Paperback Primer

by Thomas L. Bonn

1981, Paperback Quarterly Publications. Trade size paperback, 66 pages. A couple dozen B&W illustrations, some full-page. Bonn also wrote Heavy Traffic and Under Cover, both outlined in this Reference Section. This is a nice, brief history of paperbacks, heavy on the stuff that collectors look for, such as pen names, identifying 1st printings, illustrators, etc. The part I like best is a 14-page bibliography, listing some really nice reference books. I have many of them displayed here; but others are very difficult to come by. It lists dozens and dozens of books about paperback books.

The picture of the hardbound version, published in the same year, is from Fred Meyerriecks.