Dracula
Bram Stoker[Author]; Greg Hildebrandt [Illustrator]

The Unicorn Publishing House, New Jersey, 1985

A lushly produced edition of the Irish classic, reimagined through the lens of 1980s fantasy realism. Bound in the publisher's decorative black boards with extensive bat gilt stamping and a pictorial onlay, it presents Bram Stoker's moral fable with a level of visual intensity usually reserved for high fantasy.


KEY FEATURES:

+++ Visuals: Illustrated throughout with Greg Hildebrandt's signature style—dramatic lighting, emotive character work, and rich color palettes—including full-page color plates and black-and-white line drawings.
+++ Binding: Publisher's original black textured boards with gilt bat motif and a pictorial paste-down on the front cover.

+++ Artist’s Signature: "HAND" Signed by Greg Hildebrandt 


CONDITION:

 Fine - A sharp, attractive copy. The binding is tight and square with bright gilt. No flaws to the covers. The interior is clean. No dust jacket, as originally issued.


DETAILS:

+++ Imprint: The Unicorn Publishing House, New Jersey, 1985

+++ Specs: 10.25 inches tall / 264 pages 


HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Greg Hildebrandt, along with his brother Tim, defined the visual language of 1970s and 80s fantasy, most famously through their J.R.R. Tolkien calendars and the original Star Wars poster. By 1986, Greg was applying this hyper-realistic, glowing style to children's classics. His interpretation of Dracula moves away from the cartoonish Disney aesthetic and returns to a more European, slightly darker, and more atmospheric tone that aligns with his fantasy roots. For collectors of Greg Hildebrandt's work, this volume represents a crossover moment when his mastery of light and shadow (chiaroscuro) was applied to a domestic fairy tale rather than an epic saga.

This edition by Unicorn Publishing House is from the "Unicorn Heirloom Collection"– when books with high production value, heavy paper, and elaborate binding were designed to be kept as heirlooms.


ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Greg Hildebrandt and his brother Tim (the Brothers Hildebrandt) spent three years working on The Lord of the Rings calendars, which comprise his most famous and beloved body of artwork.

The creation of much of the Brothers Hildebrandt’s artwork was a family affair, as sons, daughters, spouses, and friends modeled homemade costumes and posed for endless Polaroid pictures that served as templates for their paintings.

After the success of his first Lord of the Rings calendar, Greg and Tim’s reputation as master illustrators grew. They received a last-minute call for a much-needed poster for “some sci-fi movie” that was opening in a matter of days. The original artwork had been rejected, and the director wanted something good immediately. In 36 non-stop hours, the Brothers Hildebrandt created the epic Star Wars poster for George Lucas, using Greg's wife as a model for Princess Leia and a friend in an old bathrobe for Luke Skywalker.

In 2010, Greg Hildebrandt received the Chelsey Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. He remained active in the art world, continuing work on his "American Beauties” pinup art series until his death on October 31, 2024.