Carnival Books !

Carnival Books.

OK, here we are again with 'Carnival Books' started in 1952 and published by Hanro Corporation, New York with number #901 through to #957  . These were mainly re-named novels given the true sleaze pulp art treatment to better sales !

I only own 14 titles in this series, they are rare and the early editions go like hot cakes !

OK here we go ......let's join the Carnival !

901 - A Body To Own - Robert W.Harmon

A Body To Own #901 (art by George Gross)

902 - Midnight Sinners - John Caldwall.

Midnight Sinners # 902 

903 - Lovers Bewitched - William E.Gordon
904 - Borrowed Ecstasy - Watkins E.Wright.

Lovers Bewitched # 903

Borrrowed Ecstasy # 904

905 - Strangers In The Dark - Peggy Gaddis 
906 - A lover For Anne - Sylvia Erskine (Peggy Gaddis)

Strangers In The Dark # 905 - Art by George Gross

A Lover For Anne # 906 - Art by George Gross

907 - Tempting Tigress - John Underwood

Tempting Tigress # 907 - Art  Raymond Johnson

908 - Girl-Hungry - William E.Gordon.
909 - The Girl From Mimi's - Joan Tucker (Peggy Gaddis)
910 - Pick-Up - Albert L.Quandt
911 - Affairs Of A Ward Nurse - Mitchell Coleman.

Ward Nurse # 911 - Art by Ray Pease.

912 - Wild Party - Frederic Spencer .
913 - Affairs Of A Career Girl - Mitchell Coleman

Wild Party

Affairs of a Career Girl (art by George Gross)

914 - Girl Of The Slums - Raymond Blair (Albert L.Quandt) - 1953 

Girl Of The Slums

915 - Lost To Desire - Peggy Gaddis
916 - Passion's Harvest - Peggy Gaddis

Lost To Desire # 915 - 1953

Passion's Harvest # 916 - Art George Gross

917 - Frenchie - David Charlson

Frenchie # 917 - 1953

918 - Rapture Alley - Whit Harrison (Harry Whittington)

Art by Rudolph Belarski 

From the above list the book to look out for is 'Rapture Alley' by Whit Harrison , this book is a key digest drug paperback and will go for serious money in near mint condition , so keep your eyes peeled boys and girls !!!!

919 - City Hotel _ Jane Manning 

City Hotel # 919 - Art by Raymond Pease.

920 - Hotel Waitress - Gene Harvey

Art by George Gross

921 - Girl Hungry (2nd Edition) - William E.Gordon (#908).

Girl-Hungry # 921 - Art by Rudy Nappi

922 - City Of Sin - Robert O.Saber
923 - Sinners Club - Harry Whittington.
924 - Pick-Up (2nd Edition) - Albert L.Quandt (#910)

Pick-Up # 924 - Art by Rafael Desoto.

925 - Reckless - Kermit Welles.
926 - Hotel Doctor - Frank Haskell.

Hotel Doctor # 926 - Art by L. Marchetti

927 - Boy Hungry - Kate Nickerson (Lulla Adler)
928 - Frenchie (2nd Edition) - David Charlson (#917)
929 - Farm Hussy - Sylvia Erskine 

Farm Hussy # 929

930 - Social Club - Albert L.Quandt
931 - Backwoods Shack - Hallam Whitney (Harry Whittington)
932 - Boy Madness - Ralph Douglas .

Backwoods Shack # 931 - 

Boy Madness # 932 - Art by George Gross

933 - City Hotel (2nd Edition) - Jane Manning (#919)
934 - Farmers Wife - Peggy Gaddis.
935 - Girl Hungry (3rd Edition) - William E.Gordon.(#908/921)
936 - Midnight Sinners (2nd Edition) - John Caldwall (#902)
937 - Boy Chaser - Kate Nickerson (Lulla Adler)

Midnight Sinners # 936 - 1954

Boy-Chaser # 937 

938 - Farm Hussy (2nd Edition) - Sylvia Erskine (#929)
939 - City Hotel (3rd Edition) - Jane Manning (#919/933)
940 - Farmers Wife (2nd Edition) - Peggy Gaddis (#934)

Farmers Wife # 940 - 1954

As you can see from the list above and below that by now Carnival were re-printing earlier novels like it was going out of fashion ! as a collector you always want 1st editions and they will always go for strong money as collectors know which ones are which, but that means that these 2nd/3rd editions can be picked up for really good prices and might be a good place to start your digest collecting habit !

941 - Boy Madness (2nd Edition) - Ralph Douglas (#932)
942 - City Of Sin (2nd Edition) - Robert O'Saber (#922)
943 - Backwoods Shack (2nd Edition) - Hallam Whitney (Harry Whittington) (#931)
944 - Frenchie (3rd Edition) - David Charlson (#917/918)
945 - Midnight Sinners (3rd Edition) - John Caldwall (#902/936)
946 - Girl Hungry (4th Edition) - William E.Gordon (#908/921/935)

Art by Rudy Nappi

947 - Social Club (2nd Edition) - Albert L.Quandt (#930)
948 - Big City Hellcat - Raymond Blair 

Art by Rudy Nappi

949 - Man-Chaser - Kirk Westley 
950 - Rapture Alley (2nd Edition) - Whit Harrison (Harry Whittington) (#918)
951 - Boy Hungry (2nd Edition) - Kate Nickerson (#927)
952 - Lost To Desire (2nd Edition) - Peggy Gaddis (#915)
953 - Strangers In The Dark (2nd Edition) - Peggy Gaddis (#905)
954 - Man-Hungry - Mitchell Coleman 

Man-Hungry # 954 - 1954 

955 - Young Passion - Watkins E.Wright 
956 - Big-Town Hellcat - Amos Hatter (James W.Lampp)
957 - Boy Chaser (2nd Edition) - Kate Nickerson (Lulla Adler)  #937.

Here below is a cool photo inspiration for art that was used on cover 'The Girl From Mimi's' # 909 . Photo taken from back cover 'Girl On Parole' Venus Book # 158.

So that's the whole Carnival list from 901 - 957, no missing titles and some real smashers in early list but also among the 2nd/3rd & 4th editions. As you can see from the 14 editions I own only 4 are 2nd editions, I am always looking for the original copies, but if you want a real bargain look out for the key drug book #918 'Rapture Alley' which was reprinted under the same title as #950, still very collectable but you might be lucky on the day !

Here below is the standard Carnival back cover to finish up the Carnival Book story. The one below is typical in style from #901 up to #924 a synopsis of the book with various color vertical lines. And from #925 right up to the final book various block color surrounds were used.

Back cover from Wild Party # 912

The end .....for now, next time I might give Stallion and Fiesta books a closer look !