What is your reference for attributing this cover to Ward? It is not listed in David Saunders’ H.J. Ward Pulp Checklist. I can make out a “D” in the lower right corner but the rest is too fuzzy to read. The woman’s face is not a typical “Ward face” (often that of his wife).
A careful observation of shadows, fingers, the man’s hat and collar, etc. all point towards a Ward’s cover, even if he had died several months earlier. The woman’s face may look unusually different from what Ward was used to paint but he may have given his wife a break for once or twice, like here for exemple : https://pulpcovers.com/spy-liner/#1
However, his signature in the lower right corner can be seen on another copy (Pinterest).
Hugh Joseph Ward’s art.
What is your reference for attributing this cover to Ward? It is not listed in David Saunders’ H.J. Ward Pulp Checklist. I can make out a “D” in the lower right corner but the rest is too fuzzy to read. The woman’s face is not a typical “Ward face” (often that of his wife).
A careful observation of shadows, fingers, the man’s hat and collar, etc. all point towards a Ward’s cover, even if he had died several months earlier. The woman’s face may look unusually different from what Ward was used to paint but he may have given his wife a break for once or twice, like here for exemple :
https://pulpcovers.com/spy-liner/#1
However, his signature in the lower right corner can be seen on another copy (Pinterest).