Frank Godwin

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Frank Godwin (October 20,1889-August 5,1959) was an American illustrator. He was one of the top draftsmen of his day. His ink work with pen and brush was, in the opinion of many who are familiar with his work, superior to that of his tremendously better known contemporaries, such as Charles Dana Gibson, Howard Chandler Christy, and James Montgomery Flagg. He is best remembered for his book illustrations, which include those for Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Robinson Crusoe, and King Arthur. He is also known for his work in comic strips, notably "Connie" (1927-1944) (some sources indicate 1929 as the start date for Connie) and "Rusty Riley" (1948-1959). His comic strip work is little known or appreciated today. Contemporaries such as Hal Foster, Milton Caniff, and Alex Raymond continue to be reprinted with regularity, while Godwins two strips are difficult to find. He receives more attention in Europe, specifically France (where Connie is usually called Cora), though even there it is quite sparse. Part of the reason for the obscurity of his comic strip work may be that during his lifetime, his work, especially Connie, was distributed by smaller syndicates than those of his better remembered contemporaries. In contrast to this, original book editions featuring his work are avidly sought and traded. He was also a prolific editorial and advertising illustrator.