Timmins began illustrating magazine stories in late 1929 or early 1930, presumably to maintain income as ad work dried up with the onset of the Great Depression.  He moved his family from Chicago to New York at the time of this transition.  Timmins’ first story illustration work was for Crowell-Collier, publishers of Collier’s Weekly, Woman’s Home Companion, and The American, the latter two being monthlies.  His first story illustrations for all 3 magazines were published more or less at the same time, in April – June 1930.  Over time, his output shifted more and more to Collier’s, until it became exclusively for Collier’s.  Between 1930 and 1944, Timmins illustrated a total of 176 Collier’s stories.  

I find these early Collier’s illustrations interesting for two reasons.  For the first time, Harry has a freer hand to illustrate in his own style, rather than in response to the demands of the ad illustration buyer.  Second, compared with prior years, color ink (including in advertising) was utilized infrequently during the first many years of the Great Depression.  Often only the cover and one inside illustration received full color treatment.  The scarcity of color in these early illustrations reflects the times in which they were created and published.