Skip to main content
Go to accessibility options

Description

Bernie Wrightson Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's Frankenstein Unfinished Chapter 2 Plate Illustration Original Art (Marvel, c. 1976). A young Victor Frankenstein sits on a windowsill, lost in thoughts of nature's hidden workings. This plate is a tantalizing near-miss from Wrightson's Frankenstein masterpiece and bears all the hallmarks of his painstaking craftsmanship: intricate inking, deliberate composition, and a near-obsessive pursuit of perfection. Wrightson was famously meticulous, often producing multiple finished versions of an image, agonizing for weeks to "improve" it, only to return to the original. His seven-year odyssey on Frankenstein became a testament to that perfectionism, yielding some of the most intricate ink illustrations ever created for a literary work. Intended for Chapter 2, this alternate illustration would have carried the caption "It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn," as Victor recounts his formative years to Walton. Though ultimately set aside, the piece remains strikingly close to the version Wrightson chose, and offers a revealing glimpse into the labor-of-love process behind the horror master's defining achievement. Ink over graphite with an image area of 11" x 16", matted and glass-front framed to 19.5" x 24.5". Signed by Wrightson in the lower right margin. Presents in Excellent condition.


More information about Bernie Wrightson. See also: Wrightson, Bernie, Berni Wrightson Artist.

Auction Info

Proxy Bidding Ends 
March
1st Sunday 10:50 am CT
Auction Dates
Feb-Mar
27th-1st Friday-Sunday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining 
12 Days 23h 55m 8s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 20
Lot Tracking Activity: 137
Page Views: 415

Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% of the successful bid (minimum $29) per lot.

This lot is in: 2 - Signature® Internet Session - Comic Art - No Floor or Phone Bidding (Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 94001-94421) - 11:00 AM Central Time, Sunday, March 1, 2026.
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]

Show All Session Information

Show Auction Type Info

Exhibition Viewing Times, Title Page, Floor Session and License Information

Additional Location Info:
Heritage Auctions - Dallas
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261

Jerry Weist's Comic Art Price Guide 2011
Want to know more about this artist? Dates, history, background, and value ranges are covered in the comprehensive new guide. Order Now!
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Sales Tax information

Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More

Terms and Conditions  |  Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments |  Glossary of Terms
Current Bid:
$2,100
Track Item