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

[Surfing Alien]

52 minutes ago, Randall Dowling said:

I had my own pretty special day with the books and a digest... 

Let's just start with the digest.  I like the montage cover and a little bit of me wants to go big on the whole doctor/nurse genre.  So much drama there!  

And then a little upgrade to my copy of Luana and a book I've been looking for in nice shape for over a year!

As if that isn't enough, I got very nice copy of a "First 50" Avon (#29) and more Maguire in the form of Salambo and perhaps the sweetest condition copy of a paperback from the 50s now in my collection- The 31st of February!  

I am seriously on a mission to put a dent in the availability of high grade, super cool vintage paperbacks and digests.  It ain't easy, but I have determination on my side! 

Nice haul! Funny... minds think alike as I had just ordered a copy of this (the best) edition of Salambo with the Maguire cover. Don't think i've seen that 31st of February title before. Another on the list!

[Randall Dowling]

1 hour ago, Pat Calhoun said:

Salammbo is the greatest novel of all time.

Wow.  Given this recommendation, I'm putting at the top of my reading list.  Thanks, Pat!! 

[Pat Calhoun]

Gustave and I go back a ways. In 1970-1971 fresh back from my year tour of Europe-Africa-Asia funded by selling my GA collection, at Bargain Books in downtown San Diego where I went to shop for PB SF anthologies, I decided to buy my first non-sfantasy book. Don't have it anymore and using a borrowed image, but what a great choice. And chief among the marvels therein was Flaubert's 'The Legend of St Julian'. I was spellbound from the first sentence as opulence of language and clarity of idea merged into a fantasy novelette of supreme power. I had stepped outside the ghetto and found that fantasy ruled in mainstream literature as well. When I discovered that the story had appeared as a classic reprint in Weird Tales (April 1928) a great circle was completed. Here, from my sweet 1923 Chatto & Windus edition of 'Three Tales', is (art by Robert Diaz de Soria) the moment when Julian confronts the great stag - and vice-versa...

[Pat Calhoun]

I recently read a novel and acquired a lavish edition of it that I consider to be something of a 'sister' to Salammbo. I said after I read it that 'Thais' was fit to stand on the shelf next to the Flaubert and I have put it there. Might be more of a daughter as Salammbo was first published in 1862 and Thais in 1890, lovely ladies and close kin in any case. Here's the cover (of my copy) and two plates (web images) from this 1926 Dodd Mead masterwork of book publishing.

Edited July 24, 2020 by Pat Calhoun

[Randall Dowling]

1 minute ago, Pat Calhoun said:

I recently read a novel and acquired a lavish edition of it that I consider to be something of a 'sister' to Salammbo. I said after I read it that 'Thais' was fit to stand on the shelf next to the Flaubert and I will put it there. Might be more of a daughter as Salammbo was first published in 1862 and Thais in 1890, lovely ladies and close kin in any case. Here's the cover (of my copy) and two plates (web images) from this 1926 Dodd Mead masterwork of book publishing.

 

 

I love it, that's high praise, Pat!  Thais has been on my radar for a long time along with Clio by France as well.  Clio first made my radar 20 years ago because of Mucha's work but those interior illustrations on Thais are outstanding!  .  I really appreciate the suggestions, sir!

[Surfing Alien]

2 hours ago, Pat Calhoun said:

I had stepped outside the ghetto and found that fantasy ruled in mainstream literature as well.

Wonderfully described memories Pat! I got into fantasy and sci fi with The Hobbit and Rocket Ship Galileo respectively but as I grew older and read the classics realized that much of it was fantasy. From Gullivers Travels to The House of Seven Gables to A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court to Candide, etc. etc. tons of classic litererature was imbued with historical fantasy, witchcraft and supernatural occurrences. The world of literature is filled with wonder. 

Thanks for sharing some of yours

[frozentundraguy]

On 7/18/2020 at 9:48 PM, N e r V said:

 

If I wasn’t already using NerV Moonpool would be top 3 on my list...

 

Think of all those cool avatar possibilities with that name...

 

 

Speaking of Moonpool. I ordered the Avon copy and it just arrived yesterday. 

[Surfing Alien]

10 minutes ago, frozentundraguy said:

Speaking of Moonpool. I ordered the Avon copy and it just arrived yesterday. 

Nice copy 

[Surfing Alien]

I posted this pic before but it fits right here because a couple have fantasy elements.

Classics are why I love Pocket Books... and it's funny Pats book of French Classics was a "Pocket" ... and try to find them square, tight and with lamination intact! 

[Randall Dowling]

2 minutes ago, Surfing Alien said:

... and try to find them square, tight and with lamination intact! 

That last part is particularly frustrating with those.  I have a copy of Dracula (this is from the internet, not mine) that was pristine until i felt a loose edge on the cover as I was looking at it.  Next thing I know, the whole lamination came off in my hand.  

I still haven't replaced that book because I was so disgusted.

[Pat Calhoun]

well done Surf; Dodd Mead strikes again (1930)

[Surfing Alien]

Some more Pocket classics with fantasy elements. I don't currently have a copy but heck, Pocket #1, Lost Horizon, is a fantasy 

[Surfing Alien]

12 hours ago, Randall Dowling said:

I still haven't replaced that book because I was so disgusted.

Lol! You know if you try to collect perfect specimens of older Pocket Books your collection will be sparse

[Pat Calhoun]

Pour it on, Surf, music to my eyes. Here's 38th print March 1952 and another classic fantasy 13th print 1944.

Edited July 24, 2020 by Pat Calhoun

[Surfing Alien]

5 hours ago, Pat Calhoun said:

another classic fantasy 13th print 1944.

I really need to get after that title again. The original cover is great but I actually like the cover of this later printing more 

[Westy Steve]

Good God!  I chase some artwork for a little while and you guys are going bananas here. 

[Surfing Alien]

Here's a very cool Pocket anthology. I can tell it's from my 1st collection because it's sideways in a cut comic bag. It wasn't easy finding PB bags in the '80's!

 

The Pocket catalogue is so vast it's hard to conceive how varied they went over the years. You have to dig a little to pull them out but there are some wild covers like this one by Lou Glanzman of comic art fame...

 

[Randall Dowling]

Another couple fo days, another round of arrivals.  This is interesting.  I didn't realize that not only did cover art get reused on different digests and paperbacks, but even the whole text.  Shamed! was initially issued by Quarter books as #21 and then later issued again as #67.  The distinguishing mark for the earlier issues is the logo in the bottom left.  

Also included in today's fun is a first 50 Avon (#37) and some classic Frazetta covers (the Jongor series is peak Frazetta art, IMO and Black Emperor is just awesome! ).  And it will be a sad day when I run out of Maguires to add.  Last, we have a little Leisure Book, The Bronze and the Wine.  Tomorrow brings another trip down to fine men at Dreamhaven.

 

[Surfing Alien]

5 hours ago, Randall Dowling said:

 I didn't realize that not only did cover art get reused on different digests and paperbacks, but even the whole text.

Another great haul! You are really trying to make a dent in the supply chain!  I have a bunch coming in over the next week so should provide some friendly competition 

Most of the longer digest series like Venus, Cameo etc reprinted later in the series. A few others reprinted in a separate series (Star for Original Novels and Intimate (or Stallion?) for UniBooks I believe.) In most instances the 1st is the one to get although I gladly pick up the reprints if the price/condition crux is right.

[Surfing Alien]

6 hours ago, Randall Dowling said:

some classic Frazetta covers (the Jongor series is peak Frazetta art, IMO and Black Emperor is just awesome! ).  And it will be a sad day when I run out of Maguires to add.

It's funny I love Frazetta's book work but when I first started collecting they were too new to really be considered collectible. I guess it's time to re-think that as much of it is 50 yrs old now 

As for Maguire, you've made some great choices but he did a LOT of covers so carry on! My favorites are these full length poses on the long format books like this Monarch and the Signets.