Methuen’s Cheap Novels

Methuen & Company, Ltd. (London, UK)
Series dates: 1905-1920
Size: 4″ x 6.75″

Methuen’s Cheap Novels were cheap novels. Bold, eye-catching jacket artwork aimed to catch the attention of early 20th century readers. The jacket on this 1928 title lists the price (2s/-) on a sticker over the original price (1s/6d). A summary of the novel is printed on the jacket spine. The front flap has titles in the series up to 260. Another series Methuen’s Cheap Library (published about the same years and similar in appearance), is also advertised.

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Titles in the Cheap Novels and Cheap Library are crammed on the rear jacket and flap.

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Bindings are coarse, colored cloth with black stamping.

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A list of titles in the Cheap Library is listed in the front of the book. The paper is cheap, coarse, brittle and (now) yellowing.

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The catalog of Cheap Novels continues facing the title page.

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The price (1s/6d) is printed on the copyright page, not something that is common in these reprint series books. The price on the jacket spine indicates an increase to 2s. This copy is a first printing in the series in 1918. The original publication of Glanville’s The Lost Regiment was in May 1902 at 6s.

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