Frank Ver Beck

William Francis Ver Beck (June 1, 1858 – July 13, 1933) was an American illustrator known for his comedic drawings of animals.

Biography

Ver Beck was born in Richland Township, Belmont County, Ohio as the son of a shoemaker. He studied art and woodcarving under Mansfield, Ohio artist Robert R. "Railroad" Smith and worked as a wood engraver.

Ver Beck was one of author Stephen Crane's first friends in New York City. One winter evening Crane and British artist Phil May borrowed a tiger skin belonging to Ver Beck and were arrested walking huddled under the skin on Broadway in the early morning hours. They were released but the policeman kept the tiger skin. Also in New York City, in 1895 Ver Beck witnessed the shooting of Solomon Mann by David Hannigan and testified in Hannigan's trial.

Shortly before World War I, Ver Beck moved to England. He died at the age of 75 in Essex.

The Little Boy Book by Helen Hay; R. H. Russell, New York (1900) A Handbook of Golf for Bears; R. H. Russell, New York (1900) A New Wonderland by L. Frank Baum; R. H. Russell, New York (1900) – original title of The Magical Monarch of Mo (see image) Two Thousand Miles on an Automobile by "Chauffeur" [pseud. of Arthur Jerome Eddy]; J. B. Lippincott Co., New York (1902) Barbara Ladd by Charles G. D. Roberts; The American News Co., New York (1902) The Book of Bugs by Harvey Sutherland; Street & Smith, New York and London (1902) The Surprising Adventures of The Magical Monarch of Mo and His People by L. Frank Baum; The Bobbs-Merrill Co., Indianapolis (1903) – a lightly revised edition of A New Wonderland Poketown People: Parables in Black by Ella Middleton Tybout; J. B. Lippincott Co., New York (1904) Told by Uncle Remus: New Stories of the Old Plantation by Joel Chandler Harris; McClure, Phillips & Co., New York (1905) Ver Beck's Book of Bears; J. B. Lippincott Co., New York (1906) The Adventures of JouJou by Edith MacVane; J. B. Lippincott Co., New York (1906) Elsie and the Arkansaw Bear by Albert Bigelow Paine; Henry Altemus Co., Philadelphia (1909) The Fall of Ulysses by Charles Dwight Willard; George H. Doran Co., New York (1912) Ver Beck's Bears in Mother Goose-Land New Lines by Hanna Rion (wife of Frank Ver Beck); George H. Doran Co. New York AND Humphrey Milford, London

Ver Beck's Little Story Books: The Little Lost Bear; Henry Frowde and Hodder & Stoughton, London (1915); reprinted by Humphrey Milford, London Published in America as A Short Little Tale from Bruintown; Frederick A. Stokes Co., New York (1915) Timothy Turtle's Great Day; Henry Frowde and Hodder & Stoughton, London (1916) AND Frederick A. Stokes Co., New York (1916); reprinted by Humphrey Milford, London. The Donkey Child; Humphrey Milford, London (1918) The Elephant Child; Humphrey Milford, London (1920) The Little Cat Who Journeyed to St. Ives; Humphrey Milford, London (1921) The Little Lost Lamb; Humphrey Milford, London (1922) Piggywiggen: A Little Pig Who Went to Market; Humphrey Milford, London (1924)

Another Bear Book The Little Bear Who Ran Away From Bruintown; Small, Maynard and Co., Boston (1923)

Wee Books for Wee Folks. These were all reprinted later by The Platt & Munk Co. Inc., New York: Flapsy Flopper of the Farm Yard by May Wynne; Henry Altemus Co., Philadelphia (1925) Hootie Toots of Hollow Tree by May Wynne; Henry Altemus Co., Philadelphia (1925) Little Black Sambo and the Baby Elephant; Henry Altemus Co., Philadelphia (1925) Little Black Sambo and the Tiger Kitten; Henry Altemus Co., Philadelphia (1926) Little Black Sambo and the Monkey People; Henry Altemus Co., Philadelphia (1929) Little Black Sambo in the Bear's Den; Henry Altemus Co., Philadelphia (1930) Little Black Sambo and the Crocodiles; Henry Altemus Co., Philadelphia (1930)

Later Books The Arkansas Bear Complete by Albert Bigelow Paine; Henry Altemus Co., Philadelphia ( (1929) - a compilation of the earlier two Arkansaw Bear books The Bedtime Animal Story Book; The Platt & Munk Co. Inc., New York (1935) - a compilation of Ver Beck's first two Wee Books for Wee Folks, along with two other stories. The Little Black Sambo Story Book; The Platt & Munk Co. Inc., New York (1935) - a compilation of Helen Bannerman's original story plus Ver Beck's five Wee Books for Wee Folks. Bobbylinkapoo by Theodore Marburg; Dorrance and Co., Philadelphia (1937)