Hello. Your regularly scheduled program of vintage paperback covers + commentary will resume shortly, but I wanted to take a little time to showcase some covers of other books I have lying around my house—hardbound books (w/ and w/o dust jackets) and paperbacks that fall outside the purview of my main collection. My cover-love knows no (or few) bounds. So let's get ready for random!

Title: The Antigua Stamp
Author: Robert Graves
Cover artist: Saul Steinberg

Estimated value: $100-$125


I own this 1st U.S. edition of The Antigua Stamp, in very nice condition. I don't know why. This was probably a book sale purchase from some years back. I was probably thinking, "First edition by a famous author with the dust jacket still in fantastic shape? And it's how much? 50 cents? Uh … oh why not?!"

Back cover features notices for other RH books, including James Joyce's Ulysses. "Complete in one volume, including Judge Woolsey's historic decision; $3.50"

Page 123~

"Funny sort of novel my brother seems to be writing. Diet of Worms, twin noblemen, and modern scientists."

~RP

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Title: Rented Wife (Woodford Press, 1947)
Author: Jack Woodford
Cover artist: "Artist" is a strong word…

Yours for: $20


Best things about this cover:

• Man, hardback covers were (generally) sterile compared to those of paperbacks. Her boobs are prominent but without erotic quality. His mustache is thin but without erotic quality. Her hair is, indeed, epic, but again, without erotic quality.
• She does have a pretty decent "fuck-you" look, though.
• "Monica, can get you some more of these venetian blinds. In beige again, yes. That'll be all."

Best things about this back cover:

• This won the 1947 NYC erotic poetry slam.
• "Unmoral" is a word now?
• Memo to all authors—just start your own f'ing press.

Please also check out the great dust jacket flap copy—first, the ultra-ambiguous, super-dull, completely non-erotic plot description…


Then the hyperbolic, charmingly maniacal author description: "almost satanic powers of penetrating observation"???


Page 123~

Nope, going with Page 133, to which I randomly opened, and which contains this improbable bit of prosemanship:

On impulse she got up out of bed. Threw off her pyjamas … Started for the door, aflame with passion at the thought of putting her warm nudity down beside his muscular, hairy male body without further casuistry.

"Got a delivery here, let's see … [checks clipboard] …  looks like some warm nudity?" "Oh, great, we've been expecting that. Just put it down next to the muscular, hairy male body over there." "Alright. You gonna want any casuistry with that?" "No, just a receipt will be fine, thanks."

~RP

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Tumblr]