The Shuttered Room and Other Pieces
by H.P. Lovecraft
1959, 2,500 copies, Richard Taylor jacket
Arkham House – Weird Fiction since 1939
by Richard DaviesWhen it comes to championing 'weird fiction,' Arkham House leads the way. Founded in tiny Sauk City, Wisconsin, (population 3,109 in 2000), Arkham will always be famous for printing the work of H.P. Lovecraft – the king of weird fiction.
This publisher's books are highly sought-after by collectors who adore horror, supernatural fiction and writing generally designed to scare the bejesus out of people. Arkham's memorable bindings have also played a major role in adding to the collectability of these books. Most print runs were limited to a few thousand copies – further enhancing the collectible status.
Weird fiction is a little hard to define. It's a sub-genre of speculative fiction (eg genres like science fiction and horror) and often uses ghost stories and other supernatural elements, mythology and macabre plots.
August Derleth and Donald Wandrei founded Arkham House in 1939. Wandrei left the press after World War II but Derleth continued, editing collections and writing himself. The Arkham House name comes of a fictional city in New England widely used by Lovecraft, who is famous for creating the Cthulhu Mythos. Lovecraft's writing has influenced countless modern writers from Stephen King to Neil Gaiman, and Arkham played an important role in promoting the author's work. Lovecraft died in 1937.
Aside from Lovecraft, Arkham also printed work by Robert E Howard, Ray Bradbury, Clark Ashton Smith and Robert Bloch. Disciples of Lovecraft – such as Ramsey Campbell – were also published as were the likes of William Hope Hodgson, Arthur Machen, J. Sheridan Le Fanu and Algernon Blackwood.
A host of notable illustrators produced chilling cover art for Arkham's books, including Ronald Clyne, Frank Utpatel, Richard Taylor and Hannes Bok. August Derleth died in 1971 and by the mid-1970s the firm had expanded into science fiction. Family-run Arkham House still exists and has had huge influence on weird fiction and horror generally over multiple decades. Sadly, April Derleth, daughter of August Derleth, died earlier in 2011.
Selection of Rare Arkham House Books
Beyond the Wall of Sleep
by H.P. Lovecraft
1943, limited to 1,200 copies, Arkham's second Lovecraft omnibus.
Slan
by A.E. Van Vogt
1946, author's debut, 4,000 copies, third Arkham book, cover by Robert F. Hubbell.
The Trail of Cthulu
by August Derleth
1962, 2,500 copies - episodic novel of 5 parts inspired by Lovecraft. Richard Taylor jacket.
The Horror in the Museum and Other Revisions
by H.P. Lovecraft
1970, collection of stories & novellas, 4,000 copies, cover by Gahan Wilson.
Always Comes Evening
by Robert E. Howard
1957, collection of Howard's poetry compiled by Glenn Lord, 636 copies.
The Dark Brotherhood and other Pieces
by H.P. Lovecraft
1966, cover art by Frank Utpatel, 3,500 copies.
Arkham House: The First 20 Years 1939-1959
by August Derleth
1959, bibliography of publisher's early years. Frank Utpatel cover design.
Who Fears the Devil?
by Manly Wade Wellman
1963, collection of 11 short fiction, 2,000 copies, cover by Lee Brown Coye.
Genius Loci and Other Tales
by Clark Ashton Smith
1948, 15 stories, limited to 3,000 copies. Jacket art by Frank Wakefield.
Skull-face and Others
by Robert E. Howard
1946, 3,000 copies, collection of stories. Jacket by Hannes Bok.
Something About Cats
by H.P. Lovecraft
1949, 3,000 copies - stories, essays, memoir & notes, contains portrait of Lovecraft as a boy.
West India Nights
by Henry S Whitehead
1946, collection of supernatural tales, jacket by Ronald Clyne, 3,000 copies
The Inhabitant of the Lake and Less Welcome Tenants
by J Ramsey Campbell
1964, short stories, Campbell's first book at 18, 2,000 copies, Frank Utpatel cover.
