Surfing Alien

I was born in the gutters of Flatbush, Brooklyn so yeah, the appeal is there for me

There's Fredric Brown fans in these parts. "What Mad Universe" has been a bear to find in Fine or better condition in my experience, maybe because it's one that has a central GGA babe? (painted by Herman Bischoff)

Was busy on a Friday again so here's the Friday Fun on Saturday again. Second Ending by Evan Hunter, Corgi Books GN489, 1960 printing, cover art by Oliver Brabbins. One of Brabbins' best covers that I've seen and for a Dope book collector I try not to get sucked into the further black hole of UK pbs but some things cannot be denied... I've had the US edition, titled "Quartet In H" for some time, it has a much more sedate, although still quite artful, Tom Dunn cover, so I really wanted to grab the Corgi edition when I first saw that more lurid cover. Here's the cover of "Quartet" I do love how they used the needle as the crossbar for the "H"

An incredible collection he had and I'm not surprised at all with the results. I also agree about a general jump in interest for vintage books. I'm certainly seeing it in the inability to place or replace desirable vintage paperbacks, especially 40's & 50's books. Here's a link to the results: https://www.christies.com/auction/auction-21924-cks/browse-lots?page=3&sortby=lotnumber and my take on the sale is that this is a spectacular collection - a case of the stars aligning perfectly. A very famous and beloved provenance with impeccable taste and the pockets to obtain the very best of what he collected. Who knew???

I actually really like the June and July Ginger girls and the Gun Moll girl has guns and is using them, so I like her extra

Harry did some fine covers...

C.R. is Harry's Uncle.

Here's a couple of Cheyney's with glossy American GGA, which I much prefer. Mistress Murder (originally One of Those Things) Avon 349 cover by Raymond Johnson - this is a Terry O'Day mystery I'll Bring Her Back (originally Dark Bahama), Eton Books E115 A Julian Isles mystery. Cover art uncredited, probably Johnson or Victor Olsen

Hungry Men was painted by Harry Schaare, Man Hungry by Paul Rader, obviously.

This cover is by Charles Copeland for sure

Great set! I've been working on these over the last several months and have to say, it is devilish figuring out what the actual first printings are Some of the first numbered, have several printings, then they re-issued them with a new number and same cover, which went through several printings, then went to a new publisher edition with same cover etc. etc. I've mostly figured it out but weeding them out is tough, and for that reason I think those first prints, properly identified are well worth seeking out (and paying a premium for) The books, at first glance seem very common, but those 1sts, not so much, then of course there's condition to consider...

I've seen a several of these over time and thought the same. I haven't seen any reference to them being published this way, but must confess, I haven't dug too deep either.

Agree. Test tube babes are these days

I haven't picked up too many pulps lately but still making a few picks here and there. I despaired of ever getting a copy of this one when the prices went vertical over the last couple of years but was happy to snag a fairly presentable copy. I now have the three Marvel pulps I consider essential, #1, the Human Torch issue and this, the test tube babe cover

Great, another digest set I need to look for. I love the Atlas logo Of Course Goodman never missed a beat on re-using previously commissioned artwork (not my copy)...

Was pretty busy yesterday so I guess we'll have some Saturday Sport instead of my usual Friday Fun Did some work on my PKD collection with these crispy high grades. Maze of Death and Deus Irae are 1st PB's. Martian Time Slip is the 1st Book Edition. I've also started working on a collection of Shirley Jackson and Ira Levin pbs. They're both kind of like Walter Tevis, great writers with low output but high critical and commercial acclaim. The low output makes them very do-able runs to put together, although nice copies can be challenging like so many 60'& 70's pbs. The copy of "The Sundial" came perfectly shrink wrapped with a backer board inside! It looks super minty, I'd like to open it but admire the work so much, I think I'll keep it like it is. Kind of a primitive slab If you want to read Jackson, "Come Along With Me" is a great choice. It's a collection put out soon after she passed and has a 1st publication (the title story) along with many classics, including "The Lottery" I haven't read "This Perfect Day" yet, it's a dystopian science fiction novel, reviewed as pretty derivative of the classics like 1984, but well plotted as he was known for. I like the cover art, despite its being relegated to second fiddle behind the giant fonts.

The paintings never translate to the printed page with the same color strike and detail. The books were produced purely for commercial reasons and the print quality striven for was only enough to make you pick the book up off a rack from a glance at five feet. In other words, if they could get guys to see headlights at five feet, and they'd pick them up like the deer they were, the publisher had done its job This was a primary reason why Barye Phillips, the undoubted "King" of paperback artists painted just enough detail to sell the book, and he was masterful at nearly impressionistic Good Girls. He and the publishers knew that all that detail would be lost in translation and did not sell the book. They still commissioned and bought paintings from all of these artists who infused detail into their paintings, because the volume of publications required it (Phillips was fast, but couldn't paint them all, even though sometimes it seems like he did ) So, as for which to buy? The one you like most of course. No one (I know at least) collects Bama pb art or this edition of Tomboy as a "thing" so there's plenty to choose from at reasonable prices.

She looks high Did a little looking and it's interesting that these were published by the Weider Brothers, they had quite the varied empire.

Got my books in from the @catrick339 $10 sale. Rick shipped quick and packed like a brick Although I only got two, a Bergey hand of God cover and a John Drew cowgirl with a gun is a pretty damn nice haul

Is it "BB" time?

Here's a better looking copy

Avon No. 179 1948 The cover artist remains uncredited but it's a very distinctive look and he definitely did several others for Avon in the "Ann Cantor" credit period. Call me biased, but in virtually every example, the paperback cover is superior in color strike, gloss, and of course, use of the painter's full intended composition. That said, as a pre-teen, I well remember thumbing through my older brother's golden age crime comics and drooling over the wicked interiors The Avons were always particularly "interesting" to a boy

I like all those mid 50's crime digests and grab 'em when I can.

His tiny hands? Cole swiped quite a bit. I'm sure by 1957 he didn't give a poop Here's a late 40's swipe 1948 Signet (uncredited maybe Tony Varady) 1949 Croydon Cole

This cover was a re-use from paperback "No Bed Of Her Own" by Val Lewton, Novel Library #39, which is a very scarce number published in 1950. The Novel Library line was a slightly sleazier line published by Avon under their Diversey Books imprint.