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Magazine Back Issues

Rolling Stone 8 08, The Jonas Brothers, August 2008, NEW

Rolling Stone 8 08, The Jonas Brothers, August 2008, NEW

- $47.99 29m
dECEMBER 1966  Playboy Magazine

dECEMBER 1966 Playboy Magazine

- $7.00 30m
Western Horseman July 1998-Charlie Dye cover

Western Horseman July 1998-Charlie Dye cover

- $4.58 30m
Vintage February 1969 Fortune Magazine Conglomerates Business Nixon Meatpackers

Vintage February 1969 Fortune Magazine Conglomerates Business Nixon Meatpackers

- $19.99 30m
October 1970  Playboy Magazine

October 1970 Playboy Magazine

- $7.00 30m
CANADA FRENCH QUEBEC PAPER MAG 1965 CLAUDE LEVEILLEE JEAN-GUY MOREAU JOSELITO

CANADA FRENCH QUEBEC PAPER MAG 1965 CLAUDE LEVEILLEE JEAN-GUY MOREAU JOSELITO

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$9.99
$14.99
30m
Stargate SG-1 Xena Warrior Princess Total Recall 2070 TV Zone Magazine #120

Stargate SG-1 Xena Warrior Princess Total Recall 2070 TV Zone Magazine #120

- $5.99 30m
Autocar 09 10 85 *Lancia Thema 2.0ie Turbo LX*

Autocar 09 10 85 *Lancia Thema 2.0ie Turbo LX*

- $7.88 30m
Vintage April 1968 Fortune Magazine Conglomerates Business Nixon Meatpackers

Vintage April 1968 Fortune Magazine Conglomerates Business Nixon Meatpackers

- $19.99 30m
GENT MAGAZINE June 1957 Bettie Page In Ad FN

GENT MAGAZINE June 1957 Bettie Page In Ad FN

- $25.00 30m
October 1964 Playboy Magazine

October 1964 Playboy Magazine

- $7.00 30m
Radio Electronics Nov. 1990 Technology learn how to biuld electronic devices

Radio Electronics Nov. 1990 Technology learn how to biuld electronic devices

- $5.00 30m
November 1968 Fortune Magazine Profitable Nonprofit - The Green Bay Packers

November 1968 Fortune Magazine Profitable Nonprofit - The Green Bay Packers

- $19.99 30m
November 1966  Playboy Magazine

November 1966 Playboy Magazine

- $7.00 30m

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.