EXTRACTS: Illustrators issue 15 © 2016 The Book Palace (96 PAGES in Full edition)

92 The Gallery: Giorgio De Gaspari—Paintings With A Punch! In the autumn of 1958, a new title appeared in the UK. War Picture Library was a 64 page pocket library comic, as such it was competing in an already crowded market with the likes of Thriller Picture Library , Cowboy Picture Library and Super Detective Library . Such was the success of the new title, that it spawned a further expansion of the format, with Air Ace Picture Library, Battle Picture Library and War at Sea Picture Library joining the throng. Many of the covers for the early issues of these series were painted by Giorgio De Gaspari. Born in Milan in 1927, De Gaspari cut his teeth on movie posters and editorial illustrations for Domenica del Corriere before launching himself on the UK market. He lived in London for many years, but eventually, tiring of the rat-race, moved to the small island of Pellestrina located in a Venetian lagoon, where, signing his work Giorgio Foresto, he would exchange his paintings for the items to facilitate his Spartan existence. He died in Venice in October 2012.