Vintage Pulp

August 7 2020

A LITTLE CHAT

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.

France, Éditions Baudelaire, Jack Laurens, César Valentino, David Bernett, Georges Méra, Georges Méra, Robert-Georges Méra, Jacques Thibésart, Nik, Alan Ladd, Dick Powell, cover art, literature

Vintage Pulp

October 1 2013

DUO DANGEREUX

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.

France, Éditions de la Seine, La rouquine flamboyante, Gangsters en smoking, Jacques Alexandre, Jacques Thibésart, Mik, Georges Méra, Georges Méra, Robert-Georges Méra, cover art, literature

Vintage Pulp

December 5 2011

THE DEVIL’S OWN

Yet another case of sinner take all.

Above, a nice cover of Que le diable l’emporte (What the Devil Takes), written for Le Moulin Noir’s Editions Etoiles in 1961 by Ergé Hemm. Hemm was one of about twenty pseudonyms used by author Robert-Georges Méra. Or perhaps it was the other way around. We’ll research that. The art here is signed, by the way, but in typically French fashion—i.e. illegibly. We’ll have more covers from Le Moulin Noir later.

France, Que le diable l’emporte, Le Moulin Noir, Ergé Hemm, Robert-Georges Méra, Georges Méra, cover art, literature

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HISTORY REWIND

The headlines that mattered yesteryear.

October 10

1971—London Bridge Goes Up

After being sold, dismantled and moved to the United States, London Bridge reopens in the resort town of Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

October 10

1975—Burton and Taylor Marry Again

British actor Richard Burton and American screen star Elizabeth Taylor secretly remarry sixteen months after their divorce, then jet away to a second honeymoon in Chobe Game Park in Botswana.

October 9

1967—ChÃ© Executed in Bolivia

A day after being captured, Marxist revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara is executed in Bolivia. In an attempt to make it appear as though he had been killed resisting Bolivian troops, the executioner shoots Guevara with a machine gun, wounding him nine times in the legs, arm, shoulder, throat, and chest.

October 8

1918—Sgt. York Becomes a Hero

During World War I, in the Argonne Forest in France, America Corporal Alvin C. York leads an attack on a German machine gun nest that kills 25 and captures 132. He is a corporal during the event, but is promoted to sergeant as a result. He also earns Medal of Honor from the U.S., the Croix de Guerre from the French Republic, and the Croce di Guerra from Italy and Montenegro. Stateside, he is celebrated as a hero, and Hollywood even makes a movie entitled Sergeant York, starring Gary Cooper.

October 8

1956—Larsen Pitches Perfect Game

The New York Yankees’ Don Larsen pitches a perfect game in the World Series against hated rivals the Brooklyn Dodgers. It is the only perfect game in World Series history, as well as the only no-hitter.

October 7

1959—Dark Side of Moon Revealed

The Soviet space probe Luna 3 transmits the first photographs of the far side of the moon. The photos generate great interest, and scientists are surprised to see mountainous terrain, very different from the near side, and only two seas, which the Soviets name Mare Moscovrae (Sea of Moscow) and Mare Desiderii (Sea of Desire).