*Crime, Spies & Sleaze: We’re continuing to introduce the new layout for our books categories, with an image for each book. This week, we return to our Crime, Spies and Sleaze Category for the fourth part of our Hank Janson re-listing. This also features the famous cover artwork of Reginald Heade. The most famous name in the post-war boom in British gangster ‘pulps’ (curiously, mostly set in the both seedy and glamorous USA) was Hank Janson. Written by ‘Hank’ and telling his adventures as a journalist and later general adventurer, these were in reality written by Stephen D Frances. These racy, tough and often violent detective novels of the 40s and 50s, generally published on a monthly basis, filled the gap formed when American pulp fiction was banned from the UK, and were immensely popular. (In fact they were so racy that author, publishers and distributors were prosecuted for obscenity in 1954). The earliest Jansons were generally published by New Fiction, and were almost exclusively blessed with Heade covers. The 1950s Alexander Moring imprint, with red and yellow stripes across the top of the cover either featured art by Heade, or produced in his style. Interestingly, many Alexander Moring publications have Heade covers that have been modified, usually by the addition of just enough clothing on the young ladies to avoid another prosecution for obscenity. This update, one further New Fiction Heade, with the same cover reproduced on one of the four Morings also on offer. Full details, as always,with condition notes in our catalogue.
PICTURED: ALL BY HANK JANSON
SUGAR AND VICE Alexander Moring 1958 1st UK PB VG/FN £10
SWEET FURY Alexander Moring 1950s 1st UK PB FN £12
TENSION New Fiction 1940s/50s UK PB PR £10 Cover art by Reginald Heade
TENSION Alexander Moring 1957 2nd UK PB FN £15 Cover art by Reginald Heade
THEY DIE ALONE Alexander Moring 1950s 1st UK PB GD £5