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A striking original glamour illustration by legendary pin-up and “good girl” artist Bill Ward, featuring one of his unmistakable Ward Girls seated beside a telephone in stockings, heels, jewelry and an elaborately rendered decorative setting.
This is original hand-created artwork — not a print, reproduction or later facsimile.Dimensions: Backing board measures approximately 24.5\" x 15.5\". The artwork itself is executed on a separate sheet measuring approximately 23\" x 15\", which is affixed to the larger backing board. Please see photographs for construction and condition details.
The artwork is signed “WARD” prominently in the lower-left image area and displays Ward’s characteristic combination of finely modeled dark tones, expressive linework and brilliant opaque-white highlights. Particularly attractive white accents appear throughout the hair, jewelry, stockings and shoes.
The reverse provides especially compelling production history. It bears an original HUMORAMA, INC., 667 Madison Ave., New York 21, N.Y. stamp as well as POPULAR JOKES / Visual Features, Inc. markings and handwritten editorial/production notations including “5/70.”
These markings strongly associate the artwork with the Humorama/Popular Jokes publishing operation. We have not independently confirmed the exact printed issue in which this particular illustration appeared, so the May 1970 notation is presented as an original production marking rather than as a definitive publication-date attribution.
The lower margin also retains vintage production notations, including apparent reproduction-sizing instructions — wonderful evidence of this piece having functioned as working commercial artwork rather than simply a studio drawing.
CONDITION
This is vintage working production art and shows age and production-related wear consistent with that history.
Please review all high-resolution photographs carefully. Visible characteristics include:
- Overall age toning and discoloration
- Edge and corner wear
- Old tape and/or adhesive residue around portions of the perimeter
- Small edge losses and abrasions
- Wear to the backing/support board
- Some waviness / lack of complete flatness
- Production marks, editorial notations and publisher stamps
- Damage and paper loss along portions of the reverse lower edge
Importantly, the central artwork itself presents beautifully, with strong imagery, excellent contrast and the characteristic white highlights remaining visually striking.
No attempt has been made to restore, trim, clean or otherwise alter the artwork.
High-resolution pictures provided should be considered part of the description.
MARKET CONTEXT
Strong Bill Ward Humorama and glamour illustrations have achieved substantial four-figure prices at major original-art sales, with especially appealing examples reaching approximately $2,600–$3,100 in documented Heritage sales. This is an especially alluring and highly finished example of Ward’s classic pin-up work, offering many of the characteristics collectors seek in his art: a large, beautifully rendered figure, classic Ward styling, extensive tonal modeling and white highlights, a prominent signature, and vintage Humorama/Popular Jokes production markings.FRAMING IMAGE
The final photograph is a digital framing visualization only, provided to suggest how dramatically the artwork might display when professionally framed.
Frame is not included. Artwork is being sold unframed.
Artwork will be carefully protected and securely packaged for shipment.
