Robbers' Roost

As demonstrated in the pages of his numerous western themed Big Little Books, Henry Vallely had an affinity for illustrating horses. The above painting, the frontispiece for Zane Grey's Western Magazine Vol. 1, No. 3 from 1947, was a teaser for the issues' featured novel Robbers' Roost by Zane Grey.

That's Amore!

This Valentine's Day themed cover for Buick Magazine was created for the February 1947 issue (Volume 8, Number 8). Much like the cover from September of 1938, this also has the sort of wholesome feel that is more associated with The Saturday Evening Post than an automotive promotional periodical. Though this piece was created towards the end of his career, Henry Vallely still had no problem capturing innocence, charm and beauty.

Western Round Up

In his later years Henry Valley was finding work illustrating stories in Zane Grey's Western Magazine, but he was by no means unfamiliar with the genre. Two-Gun Montana, Tom Mix and the Hoard of Montezuma and The Lone Ranger Follows Through were just a few of the Big Little Books his artwork accompanied in the late 1930's and early 1940's. His work for Zane Grey was generally two drawing per 7½" x 5¼" page, with a slightly larger image for the splash. The level of detail for these illustrations was greater than that found in his Big Little work, but not as embellished as his drawings for Whitman's Authorized Editions. Both of the above pieces are from 1947. The top one illustrated Carl Smith's Tom Rynning's Long Ride from Vol. 1, No. 2. The bottom one illustrated Smith's Uncle Billy and the Doolin Gang from Vol. 1, No. 4.