Howard, Robert E. (1950) ‘Conan the Conqueror’, US first edition, signed by designer David Kyle

Robert Ervin Howard (1950) ‘Conan the Conqueror‘, US first edition, first printing, published by Gnome Press. Signed and inscribed by Gnome Press publisher and book designer David Kyle to the well known collector Jerry Weist on the front free endpaper: “Jerry! / From the cartographer / (with R.E.H.) of the / Hyborean Age / Dave Kyle / Original / Gnome.” Kile drew the map of the Hyborean world for the book. Howard died in 1936 so there are no copies signed by the author.

Condition: near fine. Minimal wear to the book, unknown signature on the paste down. Gorgeous jacket, bright and with an unfaded spine. A short, almost invisible crease to the spine is the only flaw to note. Easily a near fine book in a near fine, superior dustjacket.

Provenance: the Jerry Weist sci-fi books and original art collection.

The first book of the Gnome Press Conan series. Novel-length story first published as a five-part serial in WEIRD TALES, December 1935 through April 1936 as “The Hour of the Dragon.” (Barron, Fantasy Literature 3-182). The Conan series gained in popularity in the 1980s through the two film adaptations starring the charismatic Arnold Schwarzenegger whose muscle mountains were ideal to portray Howard’s hero, and which launched young Arnold’s acting career in Hollywood.