A Guide to the Charles Vess Papers, 1978-2007 M 374
A Collection in Special Collections and Archives M 374
VCU James Branch Cabell Library
Special Collections and Archives 901 Park AvenueRichmond, Virginia 23284
Business Number: (804) 828-1108
libjbcsca@vcu.edu
URL: https://www.library.vcu.edu/research-teaching/special-collections-and-archives/locations/#cabell
Cindy Jackson and Celina Williams
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Access
Collection is open to research.
Preferred Citation
Charles Vess Papers, Collection Number M 374, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.
Biographical Note
Charles Vess is a respected fantasy art and comic-book illustrator whose work is within the realm of myths and fairy tales. He has won several awards, including Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards for his work on The Book of Ballads and Sagas, Neil Gaiman's Sandman, and Jeff Smith's Rose. In 1999, he was awarded the World Fantasy Award as Best Artist for his 175 paintings for Gaiman's novel Stardust. Vess was born in Lynchburg, VA, and began drawing as a child. He went on to earn a BFA in Printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1974, and his first professional position was as a commercial animator for Candy Apple Productions in Richmond, VA. He later moved to New York City, did freelance for Heavy Metal Magazine, Klutz Press, and National Lampoon, and published The Horns of Elfland. In the 1980s, his career in fantasy comic art emerged with the publishing of Marvel Comics' The Raven Banner: A Tale of Asgard, "The Warriors Three Saga" in Marvel Fanfare, and Dark Horse Comics' Book of Night. In the 1990s, his notable mainstream work included the one-shot Spider-Man: Spirits of Earth and a 10-issue run as the cover artist for DC's The Swamp Thing. He also illustrated the official comic book adaptation of Steven Spielberg's Hook. During the early 1990s, Vess began self-publishing through his own Green Man Press studio. As an illustrator, Vess is well-known for his collaborations and other commissioned work, most notably with Neil Gaiman (Books of Magic, Sandman, Stardust, and Blueberry Girl), Terry Windling and Ellen Datlow (The Green Man, The Faery Reel, and The Coyote Road), Charles de Lint (Seven Wild Sisters, A Circle of Cats, Moonheart, and Medicine Road), and George R.R. Martin (A Storm of Swords). VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives received these titles as a part of the donation from Charles Vess.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains original artwork, correspondence, and periodicals. Graphic novels and comic books, many signed by Vess, are also available in Special Collections.
Arrangement
Materials are organized into three series--Artwork, Correspondence, and Journals. Each series is in alphabetical order, then chronologically therein.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Illustrators -- Archives -- Virginia
- Vess, Charles -- Archives
- Virginia Commonwealth University -- Alumni and alumnae -- Archives
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Vess, Charles
- Vess, Charles -- Archives
Container List
- Mixed Materials box: 1
Bone Art Print signed by Jeff Smith1999
- Mixed Materials box: 1
Green Man Press Advertisements1997, 2003
- Mixed Materials box: 1
Greeting Cards1992, 1997
- Mixed Materials box: 1
Miscellaneous2007
- Mixed Materials box: 1
Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess' Stardust Collectible Notecardsundated
- Mixed Materials box: 1
Postcards1990, 1994, 2004, undated
- Mixed Materials box: 1
Rose Art Print signed by Charles Vessundated
- Mixed Materials box: 1
Sandman postcard,1996
- Mixed Materials box: 1
Stardust postcards and invitations1998, 2007, undated
- Mixed Materials box: 1
The Third Annual Tori Amos RAINN Benefit Calendar2006
- Mixed Materials box: 1
"Visions from The Book of Night"1978
- Mixed Materials box: 1
The Comics Journal , #2181999 December
- Mixed Materials box: 1
Faerie Magazine2006 Autumn
- Mixed Materials box: 1
Fantasy Worlds #52005 February
- Mixed Materials box: 1
Feature #21995 December/1996 January
- Mixed Materials box: 1
Highlander Magazine #342001 July/August
- Mixed Materials box: 2
Indy Magazine #151996
- Mixed Materials box: 2
It Magazine & Comics #11994 September
- Mixed Materials box: 2
Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts v.17 #22006 Summer
- Mixed Materials box: 2
Locus v. 51 #12003 July
- Mixed Materials box: 2
Marquee2004 Autumn
- Mixed Materials box: 2
Marquee2007 July/August
- Mixed Materials box: 2
Realms of Fantasy v. 13 #62007 August
- Mixed Materials box: 2
Showcase Magazine2007 May
- Mixed Materials box: 2
Sing Out v. 40 #31995 November-December/1996 January
- Mixed Materials box: 2
Sing Out v. 40 #41996 Feb/March/April
- Mixed Materials box: 2
Sing Out v. 41 #11996 May/June/July
- Mixed Materials box: 2
Sing Out v. 41 #41997 Feb/March/April
- Mixed Materials box: 2
Starlog #3582007 August