"Masters of the Weird Tale" Lovecraft Book: A HPL Photo Collection at Last?

Centipede Press, previously renowned as creators of the gargantuan tome, A Lovecraft Retrospective: Art and Artists Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, may have finally come closer than anyone else in the United States to assembling a collection of major Lovecraft photos. These appear in their latest installment of the ultra-quality "Masters of the Weird Tale" series released last year: a 1200 page hardcover set of two volumes comprising all of HPL's best fiction called H.P. Lovecraft: Masters of the Weird Tale. Sheltered somewhere within the forest of eldritch words are photographs of Lovecraft's Providence, Rhode Island, by J.K. Potter, as well as portraits of the writer himself. Or, as Centipede's official website describes the contents:

Over 1,200 pages of Lovecraft's best fiction and selected collaborations. Also includes "Supernatural Fiction in Literature," the de facto reference essay on the genre. This volume includes a separate book of (never before published) J.K.Potter photographs of Providence, and a selection of H.P. Lovecraft portrait photographs, the largest such collection of pictures ever assembled in one volume.

This is notable for being the first time in recent memory a publisher of Lovecraft's works has specifically set out to include meaningful photos. While there's no indication it is a comprehensive album of all known Lovecraft photos, this move by Centipede may signal the step toward the appearance of such a work. As I've commented in previous posts on the subject, it's somewhat incredible that there has never been a complete Lovecraft photo album put together as either a stand alone piece or nestled within a volume of HPL's tales in the United States. Instead, the images of Lovecraft remain scattered to the four winds--in random editions of his story collections, in online scans, and in the occasional appearance in small press magazines--creating an inconvenience for the rabid Lovecraftian seeking as many images of their idol as possible.

Regrettably, as with many Centipede products, their Lovecraft volume is no small investment, weighing in at about $325 (and more for international buyers). H.P. Lovecraft: Masters of the Weird Tale retails for a discount via Amazon, though. Also, one shouldn't expect to see any stunning scans of possibly new Lovecraft photos pop up any time soon on the internet. Even if there weren't obvious copyright issues with the J.K. Potter photographs and others, actually getting the hefty thing on a scanner would prove quite challenging.

Alas, the search for a pictorial history of H.P. Lovecraft grinds on, but not without some progress thanks to Centipede.

-Grim Blogger