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

Derby Publishing Part II

Continuing our look at Derby Publishing Company, here are books 4 through 6 of 12 published. All three are dated 1949, have 160 pages and cover art by D. Rickard.

Derby's address at 347A Yonge Street in Toronto was for many years the famous Sam the Record Man store which closed in 2007. The site is being developed by Ryerson University. Here is a fascinating now and then comparison of the buildings. The then picture is apparently from the early 1950s - Derby could still be there.

Burning Desire by Perry Lindsay (pseudonym for Peggy Gaddis [1895 - 1966]) was first published by Phoenix Press in 1947 as The Burning Desire.

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

The Long Night by Joe Lederer [1904 - 1987] was first published by Farrar & Rinehart in 1931 as Overnight - translated by Guy Endore from Musik der Nacht published in Germany in 1930. Joe is short for Josefine. 

Derby 4

Derby 4 back

Derby 5

Derby 5 back

Derby 6

Derby 6 back

Derby Publishing Part I

Derby Publishing Company was a Toronto (at 347A Yonge Street) based paperback and comic publisher. In 1949 and 1950 Derby published 12 paperbacks. Here are the first three with published dates of 1949, all with cover art by D. Rickard.

Profane by Ralph Carter (pseudonym for William Arthur Neubauer [1916 - 1982]) was first published by Phoenix Press in 1947. Page count of 152.

Sinner Take All by William Arthur (pseudonym for William Arthur Neubauer [1916 - 1982]) was first published by Phoenix Press in 1948. The author also wrote as Gordon Semple and Norman Bligh. Page count of 168.

Passion or Kingdom by Claude Anet (pseudonym for Jean Schopfer [1868 - 1931]) was first published by Dodd, Mead in 1930 as Idyll's End. Page count of 180.

 

Derby 1

Derby 1 back

Derby 2

Derby 2 back

Derby 3

Derby 3 back

Who was D. Rickard?

D. Rickard was an illustrator of Canadian paperbacks in the 1940s and early 50s. He/she signed his work "DR" "R" and "Rickard". This is all I know of D. Rickard. The first name and other personal details are unknown. All that remains is the art.

Rickard did not sign all of his work but his style is distinctive and easy to identify. A couple of examples are Easter Island published as Arrow 101 by Arrow Publishing Company in November 1949 and Detour published as News Stand Library (NSL) 80 by Export Publishing Enterprises Ltd. in November 1949. Other publishers he worked for were Harlequin, Derby Publishing Company , Federal Publishing and the White Circle imprint published by Wm. Collins Sons & Co. Canada Ltd. Checklists of Rickard's work will follow.

In the meantime - can anyone help answer the question?