| Vintage Pulp | Aug 7 2020 |
Nobody is who they seem in this crime collection.
Above are some covers from French publishers Éditions Baudelaire, specifically four entries from its collection Le Chat Noir, or Black Cat, written by various authors, and with cover art by Jacques Thibésart, who signed his work as Nik. The authors were pseudonyms too—or at least, Georges Méra and César Valentino were, which makes us pretty sure the others were, as well. Sharp eyed readers will notice that Thibésart was inspired by Hollywood's film noir wave. The first cover is definitely Dick Powell, and the male on the third cover has to be Alan Ladd from This Gun for Hire. Right? Or is that just us? Thibésart seems to have switched out Ladd's co-star Veronica Lake, though, because the female figure doesn't look anything like her. Oh, it's all such a riddle with these pen names and borrowed faces. In any case, nice art. These were all published in 1959.
FranceÉditions BaudelaireJack LaurensCésar ValentinoDavid BernettGeorges MéraGeorges MeraRobert-Georges MéraJacques ThibésartNikAlan LaddDick Powellcover artliterature
| Vintage Pulp | Oct 1 2013 |
Hell hath no fury like a woman armed.
We’re back to book covers today with two from Éditions de la Seine’s series Agents Secrets Contre X. The first is La rouquine flamboyante, by Georges Mera, and the second is Gangsters en smoking by Jacques Alexandre, both from 1956. The first title, translated, means “The Fiery Redhead,” and as for the second, “smoking” in French means either “tuxedos,” or “smoking jackets,” depending. The art is by the great Jacques Thibésart, aka Mik, and if you want to see a bit more from him check here.
FranceÉditions de la SeineLa rouquine flamboyanteGangsters en smokingJacques AlexandreJacques ThibésartMikGeorges MeraGeorges MéraRobert-Georges Méracover artliterature
