Galep before Tex

Aurelio Galleppini, graphic creator and main artist of Tex Willer, drew Tex comic books from the very beginning of the series, in 1948.



Yet his career as book and comics illustrator started years before, namely in the late 1930's.
I managed to grab a copy of his book 'Il Barone di Münchhausen', a classic tale published in December 1947 by Nerbini Editore.






Finally, here's the cover he did for another book, while he was already working on Tex strips in 1952:

I guess he didn't have much time left for random illustration work, back then.
(Btw, I love the Carducci quote on the cover :))