*** Virgil Finlay ***

“An Astrology Sketch Book” By Beverly C. Finlay

Copyrighted 1975 Beverly C. Finlay. Artwork of Pisces done by Virgil Finlay.
Popular Library COPYRIGHT PAGE 51 "Pisces Plate VII"

My luv for old books increases with every new addition to my ever growing library especially so when I discover something new about someone or something.
Not too long ago I came across a book that dealt with Astrology.
Being a person who seldom follows the horoscope I do fancy in some of its mysterious explanations of why I am who I am.
Its assumption on my Pisces characteristics in most cases is far removed to my personality although at times it does touch upon some that undeniably are more than particularly spooky accurate.

Well, not so much for the topic of astrology but rather the subject of Astrology art, in particular a book entitled “An Astrology Sketch Book” By Beverly C. Finlay.
I never read my horoscope the day the book fell into my hands…literally;only then I had wished I had,if anything just for curiosity sake.Sitting on the top shelf of the store it came tumbling down and opened, to of all pages “Pisces plate VII” page 51.
My Astrology sign happens to be Pisces and the number seven is my mom’s lucky number.

1949 Between Worlds











On closer examination I began reading Beverly’s account of her husband’s personality and how it reflected in areas I too found quite interesting…Poe and Lovecraft were two authors he liked as I do and found interest in the Fantastic and the Weird much like I do as well.
Beverly begins by introducing the man behind the magical art…

“Virgil Finlay had a life-long interest in “ghoulies and ghosties and long leggety beasties, and things that go bump in the night”. Born with a caul, he was destined, according to old wives’ tales, to possess occult powers. Perhaps there is a grain of truth to this. He had a preoccupation with the fantastic and the weird. The myths and legends of antiquity fascinated him, as did the mystic and inexplicable.”


Cover for the Jan 1941 issue of Fantastic Novels




A book with mermaids,sea and fish by a fellow who had much of the same interests as I do,how could I even think of setting it down for just one moment and losing it for good?
Parting no long thought to keeping it,I walked to the counter and purchased the book.

And so,now I am the owner of a copy of 2000 that was printed and published in
1975 with the additional bonus of the Publisher’s signature Donald M. Grant written right under Beverly Finlay’s name and above his; quite a treat I must say.

Beverly Finlay’s book enlightens us in the beautiful art of Virgil Finlay. His art one time had graced the pages of Popular Library’s “Astrology Your Daily Horoscope” and “Everywoman’s Daily Horoscope” magazines, magazines and artist I had never known until the day the book “An Astrology Sketch Book” found me.

For more entailed information on Virgil Finlay please check this link……I feel silly to have never known him until now…but as they say better later then never.

http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/finlay.htm