With coloured frontispiece and extra title-page in colour by Hal Gye

Component identifier:

Item 70(a)

Content Summary:

Although title-page states: 'Illustrated by Hal Gye', there are no illustrations throughout the text. Extra-illustrated by the artist with two pen and ink drawings 'The Artist then and now. Yours sincerely, Hal Gye'.

Long inscription on end paper by Hal Gye in which he writes: 'how it ever came about that this Dennis book has no line illustrations - well, memory has lost the evidence. Looking back over the years I would say that A cut them out for financial reasons. 'Den's' books at this time were not money-spinners like The sentimental bloke and Ginger Mick - it couldn't go on...as for 'Den' taking a hand in the matter and pushing Hal Gye into a full illustrating job all Mr Gye can say at this date is that the poet would have never thought of shoving anybody but himself, and yet no illustrator has ever befriended poet and publisher more...or done a better and more lasting job - the history of the years proves it. All down the years the publishers have never thought of the artist who also did his bit towards the mammoth success of the book - a book which Mr Bob Menzies said that he could never make up his mind as to which contributed more to the success of the book (The sentimental bloke) the verses or the whimsy of my illustrations. He said it to me personally at the Book Fair at the Melbourne Town Hall'.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The collection was purchased from Harry Chaplin in 1981.

Names:

Chaplin, Harry F.

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