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Christie?s.03 20 2008: Indian & Southeast Asian Art

Christie?s.03 20 2008: Indian & Southeast Asian Art

$24.75 17m
Christie?s.03 20 08:South Asian Modern+Contemporary Art

Christie?s.03 20 08:South Asian Modern+Contemporary Art

$13.95 28m
Sothebys Important Americana Auction Catalog paintings

Sothebys Important Americana Auction Catalog paintings

- $1.99 28m
sothebys auction catalog 19th 20th century paintings

sothebys auction catalog 19th 20th century paintings

- $0.01 29m
Christie's Korean Works of Art 22 April 1992

Christie's Korean Works of Art 22 April 1992

- $9.99 34m
1999 2 Auction Catalogs Bonhams - Books Maps Manuscrpts

1999 2 Auction Catalogs Bonhams - Books Maps Manuscrpts

- $9.99 54m
3 German Historical Military Collectibles Catalogues

3 German Historical Military Collectibles Catalogues

- $9.99 2h 41m
Auction Catalog Catalogue1894,  scarce from Libbie & Co.

Auction Catalog Catalogue1894, scarce from Libbie & Co.

- $4.99 3h 8m
1989 NORMAN HECKLER AUCTION CATALOG  #4

1989 NORMAN HECKLER AUCTION CATALOG #4

- $4.99 9h 4m
JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASIS AUCTION RESULTS,  PRICES ONLY

JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASIS AUCTION RESULTS, PRICES ONLY

-
$5.00
$5.01
9h 12m
Sotheby Catalogue of Gold Snuff Boxes  Hard Cover 1963

Sotheby Catalogue of Gold Snuff Boxes Hard Cover 1963

- $9.99 10h 6m
Antique National Stoves & Ranges Catalog 1915-1916

Antique National Stoves & Ranges Catalog 1915-1916

1 $19.99 10h 57m
AUCTION CATALOGS--LOT OF 3-COIN AUCTION CATALOGS -1990S

AUCTION CATALOGS--LOT OF 3-COIN AUCTION CATALOGS -1990S

- $4.99 11h 3m
Scultptural Tradition of the French Sudan Spring 2008

Scultptural Tradition of the French Sudan Spring 2008

- $9.99 11h 6m

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.