Comics, Pulps, and Paperbacks: Why such a discrepancy in values? 25 25

[Surfing Alien]

Then there's the 3rd paperback edition by Berkley with the wicked Robert Maguire cover, which is far rarer than the Avon and might be almost as rare as the Diversey digest.  I don't believe there was any mass market edition after this one.

Edited January 7 by Surfing Alien

[johnenock]

Just picked up this unread(for now) copy. A dead, naked, midget and a freak show. What more do you need?

 

 

Edited January 11 by johnenock

[Surfing Alien]

On 1/10/2024 at 5:16 PM, johnenock said:

Just picked up this unread(for now) copy. Dead, naked, midgets and a freak show. What more do you need?

 

 

Killer copy of a great cover (and book) 

[Surfing Alien]

The Will To Kill by Robert Bloch. Ace S-67  PBO 1954 Covert art by Rafael DeSoto

I've been looking for a very nice copy with no corner creases for a very long time. One of the only Ace's I really want that I didn't have

 

[Randall Dowling]

On 1/10/2024 at 4:16 PM, johnenock said:

Just picked up this unread(for now) copy. A dead, naked, midget and a freak show. What more do you need?

 

 

That's a beautiful copy, sir! 

But find another copy to read.  That one's too nice. 

[Surfing Alien]

It's not just about GGA and scifi/horror/suspense for me. Honest!   I collect all the classics I love as well. Got a nice upgrade to Hiroshima by John Hersey, Bantam 404 from 1948. Cover art by Geoffrey Biggs.

One of those timeless covers that tells more by what you can't see even than by what you can.

[Surfing Alien]

Some friday fun

I got a real nice publication/stage/screen history of Rinehart's "The Bat" from Ed Hulse on another post recently. The 1929 & 1930 movies are considered to be influences on "The Batman" comic character. The Dell Mapback is pretty tough in any shape, especially with the lamination intact. The later printing (#652) with the textured cover is quite cool as well.

 

Just read "A Ticket To Hell" in the Black Lizard edition and man, what a great period the mid 1950's was for Whittington. A real taut suspense read.

 

Eurasian Girl by Richard Grant, pseudonym of Dr. Joseph Calvitt Clarke. Uni-Book #30, 1952. Cover art by Warren King.

A pretty spectacular Uni-Book, a series fraught with cheap paper covers that are usually trashed.

 

Unnatural by Sloane Britton, pseudonym of Elaine Williams. Midwood No. 47  1960.  Cover art  by Paul Rader.

I wish I could find more lesbian GGA books to buy because any undercopies sell practically instantly in my ebay store, no matter what price I put on 'em

 

Queer Affair by Carol Emery. Beacon Books B377 a 1961 second print of the earlier B135 PBO from 1957.   Cover art by Frank Uppwall.

A blazing mint copy with white pages. I'll probably sell it but just finding and owning this copy is a one of those experiences that make collecting vintage pbs fun

 

[Darwination]

On 1/12/2024 at 4:59 PM, Surfing Alien said:

 

Woo!

[Darwination]

On 12/20/2023 at 11:30 PM, Pat Calhoun said:

This one's on my short list for the 'Great American Novel'. First published in 1935, Penguin-Signet put out the first PB edition in May 1948 due to the book's growing reputation in Europe as an enduring classic.

 

I'd never read this one despite it being McCoy's most famous, so I stuck it on my nightstand when you gave it the old "Great American Novel" status.

I read it this week.  Total stunner/bummer.  I guess McCoy worked as a bouncer on a pier in Santa Monica, and the experience led to the story.

It kind of reminds me of Camus' The Stranger in some ways - "existential novel," to be or not to be, etc. 

Lots of McCoy in Black Mask, apparently, some in Brief Stories, not easy pulps to get ahold of :I

Edited January 13 by Darwination

[Book Guy]

On 1/13/2024 at 8:56 AM, Darwination said:

I'd never read this one despite it being McCoy's most famous, so I stuck it on my nightstand when you gave it the old "Great American Novel" status.

I read it this week.  Total stunner/bummer.  I guess McCoy worked as a bouncer on a pier in Santa Monica, and the experience helped him write this one.

It kind of reminds me of Camus' The Stranger in some ways - "existential novel," to be or not to be, etc. 

Lots of McCoy in Black Mask, apparently, some in Brief Stories, not easy pulps to get ahold of :I

A great Book! If you liked this try DAY OF THE LOCUST or MISS LONELYHEARTS by Nathanael West. Not nearly as grim, but also top notch '30's 'Noir-like' Novels.

[Darwination]

I'm a huge fan of both those books.  Miss Lonelyhearts is gut-bustingly funny. I think A Cool Million is underrated as well.

This little hardcover with both of those books probably isn't rare or valuable or anything but is a much loved volume on my shelves:

All 3 might be just as philosophically grim as They Shoot Horses, but at least you are laughing all the while

Edited January 13 by Darwination

[OtherEric]

In today, a huge thank you to @Surfing Alien for pointing it out to me on the bay:

[Surfing Alien]

Pyramid Books  #11, 12 & 14, published in 1949, the equivalent of #1, 2 & 3 since #11 is the first in the series and there was no unlucky #13 

If you didn't already know I was crazy about this little series, I'm crazy about this little series

[moonpool]

[johnenock]

This just arrived:

 

[jimjum12]

On 1/15/2024 at 11:12 AM, johnenock said:

This just arrived:

 

That series has consistently strong covers. These Paperbacks are cool to me. Some of the covers are just over the top, they're mostly still cheap, and they can be found in grade with a little patience. Something in PB that costs 100 dollars would be 10K if it were a comic. It's cheap enough to still be fun. GOD BLESS ...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

[OtherEric]

On 1/15/2024 at 9:33 AM, jimjum12 said:

That series has consistently strong covers. These Paperbacks are cool to me. Some of the covers are just over the top, they're mostly still cheap, and they can be found in grade with a little patience. Something in PB that costs 100 dollars would be 10K if it were a comic. It's cheap enough to still be fun. GOD BLESS ...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)

I'm quite fond of the Avon Saints:

 

[johnenock]

On 1/15/2024 at 10:35 AM, OtherEric said:

I'm quite fond of the Avon Saints:

 

Yeah! I am in the process of trying to find HG copies.

[AJCohen]

Would love some advice. Picked up a collection today. Lots of Gold Key, Charlton Richie Rich, Casper, Little Dot, Hot Stuff, Turok, Flintstones, Disney and similar in really great shape and also some decent condition Weird Tales. While I was there though I noticed a bunch of pulp that I have seen active on the forum but have zero knowledge of, mainly the smaller more sexually oriented books. I grabbed them just because but am having a hard time pricing and finding the market to sell them. Super cool books in great shape and would love some advice. Thanks so much!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 16 by AJCohen

[AJCohen]