Final by Keller David (4 results)

Wrappers. Condition: Near Fine. Various (illustrator). First Edition. Portland, OR: Perri Press, 1949. First Edition. 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", plain red staplebound wrappers. Unpaginated, but 10 single-page mimeographed chapters, I through X, are each faced by a tipped-in black-and-white illustration by a different illustrator. Foreword/acknowledgment and the unusual story itself by Keller. Sun shadow on front cover, else near fine with only minor toning to paper margins. A very scarce - and unusual - production of David H. Keller, M.D. (David Henry Keller), who primarily wrote, under this and a host of pseudonyms, for science fiction and fantasy/horror genre pulps. After the Portland [Oregon] Science Fantasy Society held an illustrating contest which yielded, as its winner, these ten very diverse pieces, Keller decided to write a short-short story tying them together, as a tribute. To do that in ten one-page chapters would be more than just a stretch, something Keller no doubt knew. The result - which incorporates ten different styles and ten different subjects for the illustrations, from a Poe-like candlelit haunting to a cubist "Dimension Dweller", a rather stunningly presaging Death Star, fetching females both human and not, decent impersonations of Frank Paul and Virgil Finlay, and even a slimy Lovecraftian Cthulhu (yes, Keller did work The Mythos into this brief effort, though the Big C unavoidably ends up on.Saturn; one of the illustrations is of the ringed planet) it's a story which is necessarily too breathless and fun-loving for character development. But then, it wasn't meant to be anything other than what it is. What it is, now, is a nice, and extraordinarily scarce, piece of science fiction history. L100.

Soft Cover. Condition: Very Good Minus. First Edition. Paper wraps. 42pp unnumbered. Condition: Pages age-toned. Small closed tear to top of front cover and pages. Covers dust-soiled. *** A short story written by noted pulp magazine writer, David H. Keller (1880-1966). It was written around ten illustrations, which were winners of a contest held by the Portland Fantasy Society. A psychiatrist by profession, Keller turned to short-story writing as a hobby, and notably helped out Arkham House when it ran out of funds in 1948. Book.

First Edition. THE FINAL WAR, Perri Press, 1949, first edition, light wear to the upper right corner of the rear cover, else fine in wraps as issued. A most curious and fun item as Keller pieced together this story from 10 different illustrations by 10 different artists, all of which are included here in their original format with none of them being tipped to their prospective pages. A very scarce item and down right rare in this virginal state. From the library of one of the original members of the Portland [Oregon] Science Fantasy Society.

first edition stapled booklet style. 19498, 10 b/w tipped in artworks by different artists, to accompany the story, almost near fine.