#oldpaperbacks

Ben Benson Calibre 7.65

A Wade Paris investigation. One among my favorite private-eyes.  French language edition of Alibi at dusk (translated by Igor B. Maslowski)

collection “Un Mystère” (# 87, Presses de la Cité, 1952)

Les Grands Romans Noirs - Série Magnum

Four titles in this crime novels collection. All issued 1953. “Les Grands Romans Noirs” -série Magnum was like a special issue of the collection “Les Grands Romans Noirs”: série Magnum, because of the number of pages. 

This was heavy stuff. Hard-boiled. Also ambitious as regards the topics. André Hélèna and his hard-boiled, desesperate dark romance during the Occupation. Paul Daunay (pen-name of Paul Daubannay)  and his private-eye investigating on the heels of a killer “sissy”. Luc Marny (pen-name of Georges Younes) author/character choosing the path of a blood-stained retaliation... The writing was not ever “à la hauteur” but...

At the request of the “Supervisory Commission”: all titles prohibited by Decree of the Ministry of the Interior

cover art: Mik

Publisher: Editions Le Trotteur

publishing director:Roger Dermée

Peter Marsch (aka Claude Ferny)

“Jessie La Rousse”. Jessie Warren - freelance agent - is a recurring character of Ferny/Marsch ‘s spy fiction novels. 

Here the 1956 original edition from this novel that was reiussed many times, differently entitled(officialy or bootlegged).

publisher: Editions Métal, Paris

collection RAFALE

French crime novels collection issued in 1954/55. Eight items only: Diego Michigan (collective pen-name, 5), Diego Suarez (pen-name of André Duquesne/ aka Peter Randa, 2) and Kathy Woodfield (pen-name of André Hélèna, 1) and all are reissues with a new title.

cover art: Jean David

publisher:Editions de la Seine, Paris

publishing director: André Guerber

George MAXWELL    La Môme “Double Shot”

22 titles issued in 1952/1953. Fine & funny hard-boiled sexy crime novels. All written by George Maxwell, pen-name of Georges Esposito. Published by Roger Dermée. Original creations. They say adapted from american but it is fake. The given translator: Richard Esposito : Richard because of François Richard (literary agent /manager of Georges Esposito/Maxwell)

All titles are signed “George Maxwell – adapted from american by Richard Esposito” n°1 – 52/T2 Fallait pas me doubler ! (Shots the Rights) – couv. ill. par Salva n°1 – 53/S2 Fallait pas me doubler ! (Shots the Rights) – 2ème e.o. – couv. ill. par Mik [Jacques Thibésart] n°2 – 52/T2 Va te faire voir ! (Your blarneys elsewhere !) – couv. ill. par Salva n°2 – 53/S2 Va te faire voir ! (Your blarneys elsewhere !) – 2ème e.o. - couv. ill. par Mik [Jacques Thibésart] n°3 – 52/T3 Y manque une “brique”… (Short reckoning, long friends) – couv. ill. par Salva n°3 – 53/S2 Y manque une “brique”… (Short reckoning, long friends) – 2ème e.o. - couv. ill. par Mik [Jacques Thibésart] n°4 – 52/T3 La “belle” se joue à deux !.. (Last game for me !..) – couv. ill. par Salva n°4 – 53/S2 La “belle” se joue à deux !.. (Last game for me !..) – 2ème e.o. - couv. ill. par Mik [Jacques Thibésart] n°5 – 52/09 Sans bavures (Without smudges) – couv. ill. par Salva n°6 – 52/09? Au premier de ces messieurs (Men to be killed) – couv. ill. par Salva n°7 – 52/T4 C’est du gâteau !… (The second gun Woman) – couv. ill. par Salva n°8 – 52/T4 Quelques roses pour le tueur !… (Flowers for the killer !…) – couv. ill. par Salva n°9 – 52/11 Un pyjama de sapin (Death’s Clothing) – couv.ill. par Salva n°10 – 52/12 Rien ne va plus (Bleeding Christmas) – couv. ill. par Salva n°11 – 53/01 C’est ma tournée (The Last Round is for me) – couv. ill. par Salva – titré “Remettez ça, c’est ma tournée” en couverture n°12 – 53/03 Les squelettes ne jouent pas au poker !… (No Poker for Skeleton) – couv. ill. par Salva n°13 – 53/04 Pas de salade, j’en vends ! (No blarneys Boys… I, only) – couv. ill. par Salva n°14 – 53/05 Quel sale temps ! (It’s a bad job !) – couv. ill. par Salva n°15 – 53/06 Calibre 45 et culottes de soie… (Naked women and grappe-shots !) – couv. ill. par Salva n°16 – 53/07 Du sang dans le champagne (The “Black Dragon”…No dead !…) – couv. ill. par Salva n°17 – 53/07 J’peux pas l’encadrer !… (The farce is over !) – couv. ill. par Salva n°18 – 53/09 De quoi je me mêle !… (Hold your tongue, killer) – couv. ill. par Salva – titré “Alors, de quoi je me mêle Marlou !” en couverture n°19 – 53/10 Une gourmette pour Madame… (This woman is a killer !…) – couv. non signée [Jacques Thibésart] n°20 – 53/11 J’veux mon blé (Children Murderess !…) – couv. ill. par Mik [Jacques Thibésart] n°21 – 53/11 T’as triché, Marquise !… (Trickery comes back home) – couv. ill. par Mik [Jacques Thibésart] n°22 (Spécial)– 53/12 – Des camélias pour Johnny !… (Camellias for Johnny) – couv. non signée [Jacques Thibésart] n°23 Coupez-les en quatre ! - announced – unissued 

All those 22 titles were banned from sale and circulation (article 14 of the 1881 law), by decree of March 3rd,1954 (OJ of March 13th, 1954), and Georges Esposito was sentenced on December 22sd, 1956, at the same time as the Dermée spouses, for  "délit d’outrage aux bonnes moeurs", to a fine of 60,000 francs.

publisher:Le Condor, 5 rue des Moulins, Paris

publishing director:Roger Dermée

Espionnage - Aventure - Police

Circa 20 titles between 1953 & 1955.  Launched at Editions Roger Seban, shortly directed by Roger Dermée, the collection quickly went at Editions des Roses. Some titles were reissued  with different covers. Some exist with red covers instead of green. Jean Campocasso directed Editions des Roses and the author rights belonged all to him.

cover art: René Brantonne

publisher: Editions Des Roses, Chevilly-Larue (Seine), France

publishing director: Jean Campocasso

Le Roman de Choc

Dan Rochester  On charcute le dimanche

Published in 1954, this special number of “Le Roman de Choc” says : original title “It would make a cat laugh !...”- translated by Germaine Saulnier. This is all fake. Dan Rochester was more probably another pen-name of Michel Dahin (real name: Michel de Roisin).

A fine loser convinced that he has talent. A sensual and sweet blonde. A brunette less sweet than sensual. A writer of genius awaiting his hour. Some blood! Then the events rush. A punctered eye, grey matter that spurts from a broken skull, bones that one saws in a cellar. There is, however, a discreet rival, an active police, invisible and silent. And all this because the world is what it is: a funny machine that can not stand the defeated.

cover art: Nik

publisher: Editions Le Trotteur, Paris

publishing director: Roger Dermée

Espionnage - Top Secret

French spy fiction novels collection at Editions Le Grand Damier. 198 issues between 1955 & 1963. Created to compete with Editions Fleuve Noir’s collection “Espionnage”, “Top Secret” did never achieve this goal. Fleuve Noir payed better and hired all the french spy fiction barons. But the authors here, though not specialized in the genre, were also fairly efficient and some continued faithfully to work for the collection at lower prices. Literary director Jacques Dubessy wrote a lot under the pen-name Slim Harrisson.

The presentation as well as the cover artists changed several times for ending in a sad non-illustrated black and green overlay.

publisher: Editions du Grand Damier, rue d’Ulm, Paris

publishing directors: Jacques Lallemand & Serge Krill

literary director: Jacques Dubessy