself how to make prints by copying these designs. They were printed after Ward's death and are technically referred to as "afters" or "sculpsit" (which literally translates to "he engraved it"). Washington is a talented artist and worthy of your attention. Do some research on him if you are interested but realize that much of the information you may find is not very accurate.
These days, most of the Lynd Ward work you see offered is simply a page torn from one of the fantastic wordless novels or worse --the endless lower quality reprints. If you really want to get a start with Ward, acquire the compilation, Storyteller Without Words. It gives reasonable representations of the graphic novels and most of the prints; although at reduced quality.
AGAIN, if you have questions about any Lynd Ward material please feel free to ask me!
-Roger (beckorro)
beckorro -at- beckorro -dot- com
Guide created: 03/26/08 (updated 01/28/09)
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