Pat Calhoun

Readers Choice Library was published by St John. This one's dated 1950.

an interesting small subset of SF digests is made up of publications packaging a novel

One thing I've always appreciated on PBs is that most of them have a nice thick cover stock, whereas digests are predominately bound in a thinner more fragile paper. So I like digests that have the sturdier covers, and the first Atlas crime series 1942-1945 all have them. Here's the first with Cardwell Higgins' delightful pin-up style art, and the last, with art by another cheesecake specialist, Peter Driben.

this one's a 1951 PB

good call: 'The Farthest Shore' is by far my fave in the trilogy: a great fantasy novel

drugs from another planet

back in the late '80s it was still possible to score vintage pbs at general bookstores and even thrift shops. Nonetheless, walking into a Salvation Army and seeing this on top of the bookcase on a little one-book wire rack with no indication that the asking price was more than one quarter of a US dollar was a collecting epiphany of a monumental nature. Paid that price in a deadpan delirium and it still shines on one of my super shelves.

well I don't own the Argosys shown but did recently pick up this Harlequin (#193 Oct 1952) featuring the pulp hero who made many appearances in the venerable weekly during 1934 and 1935 (covers by John A Coughlin). George Challis = Frederick Faust aka Max Brand. Harlequin cover sig (lower left 'under' reading crease) reads 'Friede'.

I bought some from Barry Bauman way back in the day, and Ray Storch sold me my Dennis #1. Happy to have dealt with both of them and RIP gents.

Jon Stephen Berk | April 1, 1950 - August 10, 2023. the message from his family (relayed to me by mighty collector Gary M Carter) included: 'we have thought to suggest a donation to Our Companions - in honor of Jon’s treasured dogs.'

haven't been here in a while, I hang out in the pulp-PB forum, and I hate to come back as bearer of bad news, but: Jon Berk has died, since we are talking mighty collectors. It is the end of a long struggle with dementia. I'll add more later (where to donate) but had to get this out now. RIP, my friend.

My first Sexton Blake, bought after magicrobot cited Story as a worthy author. Format is 64-page single-staple with full printed spine and nice graphics on inside covers. And Story's story does look like fun... Plus here's another 'cross-the-pond ERB.

nice Spiders, but could you please elaborate on this: 'One of the best stories one could read is in these pages' thanks and cheers

my first Boardman PB (UK) and very well produced with no staples. has been to Brisbane... goes with the subset I started after getting 'D' & 'H' for my Atlas digest collection. I looked around for others & liked what I saw.

right on, robot. thinking of you as my 'Flip Side' showed up today. will scan later, but beach beckons. plus will post my Boardman PB newbie later as well: got a nice Brisbane sticker on it for you. Meanwhile, from my files, here's my fave Authentic: 'The Rose', despite rejections in the US market, went on to be recognized as a masterpiece.

very cool. is 'Rendezvous' a 'shortie'? I like those little ones and have all of them from the first series: if answer is 'yes' will put that one on my want list. also posting the 3 shorties recently acquired that filled out my group shot and a pic to highlight the size difference.

also picked up a couple of UK ERBs

wanted to issue a public thank you to themagicrobot as I ordered a 'Flip Side' today, and pulled the trigger on a Boardman PB I've been contemplating... have been on a UK roll: just-ins include this crazola MJ from Gary Lovisi (the 6D is a used price sticker presumably over 1'/6) and a 2023 Penguin Modern Classic edition that's the first new book (novel's from 1958) I've bought in a long time but saw in a little bookshop while tripping with the old lady and it had a real good feel to it...

my summer book buying binge is underway. first order of business: Atlas digests. here's two in the standard format: the first was a fun find in my mailbox, and the second is something to sing about.

Pop #222 first guess Robert Stanley

silver spine Science Fiction: one more

another fresh scan and fable. In those wonderful 'bookstore cruising' days I mentioned above, one trip to Bargain Books in downtown San Diego brought me face-to-face with a copy of the below: pinned in a bag to the wall and priced at one dollar. I was thunderstruck at such an astronomical amount being asked -a wide rushing Rubicon ran right before me- but I crossed it and manned up to pay the price: no regrets.

had to scan this: when I got back from my 'world tour' (selected Europe + Morocco, Afghanistan) funded by selling my GA collection in 1969 I was broke but still managed to put together one of my most important collections: I resolved to acquire and read every vintage pb sf anthology I could find. Cost was the fun of cruising bookstores (+ 'Pocket' change) and deep immersion into classic sf short stories, novelettes, and novellas. At any rate: this was the oldest (not this copy) of the group: first print: March 1943.