Warning : This Unusual Display May Shock You . . .

But You Will Not Forget It.

Happy New Year! We're ringing in 2010 with an exhibit of vintage paperbacks in our front display case. Known for their startling (and often lurid) cover art -- meant to catch the eye from wire racks in train stations and drug stores and news stands (some may have been a little too eye-catching and were most likely delivered in plain brown wrappers), the mass market paperback was introduced in the 1930s as a cheap alternative to the hard cover book. It was designed to be affordable and easy to carry in a pocket or purse.

These treasures of commercial art design are now highly collectible, and prove that sometimes you can judge the book by its cover.

Come check them out until the end of January.

Further Reading and Viewing:

Books go to war

Paperback Books in the 20th Century: A Resource Review

A Short History of Paperbacks

Dare to Judge This Book:

Great Paperback Cover Artists