[Science Fiction][Fantasy] [Signed] The Final War

The Final War, David H. Keller, illustrators D. Bruce Berry, William Kroll, Ralph Rayburn Phillips, Con Pederson, John Grossman, Ken Brown, John Cockroft, Miles Eaton, O. G. Estes and Donald B. Day, Perri Press, Portland, Oregon, 1949. 8.5 x 5.5. Inches. 10pp (only paginated on leaves with text). Ten tipped-in b&w illustrated postcards are faced by corresponding text. Each illustration was created by a different artist and two of the illustrations are signed by the artist. Artist signatures include Ralph Rayburn Phillips and Donald B. Day. Red staple-bound wraps have creasing and soiling and a quarter inch tear along the bottom edge. Paginated on leaves with text only; leaves with tipped-in illustrations are not paginated; previous owner's information on front endpaper. All content is present but one signature (2 leaves) is detached. Leaves have minor creasing and soiling. Pamphlet is housed in a contemporary manila envelope which has moderate toning and chipping. Good condition. In 1948 a postcard illustration competition for "fan artists" was held by the Portland Science Fantasy Society in which ten winners were chosen; the winning illustrations were then reproduced as lithographed postcards. Following their publication, the author of this booklet, Dr. David H. Keller, decided that a story could be written tying all the illustrations together. Keller wove together this diverse set of illustrations to create a strange and fantastical tale of a doomed earth. David H. Keller was a physician and author of science fiction and fantasy magazines. Signatures found in this booklet belong to Donald B. Day, author, illustrator and editor of the science fiction fanzine, The Fanscient, and Ralph Rayburn Phillips, fantasy illustrator who contributed to publications such as Destiny: Tales in Science-Fantasy, Challenge, The Fanscient, Shanadu and others.…