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Lot of 6 Packs Ex Libris Book Plates - HOUSE Design NEW

Lot of 6 Packs Ex Libris Book Plates - HOUSE Design NEW

$7.49 1h 52m
50 Vintage Book Plates Black Ecru 2 Design Original Box

50 Vintage Book Plates Black Ecru 2 Design Original Box

- $10.75 2h 36m
Clipboard ~ Bookplates ~ Customize  Name & Address

Clipboard ~ Bookplates ~ Customize Name & Address

$2.98 3h 14m
Bookplates- Ballet Slippers - Book Plate- Pink Slippers

Bookplates- Ballet Slippers - Book Plate- Pink Slippers

$2.98 3h 19m
Bookplates - Springtime in the Alps~ Young Girl

Bookplates - Springtime in the Alps~ Young Girl

$2.98 3h 22m
Bookplates - Rosebud Fairies ~ Fairy Book Plates

Bookplates - Rosebud Fairies ~ Fairy Book Plates

$2.98 3h 25m
Bookplates - Kitty - Pink Book Plates with Kitten

Bookplates - Kitty - Pink Book Plates with Kitten

$2.98 3h 28m
Bookplates - Summer at the Beach- Girl with Sailboat

Bookplates - Summer at the Beach- Girl with Sailboat

$2.98 3h 34m
Country Sewing Room Bookplates~Sew Book Plates

Country Sewing Room Bookplates~Sew Book Plates

$2.98 3h 38m
Patchwork Quilt Bookplates

Patchwork Quilt Bookplates

$2.98 3h 41m
Bookplates - Filigree Fairies -Black & White Book Plate

Bookplates - Filigree Fairies -Black & White Book Plate

$2.98 3h 45m
Bookplates-Butterfly Fairies-Black & White Book Plates

Bookplates-Butterfly Fairies-Black & White Book Plates

$2.98 3h 48m
Bookplates -  Silhoutte Lady - Mini Book Plates

Bookplates - Silhoutte Lady - Mini Book Plates

$2.98 3h 55m
Vintage 10 BOOKPLATE STICKERS: HORSE

Vintage 10 BOOKPLATE STICKERS: HORSE

- $5.50 3h 56m

News

  • Paperback History
    Inexpensive books bound in paper have existed since at least the 19th century and exist in a number of formats that have specific names, such as pamphlets, cheap editions, yellowbacks, dime novels and railway novels. Today most paperbacks are called either "mass-market paperback" or "trade paperback", the differences of which are described later.

     

    The 20th century mass-market paperback format was pioneered by German publisher Albatross Books in 1931 but the experiment was cut short. In England Penguin Books adopted many of Albatrosss innovations, for instance the conspicuous logo and the color coded covers for different genres, beginning in 1935,and was an immediate financial success. British publisher Allen Lane launched the Penguin imprint in 1935, with 10 reprint titles; this started the paperback revolution in the English-language book market. Number one on the Penguin list of 1935 editions was André Mauroiss Ariel.

     

    Allen Lane intended to produce cheap books. He bought paperback rights from publishers, ordered huge print runs (e.g., 20,000 copies) to keep unit prices low, and looked to non-traditional book selling retail locations. Booksellers were initially reluctant to buy his books. But Woolworths, placed a large order on the books, and the books sold extremely well. After this initial success, booksellers were no longer reluctant to stock paperbacks. The word Penguin became closely associated with the word paperback.

     

    Robert de Graaf, in 1939, issued a similar line in the USA, partnering with Simon & Schuster to found the Pocket Books imprint. The term pocket book became synonymous with paperback in English-speaking North America. In Québec, the term "ivre de poche was used, and continues to be used today. De Graaf, like Lane, negotiated paperback rights from other publishers, and produced large print runs. His practices contrasted with those of Lane in his adoption of illustrated covers, aimed at the North American market. In order to reach an even larger market than Lane had, he went the mass market route, through distribution networks of newspapers and magazines, which had a lengthy history of being aimed (in format and distribution) at mass audiences. This was the beginning of mass market paperbacks.

     

    Because of its position as Number One in what became a very long list of Pocket editions, James Hiltons Lost Horizon is often cited as the first American paperback book, which is not correct. The first mass-market, pocket-sized, paperback book printed in America was an edition of Pearl Bucks The Good Earth, produced by Pocket Books as a proof-of-concept in late 1938, sold in New York City, and now very collectible.