W. Merritt Burke III pulp paperback book collection

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0559

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The W. Merritt Burke III pulp paperback book collection comprises pulp novels primarily published in the United States in the 1930s and 1940s. The bulk of the novels are mystery and detective fiction; however there are a few westerns as well. The collection includes work by many of the important authors of the period, including Eric Bentley, John Dickson Carr, Raymond Chandler, Agatha Christie, Erle Stanley Gardner, Mary Rinehart, Mickey Spillane, Rex Stout, and others. All of the important paperback publishers of the period are represented in this collection, including pulp-fiction publishers Avon, Bantam, Pocket Books, Popular Library, and Dell. Included in the Dell paperbacks are a run of the famous Dell map-back mysteries, which featured maps related to the fictional mysteries on the back covers of the titles in the series.

Dates

Creation: 1913-1968
Creation: Majority of material found within 1930-1949

Creator

Burke, W. Merritt, III (Collector, Person)

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Access Information

The collection is open for research.

Material in annex requires 24-hour notice for retrieval.

Conditions Governing Use

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec

Extent

5 linear foot (approximately 300 volumes)

Additional Description

Abstract

Arrangement

The bibliography is presented in alphabetical order by author's last name, or, in the case of anthologies, by title. Other data included in the bibliographic report includes the following fields: place of publication, publisher or imprint, date, and series number. The report also includes a locational box number and "item number"; these two pieces of information should be used to request items from the collection.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of W. Merritt Burke III, 2006

Related Materials in this Repository

MSS 0494, Roland E. Bounds collection papers and ephemera

MSS 0504, Roland E. Bounds science fiction periodicals collection

MSS 0553, Roland E. Bounds science fiction paperback book collection

Shelving Summary

Boxes 1-5: Shelved in ANNEX MSS record center cartons

Rights Statement

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