Collins White Circle Artists Part XXXIV - D. Rickard

In an earlier post I discussed the early Canadian paperback artist D. Rickard and mentioned that he was one of only two artists to have worked for the big three publishers. He did over 25 covers (signed and unsigned) each for Harlequin and Export Publishing Enterprises but only one signed for Wm. Collins Sons & Co. Canada's White Circle line. There is one other that is likely his work. 

White Circle C.D. 540

White Circle C.D. 540 - 1952

White Circle CD 403 - 1949

Harlequin Artists Part XX - D. Rickard

About 38% of the 480 illustrated covers on Harlequin books published between 1949 and 1959 are not signed, including the most reproduced Harlequin cover from the first book. It's too bad this well known image is anonymous.

One artist to consider is D. Rickard who signed the art on three of the first 10 Harlequins (2, 7, 9) and clearly did the covers for two more (3 and 4). Of the remaining four (5, 6, 8, 10) Wolf of the Mesas (6) is likely Rickard's work as well. And one dealer says he did the art on #5, but it doesn't look like it to me. In summary Rickard did five, likely six, of the first ten Harlequin covers.

The man on Harlequin 1 to my eye has some of the characteristics of Rickard's work but it's not as obvious as his distinctive art usually is. But the woman doesn't. One other point is that at least four other Harlequins that are clearly his work are not signed.

Harlequin 7

Harlequin 1 - May 1949

Harlequin 2 - May 1949

Harlequin 3 - June 1949

Harlequin 4 - June 1949

Harlequin 5 - June 1949

Harlequin 6 - June 1949

Harlequin 7 - August 1949

Harlequin 8 - August 1949

Harlequin 9 - August 1949

Harlequin 10 - August 1949

Arrow Publishing Part III

Here are four more books from Toronto's Arrow Publishing.

Hallelujah Brother first published New York: The Beechhurst Press, 1946
Showdown is a paperback original
Curtain Call first published New York: The Beechhurst Press, 1946
Becky's Corset first published New York: House of Pettit [sic], 1942

All books are 128 pages except 111 at 160 pages. The artist on 110 is D. Rickard.

Arrow 110 - January 1950

Arrow 110 back

Arrow 111 - February 1950

Arrow 111 back

Arrow 112 - January 1950

Arrow 112 back

Arrow 113 - January 1950

Arrow 113 back

Arrow Publishing Part II

Here are four more books from Toronto's Arrow Publishing.

Everything is Quite All Right first published New York: Bernard Ackerman, 1945
Backstage with Joe first published New York: Roy, 1946
Sextet first published New York: The Beechhurst Press, 1946
Tokyo Romance first published New York: Didier, 1947

All books are 128 pages. The artist on 103, 108 and 109 is D. Rickard.

Arrow 103 - November 1949

Arrow 103 back

Arrow 106 - November 1949

Arrow 106 back

Arrow 108 - November 1949

Arrow 108 back

Arrow 109 - January 1950

Arrow 109 Back

Arrow Publishing Company Part I

Arrow Publishing Company was one of a number of short lived Canadian mass market paperback publishers in the late 1940s and early 1950s. There is no publisher street address, only Toronto and New York. I don't know anything about the publisher. There are 20 books in the series: 100 - 103, 105 - 120. No one has ever seen a number 104.

There is a hint in number 102 below, Charm is Every Woman's Business, that the publisher is connected to Export Publishing Enterprises Ltd. The book is as poorly produced as Export's average book and the author's name is "Claire" on the front cover and spine and "Clare" on the back cover and title page. This is an Export "mark of distinction".

Each book's copyright page announces "This book has been selected for reprint because of its popular appeal and its successful record of sale when originally printed. The story is exactly as represented in the synopsis on the following page…". Even the eight paperback originals have this announcement. I haven't checked any of the books with the original editions but this sounds like a sneaky way of suggesting that the Arrow edition just might be abridged.

Here are the first three books in the series. The books are dated November 1949 and 128 pages long. All cover art is by D. Rickard.

Man and Woman first published New York: The Beechhurst Press, 1946
Easter Island first published New York: The Beechhurst Press, 1947
Charm is Every Woman's Business is a paperback original

Arrow 100 - November 1949

Arrow 100 back

Arrow 101 - November 1949

Arrow 101 back

Arrow 102 - November 1949

Arrow 102 back

D. Rickard Part III

I've said often here that I knew nothing about Canadian artist D. Rickard who illustrated dozens of paperbacks in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He is the only artist to have worked for the three big early Canadian paperback publishers - Wm Collins Sons & Co. Canada (White Circle), Export Publishing Enterprises (News Stand Library), and Harlequin Books.

A recent look through Toronto City Directories may have uncovered something about Rickard.

There is a listing in 1947 for "Douglas Rickard artist Canadian Art Centre, residence 68 Ferrier Avenue". There are no listings for 1948 to 1950 then in 1951 "Doug Rickard art director Harold F. Stanfield, residence 577 Glengrove Avenue West". The same residence but no occupation is seen for "Doug Rickard" in 1952 and 1953.

There is a listing in 1949 for "Rickard Studio (John Smith and Robert Nokes) commercial artists". This is the only year. The two artists then show up in subsequent years with different details. I don't think this is related to our Rickard.

Harold F. Stanfield Ltd was a Toronto advertising agency operating from 1944 to 1958. I can't find anything on a "Canadian Art Centre" in Toronto in the 1940s.

Here is a gallery of Rickard's work.

News Stand Library 54 - June 1949

News Stand Library 43 - May 1949

Harlequin 24 - December 1949

Harlequin 25 - December 1949

White Circle 540 - 1952

Arrow 102 - November 1949

Derby 3 - 1949

Derby Publishing Part IV

Last of the posts for Derby Publishing Company - books 10 to 12. All are dated 1950 with 160 pages. Only the artist on number 10 can be identified, D. Rickard. Number 11 has the best cover of the short 12 book run.

An undistinguished collection. No originals, no Canadian authors and 10 books from the queen of soft core mid-century romance - Phoenix Press of New York. I don't know anything about the owners or employees of Derby.

Lush Lady by Gail Jordan (pseudonym for Peggy Gaddis [1895 - 1966]) was first published by Phoenix Press in 1949. Gaddis has too many other pseudonyms to list.

Highway Jane by Gordon Semple (pseudonym for William Arthur Neubauer [1916 - 1982]) was first published by Phoenix Press in 1949 as Passion's Highway. The author also wrote as William Arthur, Ralph Carter and Norman Bligh.

Borrowed Husband by Florenz Branch (pseudonym for Florence Stonebraker [1896 - 1977]) was first published by Phoenix Press in 1949 as Borrowed Love. The author also wrote as Thomas Stone.

Derby 10

Derby 10 back

Derby 11

Derby 11 back

Derby 12

Derby 12 back

Derby Publishing Part III

Part III of this blog will highlight books seven through nine published by Derby Publishing Company of Toronto. All three are dated 1950 and have 160 pages. Cover art by D. Rickard for book nine. The cover artists for books seven and eight are unknown.

Men To Burn by William Arthur (pseudonym for William Arthur Neubauer [1916 - 1982]) was first published by Phoenix Press in 1949. The author also wrote as Gordon Semple, Ralph Carter and Norman Bligh. 

Bedroom For Three by Charles Thornton (pseudonym for Albert Quandt [? - ?]) was first published by Phoenix Press in 1949. The author also wrote as Robert Norcross.

The Body Betrays by Wayne Way (pseudonym for Adelaide M. Rowe [1898 - 1979]) was first published by Phoenix Press in 1949. The author earlier wrote under Adelaide Humphries.

Derby 7

Derby 7 back

Derby 8

Derby 8 back

Derby 9

Derby 9 back