[ACKERMAN, FORREST J. (1916-2008)]. A large archive of photographs from the personal collection of Forrest J. Ackerman, including many inscribed photographs from various authors and celebrities.

Various sizes and formats, mainly 8 x 10 in., gelatin and silver and color prints. Provenance: Forrest J. Ackerman (1916-2008), American editor, magazine publisher, and science fiction author; acquired by the present owner directly from Ackerman.

An extraordinary visual record of Forrest J. Ackerman’s life and career with numerous photographs of Ackerman posing with various celebrities including Nancy Reagan, Vincent Price, Elvira, Boris Karloff, and Christopher Lee, as well as publicity photographs inscribed to Ackerman from Basil Rathbone, Kirk Alyn, Ray Harryhausen, A.E. van Vogt, and others. Central to the formation of what is now known as the science fiction community, Ackerman is credited with having coined the term “sci-fi” and spent his life tirelessly promoting the genre as an art form.