Second Two News Stand Pocket Library Editions

The first two News Stand Library Pocket Editions from Export Publishing Enterprises Ltd were published in the summer 1948. So were the second two, the first to be numbered.

Number 03 is The Ravager by David Lord, first published New York: Frederick Fell, 1947. The binding is seven stapled signatures - the first five are 12 leaves each and the last two 16 each for a total of 92 or 184 pages. The first printing is undated but the second printing has June 1948 for the first and October 1948 for the second. The page count for the second printing jumps to 192 or 96 leaves - six signatures of 16 leaves each. The second printing's number is R03. The first printing is 173 x 114 mm and the second is 173 x 106 mm.

Number 04 is Possess Me Not by Fan Nichols. The first edition is New York: Frederick Fell, 1946. There are two undated Export variants, the second likely an unacknowledged second printing. The first variant is 173 x 114 mm with 232 pages, the second 173 x 108 mm and 240 pages. The first variant's collation is 1-5¹² 6-7¹⁶ 8-9¹²;  the second variant's is 1-3¹⁶ 4¹² 5-7¹⁶ 8¹². The spine lettering is black on the first variant, red on the second.

News Stand Library 03

News Stand Library 03 back

News Stand Library R03

News Stand Library R03 back

News Stand Library 04 first variant

News Stand Library 04 first variant back

News Stand Library 04 second variant

News Stand Library 04 second variant back

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