ARCHER PRESS – BRITISH PULP FICTION AT
ASH RARE BOOKS
43 HURON ROAD
LONDON SW17 8RE
UNITED KINGDOM

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, [1951]. First edition. Born Hetty Goetz in an East Side Chicago tenement, Gloria de Haarden – a “little carrot-topped Venus, with arms” – has big ideas. “She dreams of mink coatees, oyster-fruit, ice, and Lincoln landaus. Penthouses. And men; rich, handsome types”.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a typical design by Reginald Heade – under-dressed young woman points a gun directly at us; some minor wear and faint creasing; lower wrapper unevenly spotted; text lightly tanned with some spotting, mainly of edges, but a good copy of an amusing tale. Just two copies (Bodleian and British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

SOLD

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, [1950]. First edition. News comes to Canada of Jeremy’s marriage in wartime London – passions erupt in those left behind. A tale from one of Atlantic Canada’s most prolific writers.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 160pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a teasing design by Reginald Heade; American price over-printed on upper wrapper; “Printed in England” stamp on title-page; slight nick to lower wrapper, but otherwise an exceptionally good copy – clean, crisp and unworn. Just three copies (Bodleian, British Library and Trinity College, Dublin) located in major libraries worldwide.

£50

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Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, [1948]. [Second edition]. The tall, slender and blonde Lady Cynthia Collingwoode-Hepway goes husband hunting in Mayfair: elsewhere in London two other women from very different walks of life go home from work. Their worlds are about to collide. First published by Gerald G. Swan in 1941. The lower wrapper proclaims this to be the first book issued by the Archer Press: it is certainly far better written than most of their subsequent ouput.
Crown 8vo (18cm). [ii],5-(132)pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers; the American price over-printed on the upper wrapper now obscured by a sticker; “Printed in England” stamp on title; spine a little damaged and repaired; one leaf tanned; staples a touch rusted, but overall a serviceable copy. Only a single copy (Bodleian) of this edition located in any major library worldwide.

£20

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 30641 – or simply click on the button

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, [1950]. First edition. Sylvia is abandoned for Elsie, Battersea for Knightsbridge – “I am going to the woman who is not so straight-laced, who will give herself to me whether I marry her or not – And maybe her money is more important than her body! – Goodbye”! The author’s pseudonym is mis-spelt “Flannêche” on the title-page.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a woman in abandon from Reginald Heade; American price over-printed on upper wrapper; “Printed in England” stamp on title; slight split at foot; circle of discolouration near the American price; a few minor marks; text a little tanned, but a very good copy. Just two copies (Bodleian and British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

SOLD

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, [1950]. [Second edition]. The Dudeneys need to find a rich husband for their extravagant daughter. First published under Goodchild’s “Jesse Templeton” pseudonym in 1925.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 160pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a languid design by Reginald Heade; American price over-printed on upper wrapper; “Printed in England” stamp on title-page; tiny chip to spine; short split at foot; a few slight marks and creases; a few leaves slightly creased, but otherwise very good. Just two copies of this edition (Bodleian and British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£40

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Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, (1950). [Second edition]. Paul Vivanti, the worst man in the world, “the most dangerous enemy the British Intelligence Departments had perhaps ever known”. Originally published in hardback in 1945.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 126 [i.e.128]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers; American price over-printed on upper wrapper; “Printed in England” stamp on title-page; some very minor wear at tips; a few slight marks and small flaws; text lightly tanned, but a very good copy.

£20

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 30148 – or simply click on the button

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, (1950). First edition. “Sam Case was brought up in a swamp cabin in Georgia. He was a rough kid who was used to finding things out for himself. This is the story of how he found out plenty”. Typical post-war pulp fare from the Archer Press stable, with William Newton under one of his various pseudonyms, and a delicious Reginald Heade cover.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers; American price stamp to top corner; pasted in copyright notice on verso of half-title; very faint crease to rear wrapper; text slightly tanned, but an exceptionally unworn and fresh copy. This 1950 edition not found in any major library worldwide.

£100

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 30635 – or simply click on the button

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, (1950). First edition. “Sam Case was brought up in a swamp cabin in Georgia. He was a rough kid who was used to finding things out for himself. This is the story of how he found out plenty”. Typical post-war pulp fare from the Archer Press stable, with William Newton under one of his various pseudonyms, and a delicious Reginald Heade cover.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers; American price sticker to top corner; a few slight nicks and creases; text a little tanned, but a very good copy. This 1950 edition not found in any major library worldwide.

£75

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 29979 – or simply click on the button

London : Archer Press, [1952]. [Fourth edition]. Rich American woman starts to fascinate a rising young barrister – his wife is aghast. Originally published in 1928.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 96pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – an unsigned design by David Wright (1912-1967); a few nicks; some creasing; faint bookshop stamp to upper wrapper; a few spots, but still a better than average copy.

SOLD

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, (1949). First edition. Private-eye Shaun O’Malley’s partner gets killed. Enter Elvira, “a girl with a nice figure, a nasty mind, and a husband too fond of the booze” – but Louisa’s pretty smart too.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 126,[ii]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a lively design by John Pollack (1918-1985); American price sticker on upper wrapper; “Printed in England” stamp on title-page; minor wear at tips; slight vertical crease to upper wrapper; small spot to lower wrapper; half-title browned at foot; slight tear to one leaf, not reaching text, but overall a very good copy. Just two copies (Bodleian and British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£50

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 32767 – or simply click on the button

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, [1950]. First edition. The beautiful Carole comes calling on private-eye Shaun O’Malley.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – brunette at the bar by John Pollack (1918-1985); American price sticker on upper wrapper; “Printed in England” stamp on title-page; wear at tips; neatly repaired short tear to spine and upper wrapper; text a little tanned, but a better than average copy. Just two copies (Bodleian and British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£50

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 32881 – or simply click on the button

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, [1950]. First edition. A Nick Cranley tale – Nick waits for a redhead and is mistakenly given a large envelope.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a design by John Pollack; some wear at extremities; some light creasing; revised price deeply pencilled on upper wrapper; a few edge-spots; staples rusting; text a little dusty in a few places; a good copy. Only a single copy (Bodleian) located in the major UK libraries.

SOLD

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, (1949). First edition. Mrs Cranley has become suspicious.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a design by John Pollack (1918-1985); some chipping to spine; some creasing; slight nick to lower wrapper; a few slight marks and spots; staples rusting, but a good copy.

SOLD

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, [1950]. First edition. Nick Cranley hunts down a boyfriend for ten dollars a day and a few stolen moments – “beautiful dames and ugly corpses”.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a design by John Pollack (1918-1985); some wear at head; some creasing; a couple of edge-spots; staples a little rusted, but overall still a very good copy. Only a single copy (Bodleian) located in the world’s major libraries.

£75

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 30701 – or simply click on the button

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, [1951]. First edition. “The steady mumble jumble of the speeding train vibrates every nerve in my noggin just as if some wise-guy had shoved a juke-box down my earhole ... All that unfaithfulness had brought me to the bottle”. A Nick Cranley tale.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a typical design by Reginald Heade; some very mild rubbing and creasing; a few faint marks, but a very good copy. Just two copies (Bodleian and British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£75

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 45658 – or simply click on the button

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, (1949). First edition. Mary Glyn doesn’t want to live in Wyoming, so John goes ranching alone – she is determined to wait on his return – then her flighty pal Ann turns up.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 96pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a design by Thorp; some light damp-staining to wrappers; staples badly rusted, but a reasonable copy of an extremely rare title. No copy located in any major library worldwide.

SOLD

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, (1949). First edition. Muriel surveys Paris from the top of the Arc de Triomphe – “She was undeniably pretty, with her strangely bluey-greenish eyes that looked out so bewitchingly from beneath long, curving lashes; the wealth of auburn hair that cascaded like a fountain of flame over her shoulders ...”.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original stapled pictorial wrappers – a man implores a haughty Muriel; a little rust to the staples; a few slight creases; text very slightly tanned, but overall a very good copy of an uncommon title. Just two copies (Bodleian and British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£50

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 43982 – or simply click on the button

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, [1949]. Second edition of an early Vane, first published in 1926. “The most daring exposure ever written of the world’s wickedest city” – the lure of Montmartre, among the Apaches, black women and white men, gambling dens, tempting English girlhood, and more.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – an unsigned design apparently by Reginald Heade; some very minor wear, a tiny nick and a few faint creases; a few edge spots; one staple a little rusted, but overall a very good copy. Just two copies of this edition (Bodleian and British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£25

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 33522 – or simply click on the button

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, (1950). First edition. “After what you have done to me ... kill me!” is the teaser tag on the cover – a torrid tale of girlish indiscretion, marital disillusion, passion and deceit. “The wages of sin are sometimes even worse than death” sententiously adds the back cover. Somewhat incongruously set in a respectable London suburb – Wimbledon, I think, from memory (McKeag was living in Clapham at the time) – but this versatile author in top form, abetted by a sensational cover-design by Reginald Heade (1901-1957), finest of all the pulp-artists – and one of his very best.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers; American price over-printed on upper wrapper; “Printed in England” stamp on title and copyright sticker on verso; a few faint signs of age; text a touch tanned, but a very good copy of a scarce and fragile item. Just two copies (British Library and Trinity College, Dublin) located in major libraries worldwide.

£125

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 43896 – or simply click on the button

Stoke-on-Trent : Archer Press, [1951]. First edition. Slim is offered a job in a gambling club. “He made with the words like as if he had been dragged up to spout from an Episcopalian pulpit ...”.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 126,[ii]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – full abandon in noose from Reginald Heade; American price over-printed on upper wrapper; “Printed in England” stamp on title-page; GB copyright label (dated 1950) on verso; just a hint of rubbing; a few faint marks; text lightly tanned, but a very good copy indeed – crisp, clean and bright.

SOLD