"It Happened In Melgrove Square" by John Hunter, Cover by Eric Parker (Amalgamated Press, London 1951)

 

 

Brilliant suspense and craftsmanship by illustrator Eric Parker - I'd love to see any of the original paintings for a closer look at the brushwork and colours. These books were being published every two weeks so there wasn't much time for the artist to design each issue - he may even have been in charge for the titles as well!

"The Case Of The Japanese Contract" By Anthony Parsons, Cover By Eric Parker (Amalgamated Press, London 1952)

 

 

 

"The Case Of The Missing Nazi" By Walter Tyler, Cover By Eric Parker (Amalgamated Press, London 1953)

 

"The Mystery Of The Haunted Square" By John Drummond, Cover By Eric Parker (published by The Amalgamated Press Ltd, London 1950)

 

"The Affair Of Danny The 'Dip'", A Sexton Blake Mystery By Walter Tyler, Cover Illustration By Eric Parker (Amalgamated Press, London 1950)

Discovered a small collection of early 1950's Sexton Blake mysteries at a second hand furniture shop - they were irresistible! This particular story gets really good reviews on the Sexton Blake archive webside, http://www.sextonblake.co.uk/blakebibliography_1950.html#sbl3_208 . Eric Parker (1898-1974)  illustrated most of the covers between the mid 1930's and 1950's and they are all stunning so I'll be posting some more in the next few days.