PAPERBACK COLLECTOR

Was a time when no-one collected paperbacks, preferring instead to go for the hardcovers and those elusive first editions - paperbacks, although existing from early in the 19th century, didn't really come into their own until the 1930's. The most notable publisher of early paperbacks was Alan Lane who launched the Penguin Books imprint in 1935 with ten reprint titles. And in the US Pocket Books was launched in 1939. Soon new books were being published as paperback originals which allowed publishers to take less of a financial risk on new writers. These paperbacks were much cheaper to produce than the bulky hardbacks.

From here the mass market paperback emerged - traditionally sold in newsagents and airports before bookshops started carrying the titles themselves. Mass market paperbacks are distinguished from hardbacks by the different business practices that publishers and booksellers apply to them. When booksellers note that books have been in stock for some time and have not sold, they may return them to the publisher for a refund or credit on future orders. However, in the case of mass market paperbacks, this "return" usually means stripping the front cover, returning that for credit, and pulping the book itself.

Paperbacks could have been invented for certain genres - westerns,mysteries,horror,thrillers were all made for cheap, slim volumes that could be devoured on the train, on the plane or even at home. The books are portable and easily slipped into a pocket or bag. One particular type of book that particularly benefited from paperbacks was the TV and movie tie-in novels with the format being flexible enough for the short shelf life expected. Paperbacks were also used to sell original novels that continued the stories of favourite TV or movie characters - the Star Trek series of novels is a very good example of this, even if these days some of the titles are published in hardback before going to paperback.

Paperbacks were not really designed to last and no one in the publishing business ever thought they could become collectable, the same attitude used to exist with the pulps and comic books, but these days paperbacks are hugely collectable and there are magazines, websites and even radio shows devoted to the hobby.

I myself collect mostly westerns and crime books but I'll often pick up any old paperback that appeals to me, maybe only because of the lewd cover image. Books by certain publishers are often collected and the early Pan's are much sought after. A modern publishing house worth collecting are the Hard Case Crime books - these are packaged in a vintage style and many of the titles are reprints of classic long out of print works. Those old Ace Doubles - two books, read one and then flip over and read another - are also very popular and often fetch high prices at book fairs and shows.


Many people only collect with the hope of making a fast buck, building up a collection in the hope of selling at a large profit at a later date. Financial gains never come into my way of thinking, though. Most of my collection is made up of authors I love to read. Though I must admit to some anal tendencies - for instance I collect Ian Fleming's Bond series and will buy duplicates if they have a different cover. I have several copies of each novel and one particular title, Dr No I have in ten different editions.

I also collect oddities, many of which I will never read such as Satan was a Lesbian - now I'll never read that...honest.

But is there anything better than rummaging about in a second-hand pile of books in the hope of turning up something special? The smell of old books is also enticing to the paperback fanatic and has led many person astray into a life of fervent paperback hunting. If you don't collect paperbacks and are thinking of doing so beware for it is an addiction that is hard to break. And if you do collect, what do you collect?