Popular Library
| Company type | Public company (from 1962) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1942 |
| Founder | Leo Margulies, Ned Pines |
| Fate | Acquired by Perfect Film and Chemical Corporation in 1968; later sold to Fawcett Publications in 1970; acquired by CBS Publications in 1977; sold to Warner Communications in 1982 |
| Headquarters | New York , United States |
Key people | Ned Pines (president 1942–1966, chairman 1966–1968) |
| Products | Paperback books |
Popular Library is a paperback book publisher headquartered in New York, founded in 1942 by Leo Margulies and Ned Pines, who were well-known figures in pulp magazine and newspaper publishing. The company's emblem featured a pine tree as a tribute to Pines, and its distinctive design included a small black-and-white version of the cover image on the title page.
Ned Pines, originally from Malden, Massachusetts, managed Pines Publications from 1928 until 1961 and held the position of president at Popular Library from its inception in 1942 until 1966, subsequently serving as chairman until 1968. Although he retired in 1971, he continued to provide consultancy services.
History
Initially established to reprint detective stories in paperback format, Popular Library broadened its scope to encompass various literary genres. In February 1962, the company went public by offering 127,500 common shares priced at $8 each, with Pines maintaining a majority ownership of 68.3%. In 1968, Perfect Film and Chemical Corporation (which later became Cadence Industries) purchased Popular Library. The business, including the Curtis Books imprint, was then acquired by Fawcett Publications in 1970.
Under the editorial leadership of Patrick O'Connor, Popular Library earned the Carey Thomas Award in 1976 for excellence in mass-market fiction. The following year, CBS Publications acquired both Popular Library and Fawcett Books, securing renewed copyrights for the Standard/Better/Nedor pulp titles as well as Captain Marvel.
In 1982, CBS sold Popular Library to Warner Communications. Warner Books revitalized the imprint in April 1985 by releasing five new titles alongside a reissue of Question of Upbringing, continuing the A Dance to the Music of Time series authored by Anthony Powell. Additionally, Warner introduced the Questar imprint focusing on science fiction, releasing two titles each month.
Writers and illustrators
Popular Library gained recognition for its wide-ranging genre catalog but placed particular emphasis on mystery writers. Its author lineup featured celebrated names such as Mary Roberts Rinehart, John Dickson Carr, P. D. James, Harper Lee, Margaret Atwood, Anne Tyler, Arthur Miller, and John Steinbeck. Early cover illustrations were consistently crafted by H. Lawrence Hoffman and Sol Immerman, with later contributions from artists like Rudolph Belarski, Earle K. Bergey, and Rafael DeSoto enhancing the imprint's visual appeal. Among notable publications was John Erskine's The Private Life of Helen of Troy, recognized for its eye-catching cover art and compelling promotional text.
See also
- Standard Comics – Pines's comic book enterprise
- Thrilling Publications – Pines's pulp magazine business