BookScans

Graphically illustrating the evolution of Vintage American Paperbacks - 1939 through 1959 (and beyond)

BookScans is a free online reference site, listing tens of thousands of .jpg images, arranged numerically, by publisher, displaying how cover images and graphics changed during the early years of paperbacks. Click "Go to the Scans" to go to the Database Index Page for easy navigation to the various sections.

Trying to find a particular vintage paperback? There are plenty of resources to help you find a title (see "Reference Library"). BookScans is designed to let you see what the book looks like.

Back Covers

Included in the BookScans database are images of significant back-cover artwork. This technique was especially prevalent with early Dell and later Popular Library books, as well as Bantam, Lion, and other publishers.

Artistic Interpretations

Also included in BookScans is a section that is made up of different covers for the same title. There are more than 2,000 entries in the "Interpretations" folder.

TWINS

Thanks to contributors such as Tom Daniels and Bob Gaines, there are now more than 1,000 sets of "Twin" paperback and pulp magazine cover images.

Help!

I need collectors to help me fill in the blanks. Please help complete the BookScans Project by sending me scans of your vintage books. I'll be sure to give you credit for your contributions. Click the "About BookScans" link to learn more.

Sleaze!

BookScans is NOT an adult-oriented web site. However, the inclusion of these books is vital for an accurate study of vintage paperback history and marketing techniques. While the covers for the "Sleaze/GGA" and "Sexy Digests" sections are pretty tame compared to today's adult standards, some viewer discretion is advised.

UPDATE!

2,247 paperback scans added in February!

Many thanks to contributors over the past four months:

Bill Taylor, Bob Gaines, Brian Busby, Brian Maginnity, Brian Patton, Curt Phillips, Dave Crow, Gunnar Olsen, Jerry Boyajian, JR Horne, Kathy Godfrey, Kenneth R. Johnson, Larry Olson, Paul Eng, Steve Ericson, Tom Daniels, Victor Berch and Yvette Hoffman.

Look for the new Update under Update 16.

The total number of unique images is now over 40,000*.

* That figure includes more than:

35,000 vintage paperback cover images

1,100 reference books & publications

4,500 pulp magazines, digest mags and dime novels

... plus, there are thousands of duplicated images in special groups, i.e., by authors, "twin covers," or other categories.

I will update the BookScans web site three times a year: in February, June and October.

Many thanks to vintage paperback enthusiasts who have pointed out errors on the web site. I strive to keep the information as accurate as possible. Please keep emailing me your comments and criticisms.

The Reference Library

Thanks to a huge donation of scans and commentary by Bob Gaines, I have added even MORE new books to The BookScans Reference Library, and I still have HUNDREDS to go! I will be working continuously to update each of the ten sections, so check back often.