# Rudy Nappi

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American artist (1923–2015)

**Joseph Rudolph Nappi**, working as **Rudy Nappi** (February 12, 1923 – March 13, 2015) was an American illustrator. According to the [National Museum of American Illustration](/source/National_Museum_of_American_Illustration), Nappi was "a well-known commercial illustrator and widely considered one of the greatest [pulp fiction](/source/Pulp_magazine) artists of his time."[1] Nappi created the cover art for many mid-20th century [Nancy Drew](/source/Nancy_Drew_Mystery_Stories) and [Hardy Boys](/source/Hardy_Boys_book_list) series titles.[2] Nappi's original artwork is "avidly collected."[2]

## Life and work

Nappi was born in [Orangetown, New York](/source/Orangetown%2C_New_York).[3] After serving in the [Army Air Corps](/source/United_States_Army_Air_Corps)[4] in World War II, Nappi used the benefits of the [G.I. Bill](/source/G.I._Bill) to go to school at the [Art Students League of New York](/source/Art_Students_League_of_New_York), and then showed his portfolio to a pulp fiction publisher who hired him.[2]

He was then contracted to create the cover art for Nancy Drew No. 30, *[The Clue of the Velvet Mask](/source/The_Clue_of_the_Velvet_Mask),* in 1953 for [Grosset & Dunlap](/source/Grosset_%26_Dunlap) and ended up creating cover art for over 150 Grosset & Dunlap titles over three decades, including Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and one [Bobbsey Twins](/source/Bobbsey_Twins).[2] Nappi created the original covers for Hardy Boys Nos. 32–58,[2] and 64 Hardy Boys cover artworks in total.[5] Similarly, in addition to creating the covers for newly issued Nancy Drew titles, he created updated images for existing titles. His personal favorite was the cover of Number 4, *[The Mystery at Lilac Inn](/source/The_Mystery_at_Lilac_Inn)*.[2] Nappi did not read the books but his wife Peggy did, and she provided a synopsis from which he created an image.[1][6]

Much of his cover artwork was done using [oil paint](/source/Oil_paint) on board.[2] Other Nappi clients were Scholastic (including their imprint Little Apple), Harlequin, Mills & Boon, Avon Books, Signet Books, Pocket Books, Pyramid and Belmont.[2] Magazine work included pictures for *Two-Fisted Detective Tales*, *Confessions Illustrated* and *Shock Illustrated*.[2] Nappi also created art for Norcross and Marion Heath greeting cards, and decorations for Keller Charles household goods.[2]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) sarabliss. ["RUDY NAPPI"](https://americanillustration.org/project/rudy-nappi/). *National Museum of American Illustration*. Retrieved December 19, 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Lovisi_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Lovisi_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Lovisi_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Lovisi_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Lovisi_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Lovisi_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Lovisi_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Lovisi_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-Lovisi_2-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-Lovisi_2-9) Lovisi, Gary (Fall 2009). ["Rudy Nappi: Celebrating the Artist & His Work"](https://content.ebscohost.com/ContentServer.asp?T=P&P=AN&K=505266620&S=R&D=asu&EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESep7c4wtvhOLCmsEqep7ZSr6i4SraWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMOzpsE2xqbNRuePfgeyx43zx). *[Illustration](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Illustration_(magazine)&action=edit&redlink=1)*. Vol. 7, no. 28. Kirkwood, Missouri. 15434737. Retrieved December 19, 2022 – via [Art & Architecture Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Art_%26_Architecture_Source&action=edit&redlink=1) on [Ebscohost](/source/Ebscohost).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA; *New York State Birth Index,* Ancestry.com. *New York State, Birth Index, 1881-1942*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; *Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946*; NAID: *1263923*; Record Group Title: *Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007*; Record Group: *64*; Box Number: *01031*; Reel: *96.* Via Ancestry.com

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["NMAI Press Release 3/1/07"](https://www.americanillustration.org/pressRelease/NMAI_Press_3_1_07.html). *www.americanillustration.org*. Retrieved December 19, 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Gonzalez, Eileen (December 10, 2019). ["Top 10 Nancy Drew Book Covers"](https://bookriot.com/best-nancy-drew-covers/). *BOOK RIOT*. Retrieved December 19, 2022.

## External links

- [Flickr album: Rudi Nappi covers](https://www.flickr.com/photos/56781833@N06/albums/72157630548822812/)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Rudy Nappi](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rudy_Nappi).

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF WorldCat National United States

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rudy Nappi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_Nappi) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudy_Nappi?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.