Gods' Man, Lynd Ward. First Edition, Third Printing.

Gods’ Man Lynd Ward First edition, third printing, of Ward’s groundbreaking first novel in wood engravings, widely regarded as the first American wordless novel and a foundational precursor of the modern graphic novel. Influenced by German Expressionism and the pictorial narratives of Frans Masereel, Ward tells a dark Faustian story of an ambitious young artist who accepts a magical brush from a mysterious stranger in exchange for his soul. New York: Jonathan Cape and Harrison Smith, 1930. Original black cloth spine over decorated pictorial paper-covered boards, each cover with an inset design by Ward, printed paper spine label, black endpapers, top edge stained black, and fore and lower edges rough-cut; pp. [6] preliminary pages followed by 144 unnumbered leaves, printed on the rectos only, comprising 139 full-page wood engravings and five engraved chapter titles. The title and dedication pages are additionally decorated with engraved vignettes. About very good. Binding remains tight and sturdy with light lean, general wear to boards and extremities. Internally clean.