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sears roebuck & co. consumers guide fall 1900 print1970

sears roebuck & co. consumers guide fall 1900 print1970

- $0.99 4h 57m
1974 WARD Wish Book Christmas Catalog 70s DOLLS TOYS

1974 WARD Wish Book Christmas Catalog 70s DOLLS TOYS

$35.00 6h 20m
Vintage 1963 JCPENNEY CATALOG 780pgs FASHION Home TOYS

Vintage 1963 JCPENNEY CATALOG 780pgs FASHION Home TOYS

3 $31.00 6h 31m
Spring & Summer 1934 Sears Roebuck & Co Catalog

Spring & Summer 1934 Sears Roebuck & Co Catalog

3 $14.25 7h 33m
1975 SEARS CHRISTMAS CATALOG Wish Book

1975 SEARS CHRISTMAS CATALOG Wish Book

5 $26.02 8h 26m
1973 SEARS CHRISTMAS CATALOG Wish Book

1973 SEARS CHRISTMAS CATALOG Wish Book

4 $15.50 8h 30m
1962 Montgomery Ward Christmas Catalog 423 pages

1962 Montgomery Ward Christmas Catalog 423 pages

- $59.99 8h 39m
Lot of 6 JC Penney Christmas Catalogs

Lot of 6 JC Penney Christmas Catalogs

-
$10.00
$15.00
8h 40m
1963 Montgomery Ward Christmas Catalog 423 pages

1963 Montgomery Ward Christmas Catalog 423 pages

- $59.99 8h 42m
Vintage SEARS CATALOG FALL WINTER 1974

Vintage SEARS CATALOG FALL WINTER 1974

1 $0.99 8h 45m
Sears Fall Winter 1980 Catalog

Sears Fall Winter 1980 Catalog

- $9.50 8h 50m
1959 Mayers Housewares & Giftwares Catalog on DVD

1959 Mayers Housewares & Giftwares Catalog on DVD

$12.95 9h 50m
1951 SEARS ROEBUCK & CO MIDSUMMER SALE CATALOG 403 PGS!

1951 SEARS ROEBUCK & CO MIDSUMMER SALE CATALOG 403 PGS!

- $19.99 10h 4m
1956 SPIEGEL CATALOG & 1960 WARDS CATALOG #W41

1956 SPIEGEL CATALOG & 1960 WARDS CATALOG #W41

2 $8.05 10h 23m

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.