I was pleased to be able to pick up the artwork for the 1970 edition of ‘Hornblower and the Crisis’ but wasn’t sure of the artist until I got it. I was even more pleased to see, on turning it over, the name David Tayler on the back. I’ve wanted an example of David’s work to go in my small collection for quite a while. I asked Colin Larkin if he could confirm it was by Tayler’ which he did, plus that the late and very much missed, Ken Hatherley had another one he said. Funnily enough the first PAN ‘Hornblower’ was by Tayler back in 1957 and this was one of his last. I’ve put all the PAN ‘Hornblower’ covers on one page HERE I’m still trying to check if there was a 1972 edition of ‘Lieutenant Hornblower’
Simon emailed to ask a question about the cover of ‘The Songs of Summer’ by Robert Silverberg with cover by Julek Heller. He wondered what was going on in the top inch or so. I will confess I had not noticed but said I would email Julek to ask him. It was just after I sent it I noticed this.
Sad to say we have lost yet another great book cover artist in the last decade. Julek was born in Jerusalem on the 1st October 1944 to Polish parents who moved to the UK. He studied art at the Chelsea College of Art and the Royal Academy. His career as an illustrator began in the mid-1970’s, working on children’s television programme Jackanory for the BBC and book covers for many different publishers including PAN. As for the cover I think it is the serpent looking up at the buildings from underwater at the waterline. I sent belated condolences to the family and got a lovely message back.
Just for a change I’m including scans of the three Piccolo ‘True Animal Stories’ series by Eric R Delderfield. I think PAN only published one other title by Delderfield namely, ‘Introduction to Inn Signs’ I’ve also included another Piccolo tile ‘The World of Wolves‘ by Jacquelyn Berrill as I think it’s a great cover.
