Robert K. Abbett

Robert Kennedy Abbett (January 5, 1926 – June 20, 2015) was an American artist and illustrator.

Biography

Abbett was born in 1926 in Hammond, Indiana.

During the late-1950s, 1960s and 1970s, Abbett illustrated book covers for war novels, detective novels, thrillers, historical fiction and science fiction. Today, Abbett is best known for his paintings of wildlife (in particular, dogs), wilderness, sporting, and fishing.

His illustrations have been featured in a large number of books, magazines, and advertising. He has also authored or been featured in several art-related books, including A Season for Painting: The Outdoor Paintings of Robert K. Abbett  and  Wings from Cover: The Upland Images of Robert Abbett and Ed Gray.

Abbett was a graduate of both the University of Missouri and Purdue University. In 1953, Abbett moved to rural Connecticut where he built a house on an old farm (namely, Oakdale Farm[1]). There, Abbett was inspired by the untouched wilderness and forests, and began painting what he has become famous for today: animals and country life.

He died on June 20, 2015, at the age of 89 at his home in Bridgewater, Connecticut.[2]

Book covers illustrations

Robert K. Abbett was an illustrator for Ballantine Books,[3] Pyramid Books and Ace Books, as well as gold medal, Avon, Permabook, and Pocket Books. He illustrated Edgar Rice Burroughs' books,[4] including the Tarzan series,[5] Barsoom series,[6][7] and Pellucidar[8][9] series.

Books
  • The Quiet American by Graham Greene, Bantam Books, 1957
  • The Devil to Pay by Ellery Queen (pseudonym), Pocket Books, 1958
  • Spearhead by Franklin M. Davis, Jr., Permabooks, 1958
  • Justice, My Brother by James Keene (pseudonym of William Everett Cook), Dell Books, 1959
  • The D.A. Cooks a Goose by Erle Stanley Gardner, Pocket Books, 1959
  • Turn on the Heat by A.A. Fair, Dell Books 1959
  • Colonel Hugh North Solves The MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR MURDERS, by F. Van Wyck Mason, Cardinal Edition, 1960
  • Fear is the Key by Alistair MacLean, Permabook, 1960
  • Kiss Off the Dead by Garrity, Gold Medal, 1960
  • Mark Kilby and the Miami Mob by Robert Caine Frazer, Pocket Books, 1960
  • Plot It Yourself by Rex Stout, Bantam Books, 1960
  • The Fix by Jack Usher, Pocket Books, Inc., 1961
  • The Grave's in the Medal by Manning Lee Stokes, Dell 1961
  • The Counterfeit Courier by James C. Sheers, Dell Books, 1961
  • Born of Battle by Robert Crane,[10] Pyramid Books, 1962
  • Cry, Baby by Jack Ehrlich, Dell 1962
  • The Girl From Midnight by Robert Wade and Bill Miller, Gold Medal Books, 1962
  • Cleopatra, by Jeffry K. Gardner, 1962
  • Earth Abides, by George R. Stewart, Ace Books 1962
  • The Hate Merchant by Niven Busch, Macfadden Books, 1962
  • Tobruk by Peter Rabe, Bantam Books
  • Acapulco G.P.O. by Day Keene, Dell Books
  • The Life and Good Times of Randolf Hearst, by John Tebbel, Paperback Library, Inc., 1962
  • The Case Against Satan by Ray Russell, Paperback Library, Inc., 1963
  • The Bowl of Brass by Paul Wellman, Paperback Library, Inc.
  • Assignment—Stella Marni (Sam Durell Series) by Edward S. Aarons, Gold Medal Book, 1965
  • Bats Fly at Dusk by A. A. Fair, Dell, 1966
  • Bedrooms Have Windows by A. A. Fair, Dell, 1966
  • Some Women Won't Wait by A. A. Fair, Dell, 1966
  • A Woman of the People by Benjamin Capps, Duell, Sloan & Pearce, 1966
  • Chicago 11 by Day Keen, Dell, 1966
  • The Dark Fantastic by Whit Masterson (pseudonym of Robert Wade and H. Bill Miller), Avon Books, 1966
  • In the Last Analysis by Amanda Cross (pseudonym of Carolyn G. Heilbrun), 1966 (ISBN 0380545101)
  • The Bull Whip Breed by J. T. Edson, Bantam Books, 1969

Tarzan

Barsoom (Mars)
Front cover of the 1963 Ballantine Books paperback edition of Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Cover illustration by Robert Abbett.

Pellucidar

References
  1. Abbett illustrated books for Edgar Rice Burroughs. Burroughs wrote a novel called The Oakdale Affair.
  2. "Robert Abbett Obituary (2015) - Bridgewater, CT - The News-Times". Legacy.com.
  3. Dr. Michael S. Smith. "ACE SF K-Series Singles Image Library". Retrieved 2008-03-08.
  4. Robert R. Barrett. "To Bora-Bora and Back Again: The Story of Armstrong W. Sperry". Retrieved 2008-03-08.
  5. Nick Knowles. "ERB Paperback Collector U.S. First Editions". Retrieved 2008-03-08.
  6. FALCONER'S FANTASY BOOKS. "The Barsoom Series The John Carter Trilogy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-18. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  7. Nick Knowles. "Mars Series: Ballantine Books Series 1 Cover art by Robert Abbett". Archived from the original on 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  8. Nick Knowles. "Pellucidar 4". Archived from the original on 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  9. von Horst. "Tarzan at the Earth's Core Publishing History". Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  10. Barnard, Jeff (September 8, 1984). "With 97 Pen Names, Con Sellers Loses Taack of Stories He's Written". Schenectady Gazette. pp. Supplement Page 21. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  11. ERBzine.com. "ERB CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY". Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  12. ERBzine.com. "TARZAN AND "THE FOREIGN LEGION". Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  13. Burroughs Bibliophiles, Inc. "BURROUGHS BULLETIN Illustrated Bibliography IV: Issues 61 - 80". Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  14. Tarzan.com. "TARZAN AND THE CASTAWAYS". Retrieved 2008-03-11.
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