Weird Tales Sept 1950 — Asimov & Pohl

📖 Weird Tales, September 1950 (Vol. 42, No. 6) — The landmark fantasy-horror pulp featuring “Legal Rites,” the first published collaboration between Isaac Asimov and Frederik Pohl. This copy presents well with vibrant cover colors and tight binding for a 75-year-old pulp.

QUICK FACTS

• Lead Story: “Legal Rites” by Isaac Asimov & Frederik Pohl (as James MacCreigh) — novelette, pp. 8–25
• Other Authors: August Derleth, Frank Owen, Carl Jacobi, Emil Petaja
• Editor: D. McIlwaine | Publisher: Weird Tales, Inc., 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York
• Year: 1950 (first printing) | Format: Pulp magazine, bimonthly
• Cover Price: 25¢ | Pages: ~96 | ISBN: None (pre-ISBN era)
• Condition: Good+ (G+) — full report below

THIS ISSUE

The centerpiece is “Legal Rites,” a supernatural comedy about a ghost who sues for his legal rights. Asimov originally wrote the story in 1940 based on a Pohl idea, but John W. Campbell rejected it from Unknown. Pohl rewrote it under the pen name James MacCreigh and sold it to Weird Tales seven years later — one of the rare Asimov-Pohl collaborations. The issue also includes “Potts’ Triumph” by August Derleth, plus short fiction by Frank Owen, Carl Jacobi, and Emil Petaja, and the reader letter column “The Eyrie.”

COVER ART & ILLUSTRATIONS

The cover by Matt Fox depicts an eerie library scene: a spectral, white-bearded figure with wisps rising from his head sits in an armchair while a man watches from the side. Deep browns and blacks contrast with warm oranges and ghostly whites — a quintessential mid-century gothic palette. Interior illustrations by Fred Humiston open “Legal Rites,” and Vincent Napoli provides headings for the Derleth story. The back cover features a B.F. Goodrich tire ad with Emmett Kelly, the famous circus clown.

WHY IT MATTERS

• “Legal Rites” is one of only a handful of fiction collaborations between Asimov and Pohl, two of the most important figures in 20th-century science fiction
• Asimov included the story in “The Early Asimov” (1972), cementing its place in his collected works
• Weird Tales was the premier fantasy-horror pulp — this late-period issue represents the magazine’s final years before ceasing in 1954
• Matt Fox was a key Weird Tales cover artist during the postwar era, known for atmospheric, moody compositions

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What makes this issue special? It contains the first publication of “Legal Rites,” a rare Asimov-Pohl collaboration written in 1940 but not published for a decade.

What condition is it in? Good+ (G+) — cover colors remain vibrant with some edge wear, spine rubbing, and minor chipping. Pages are clean with minimal toning. Full report below.

Is this a complete copy? Yes — all pages present, binding solid, pages tight and square for a vintage pulp.

FOR COLLECTORS

This issue appeals to collectors of Asimov’s rare collaborative work, Weird Tales completists, and mid-century pulp art enthusiasts. Matt Fox cover art from this period is increasingly sought after, and the Asimov-Pohl connection gives it crossover appeal in both SF and fantasy collecting circles.

Condition Report

Overall Grade: Good+ (G+)

Cover & Spine: Front cover remains bright and clean with minor rubbing to extremities, lower edge crimped and bent around block edge. Upper edge of cover is cut out square. Spine shows moderate rubbing and minor chipping at ends. Back cover remains remarkably vibrant and clean, white areas showing almost no rubbing or soiling at all, albeit the upper 3″ is split from the spine edge.

Dust Jacket: Not applicable (Paperback format).

Text Block & Pages: Clean text block with minimal toning to the cream-colored pages, amazing tight and square for a book of this type. No loose, torn pages, one page upper corner tip randomly turned down, otherwise none.

Binding: Solid overall, though handled with care due to typical age-related spine wear.

I wish all of these books presented this well!

See accompanying images for full condition details. Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

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