THE FACE IN THE ABYSS by Merritt, A. (preface by Paul Spencer) - 1991

Providence, Rhode Island: Donald M. Grant, 1991. 286 pp. Black cloth decorated in gilt on the spine; headband. Light rubbing on the corners of the dustjacket with a short closed tear on the lower edge of the rear panel and a small chip from the upper right of the rear panel; no interior markings. Dj art and interior drawings by Ned Dameron. Abraham Merritt was primarily a journalist and first, an assistant editor, then the editor of The American Weekly. His fictional output was small but powerful, inspired by H. Rider Haggard and Robert W. Chambers and, in turn, he was an inspiration to H. P. Lovecraft and many others. His first fantasy story, Through the Dragon Glass, was published in 1917 in All-Story Weekly. The Face in the Abyss, from Argosy All-Story Weekly in September 1923, is about an American mining engineer who, while searching for lost Inca treasure in South America, encounters Suarra, handmaiden to the Snake Mother of Yu-Atlanchi. She leads him to an abyss where Nimir, the Lord of Evil is imprisoned in a face of gold. While his companions are transformed by the face into globules of gold on account of their greed, he is saved by Suarra and the Snake Mother whom he joins in their struggle against Nimir.. First Printing - First Thus. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. Illus. by Ned Dameron;. 8vo.