Sweetness and Light Part II

"For the rest, whatever we have got has been by infinite labour and search, and ranging through every corner of nature; the difference is, that, instead of dirt and poison, we have rather chosen to till our hives with honey and wax; thus furnishing mankind with the two noblest of things, which are sweetness and light."

                     Jonathan Swift, An Account of a Battel Between the Antient and Modern Books in St. James's Library (London: John Nutt, 1704).

London: Charles Bathurst, 1751

In part I a couple of "dirt and poison" books from Harlequin were shown. Here are two from Export Publishing Enterprises Ltd's News Stand Library imprint.

News Stand Library 102 - April 1950

News Stand Library 102 back

News Stand Library 139 September 1950

News Stand Library 139 back

Collins White Circle Artists Part XXI - Margaret Paull (8)

In part I I gave a short history of Margaret Paull's time at Wm. Collins Sons & Co. Canada Ltd and her work on the White Circle imprint. The first 41 of her 67 signed covers are discussed in parts I to VII. Here are the next six, all published in 1945.

White Circle 229

White Circle 230

White Circle 231

White Circle 232

White Circle 233

White Circle 245

November 1950 Part I

Continuing the look at mid century Canada with the help of Winnipeg's National Home Monthly.

November 1950 was another of the 21 months (May 1949 to January 1951) when the three large early Canadian paperback publishers (Harlequin Books, Wm. Collins Sons & Co. Canada Ltd and Export Publishing Enterprises Ltd) were all in business. 

Two Harlequins from November 1950 join six pages from the National Home Monthly.

Harlequin 84

Harlequin 84 back

Harlequin 85

Harlequin 85 back

Crown Novel Publishing Part II

I introduced the nine book British paperback series Bear Pocket here. Here are another two.

All of the Bear Pockets were published in 1946 and are an example of the odd publishing ventures that followed the Second World War. Paper rationing was still in effect so a tiny book like this made economic sense. Another way to get books on the stands in Britain was Canadian produced books distributed in Britain. These efforts, as far as I can tell, only happened in 1946.

One such publisher was Toronto's Crown Novel (sometimes "Book" is inserted) Publishing Company. I know nothing about them, not even the number of books Crown published. I know of nine. There may be some connection with Export Publishing Enterprises Ltd which I'll explore in another post. 

One of Crown's books has the following:

"Published by Crown Novel Book Publishing Company for Pemberton’s of Manchester Limited, 14 Lever Street, Manchester, England. Wholesale distribution through World Distributors Incorporated, Manchester, England."

Here are two westerns from Crown, both originals. Each are digest sized - 200-210mm x 135mm.

Bear Pocket 1

Bear Pocket 2

Sweetness and Light Part I

"For the rest, whatever we have got has been by infinite labour and search, and ranging through every corner of nature; the difference is, that, instead of dirt and poison, we have rather chosen to till our hives with honey and wax; thus furnishing mankind with the two noblest of things, which are sweetness and light."

                  Jonathan Swift, An Account of a Battel Between the Antient and Modern Books in St. James's Library (London: John Nutt, 1704). 

Third Edition, 1704

The early offerings from Harlequin Books are apt to have "dirt and poison" rather than "sweetness and light". Here are three from Harlequin's first year, 1949.



Harlequin 2

Harlequin 2 back

Harlequin 9

Harlequin 9 back

Harlequin 10

Harlequin 10 back