Harlequin Artists Part XXXV - Derrett (2)

In the first of the posts about early Harequin artist Derrett I said that I didn't know anything about him. Thanks to a correspondent I now can identify the artist with the third highest number of Harlequin covers in the first 10 years.

His full name is James Derrett McCarthy (1927-1982). A graduate of the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University), he was a commercial artist whose work could also be seen on other paperback covers and in Canadian magazines

Here are four of his covers from 1952 - all historical fiction.

Harlequin 169 - May 1952

Harlequin 178 - July 1952

Harlequin 187 - September 1952

Harlequin 190 - October 1952

Harlequin Artists Part XXI - Derrett (1)

It's odd that the artist with the third most early Harlequin covers is only known by his last name. Derrett signed 22 covers over a two year period but I can find nothing about him. He also did three covers for Wm. Collins Sons & Co. Canada in their White Circle line. In the earlier post I said that he is not listed in any of the mid-century Toronto City Directories. He is also not in the Index of Canadian Illustrators.

Here are three - the first, the last and one in the middle.

Harlequin 118

Harlequin 118 - June 1951

Harlequin 174 - June 1952

Harlequin 241 - August 1953

Collins White Circle Artists Part XXVII - Derrett

Derrett illustrated three White Circle covers for Wm. Collins Sons & Co. Canada in 1951. I can find nothing about him, including a first name. For example there are no listings in the Toronto City Directories for Derrett. This is disappointing as I like his work. The Man With a Calico Face has an especially effective cover.

White Circle CD 489

White Circle CD 489 - 1951

White Circle C.D 500 - 1951

White Circle C.D. 519 - 1951