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 THE LORD of the RINGS from the J.R.R. TOLKIEN SAGA

THE LORD of the RINGS from the J.R.R. TOLKIEN SAGA

- $9.99 18m
Dr. Seuss's books collections - 8 books

Dr. Seuss's books collections - 8 books

1 $9.99 23m
1001 Ways to Reward Employees,  Bob Nelson,  Ken Blanchar

1001 Ways to Reward Employees, Bob Nelson, Ken Blanchar

- $0.99 26m
Sword Quest Nancy Yi Fan Format:  Hardcover

Sword Quest Nancy Yi Fan Format: Hardcover

- $0.99 29m
Blizzard of the Blue Moon Magic Tree House#36 hardcover

Blizzard of the Blue Moon Magic Tree House#36 hardcover

- $0.99 33m
Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke (2007,  Hardcover)

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke (2007, Hardcover)

- $0.99 35m
ELIJAH OF BUXTON - CHRISTOPHER PAUL CURTIS (HARDCOVER)

ELIJAH OF BUXTON - CHRISTOPHER PAUL CURTIS (HARDCOVER)

- $0.99 39m
The Sisters Grimm Michael Buckley

The Sisters Grimm Michael Buckley

1 $0.99 41m
DAVE PELZER A Child Called It Trade Paperback Book

DAVE PELZER A Child Called It Trade Paperback Book

- $0.99 44m
The 53 Best Selling eBooks & Software On eBay

The 53 Best Selling eBooks & Software On eBay

3 $0.11 1h 6m
AUTO Star Wars Book Autograph by author Dave Wolverton

AUTO Star Wars Book Autograph by author Dave Wolverton

- $0.99 1h 15m
Apple Book Logic Pro 7 and Logic Express 7 w  DVD-ROM

Apple Book Logic Pro 7 and Logic Express 7 w DVD-ROM

- $0.99 1h 24m
James Patterson E-BOOK EBOOKS 51 E-BOOKS on 1 CD

James Patterson E-BOOK EBOOKS 51 E-BOOKS on 1 CD

5 $2.99 2h 56m
Learn How To Play Guitar E-BOOK ebook on 1 CD

Learn How To Play Guitar E-BOOK ebook on 1 CD

-
$1.99
$9.99
3h 34m

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.