Brothers Hildebrandt 1978 Signed Numbered Art Book

🎨 The Brothers Hildebrandt: A Book About the Artists (1978) — Signed limited edition exhibition program featuring black-and-white and full-color reproductions of fantasy and science fiction illustrations by Tim and Greg Hildebrandt. This copy is #61 of only 100 signed and numbered by both brothers.

QUICK FACTS

• Artists: Tim Hildebrandt (1939–2006) & Greg Hildebrandt
• Publisher: John Taylor, Silver Spring, MD
• Year: 1978 (limited to 7,500 copies; first 100 signed & numbered)
• Format: Softcover, stapled, 48 pages plus covers
• Condition: Very good plus — see full report below

THE STORY

Published in honor of the Brothers Hildebrandt’s exhibition at the Maryland Funnybook Festival on July 9, 1978, this 48-page book is part retrospective, part portfolio. Tim and Greg Hildebrandt were among the most recognizable fantasy illustrators of the 1970s, known for their Tolkien calendars, the original Star Wars poster, and work for Marvel Comics, Ballantine Books, and major publishing houses. The Brothers themselves describe the cover painting “Tavern in the Woods” as the piece they created in 1974 to pitch fantasy publishers — work that led directly to their Lord of the Rings commissions.

THIS EDITION

The total print run was 7,500 copies, but only the first 100 were signed and numbered by both Tim and Greg. This copy is #61. The book was edited and published by Mark A. Feldman and John A. Taylor, with special acknowledgements to Boris and Doris Vallejo, Sydney Weinberg at Bantam Books, and Ian Summers. It includes a detailed interview format dialogue with Tim and Greg discussing their working methods, equipment, and creative process.

COVER ART & ILLUSTRATIONS

The front cover features the full-color “Tavern in the Woods” painting — a lush, detailed forest scene with gnome-like figures, stone statues flanking a wooden gate, and a storybook cottage. The back cover shows a haunting clown figure with skulls and a green Oliver typewriter against a deep red background (credited to Ballantine Books). Interior highlights include:

• Smaug — the full-color centerfold from the 1977 Tolkien calendar, acrylic on masonite, 48″ × 36½”, with a Tolkien quote on dragons
• Star Wars Cantina Band — full-color scene of aliens in a bar with musicians playing wind instruments
• Darth Vader & Ben Kenobi — lightsaber duel scene
• Barbarella — two pencil drawings for a proposed poster, detailed sci-fi panels
• Centaur Stellar #2 — 1975 acrylic painting of a formally dressed centaur with top hat before a medieval town
• Sword of Shannara — preliminary drawing for the Terry Brooks novel cover
• Rose Red & Snow White — previously unpublished 1969 fairytale painting
• Moisture Monster — unpublished 1976 pencil preliminary for an advertisement
• Biographical photos of Tim Hildebrandt in and out of costume

WHY IT MATTERS

• One of only 100 copies signed by both brothers — Tim Hildebrandt passed away in June 2006, making dual-signed copies permanently finite
• Includes the original Smaug painting from the 1977 Tolkien calendar that became one of the most reproduced Tolkien images ever published
• The Brothers’ Star Wars “one-sheet” for the original 1977 film release helped define the visual identity of the franchise at launch
• Features unpublished work alongside well-known pieces, giving a window into their range from fairy tale to science fiction

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? First edition, 1978. Copy #61 of 100 signed and numbered by both Tim and Greg Hildebrandt, from a total print run of 7,500.

What condition is it in? Very good plus. Glossy covers retain most original sheen with slight creasing in places and a few surface impressions visible only at certain angles. No tears, chips, or losses. Interior is clean — no writing or marks beyond the signatures on the title page. Staples and center page solid.

Is it signed? Yes — signed by both Tim and Greg Hildebrandt in blue ink on the title page, numbered 61/100.

FOR COLLECTORS

This is a genuine piece of 1970s fantasy art history — a self-produced exhibition catalog from the peak of the Brothers’ career, personally signed before Tim’s death in 2006. The combination of the Tolkien calendar Smaug, Star Wars Cantina Band, and Sword of Shannara preliminaries in a single slim volume makes it a compact reference for their most significant commissions.

This large soft cover book is in very good plus or better condition, with the staples and center page solid.

The glossy covers retain most of their original sheen, with just perhaps the slightest bit of creasing in a few places. There are a few impressions in the surface here or there, where something got pressed against the cover, but not significant, really only visible when held up to the light in the right angle. No tears, chips or losses to the covers.

The interior is free of writing or marks – aside from the Brothers’ signatures on the title page – and none of the pages are torn or creased or folded.

Will ship securely packed and fully insured – US ONLY please.

HFB-SEO-v1: 2026-07-03

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