The Sexton Blake Library was a story paper of the first two-thirds of the 20th century, published by Amalgamated Press. It featured the adventures of private detective Sexton Blake, his boy assistant Tinker and their dog Pedro.
By the end of the first decade of the 20th century Sexton Blake was arguably the most popular detective in the boy story papers, featuring in weekly tales in the Union Jack.[1][2] Wih the success of longer Blake tales in The Boys' Friend Library the Amalgamated Press decided to give him his own story paper.[3]The Sexton Blake Library debuted in 1915. The digest-sized publication specialized in longer tales, and at the height of its popularity was published 5 times a month.[3] The Sexton Blake Library was published in five "series" over the next fifty years. Publication ranged from 2–4 issues per month until the end of series 4 in 1964. Series 5, starting in 1965, was a sporadic series of paperbacks. The last edition, "Down Among The Ad Men" written by W. A Ballinger (Wilfred McNeilly), was published in October 1968.[4]
Series 1 ran from September 1915 until May 1925, a total of 382 issues. The first title in the series was The Yellow Tiger[5] and was written by George Hamilton Teed.
Series 2 ran from May 1925 until June 1941, a total of 744 issues. The first title in the series was The Secret of the Coconut Grove[6] and was written by George Hamilton Teed.
Series 3 ran from June 1941 until April 1956, a total of 358 issues. The first title in the series was Raiders Passed[7] written by John Hunter.
Series 4 ran from June 1956 until June 1963, a total of 168 issues. The first title in the series was Frightened Lady[8] by Howard Baker.
Series 5 ran from February 1965 until 12 October 1968, a total of 45 issues. The first title in the series was Murderer at Large written by W. A. Ballinger.[9]
The majority of Sexton Blake Library covers (prior to editor William Howard Baker's 1956 revamp of the character) were painted by master Sexton Blake illustrator Eric Parker.[12]
A few issues of note
Issue # 1 1st series (1915) of The Sexton Blake Library was published on 20 September 1915, entitled "The Yellow Tiger" and written by George Hamilton Teed. This issue featured popular Blake villains Wu Ling and Baron de Beauremon in an eleven-chapter story, costing 3d (1.25p). The story is 107 pages; a second story, "The Great Cup-Tie!" (not featuring Blake) completes the remainder of the issue's 120 pages.[13]
Issues #2 and #4 1st series (1915) Ill-Gotten Gains[14] and The Rajah's Revenge[15] were written by Andrew Murray and featured master criminals Professor Kew and Count Ivor Carlac in their first team ups. The first four issues of the Sexton Blake Library were collected and re-issued in The Sexton Blake Detective Library in 1989 by Hawk Books.[16] Issue # 41 1st series (1917) The Mysterious Mr. Reece[17] written by Robert Murray Graydon marked the debut of Mr. Reece, a criminal mastermind that would play a prominent role in the landmark Criminals' Confederation epic that spanned close to 70 tales over the next 10 years.[18]
Issue #501 4th SeriesCaribbean Crisis (1962) is Michael Moorcock's first published novel. [19]
References
^Nevins, Jess (2005). Encyclopedia of Fantastic Victoriana p. 76. Monkey rain Books. ISBN9781932265156.
^Turner, E.S. (1976). Boys Will Be Boys, Chapter 9. Penguin. ISBN9780140041163.
^ abWright, Norman (1989). "The Adventures of Sexton Blake, Detective". In Higgs, Mike (ed.). The Sexton Blake Detective Library. Hawk Books. ISBN9780948248962.
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources The Sexton Blake Library news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Sexton Blake Library was a story paper of the first two thirds of the 20th century published by Amalgamated Press It featured the adventures of private detective Sexton Blake his boy assistant Tinker and their dog Pedro The Sexton Blake LibraryCover The Sexton Blake Library 1 from 1915CategoriesStory paperFrequencyWeeklyFirst issue1915 108 years ago 1915 Final issue1968 1968 CompanyAmalgamated PressCountryUnited KingdomBased inLondonLanguageEnglish Contents 1 Overview 2 A few issues of note 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksOverview EditBy the end of the first decade of the 20th century Sexton Blake was arguably the most popular detective in the boy story papers featuring in weekly tales in the Union Jack 1 2 Wih the success of longer Blake tales in The Boys Friend Library the Amalgamated Press decided to give him his own story paper 3 The Sexton Blake Library debuted in 1915 The digest sized publication specialized in longer tales and at the height of its popularity was published 5 times a month 3 The Sexton Blake Library was published in five series over the next fifty years Publication ranged from 2 4 issues per month until the end of series 4 in 1964 Series 5 starting in 1965 was a sporadic series of paperbacks The last edition Down Among The Ad Men written by W A Ballinger Wilfred McNeilly was published in October 1968 4 Series 1 ran from September 1915 until May 1925 a total of 382 issues The first title in the series was The Yellow Tiger 5 and was written by George Hamilton Teed Series 2 ran from May 1925 until June 1941 a total of 744 issues The first title in the series was The Secret of the Coconut Grove 6 and was written by George Hamilton Teed Series 3 ran from June 1941 until April 1956 a total of 358 issues The first title in the series was Raiders Passed 7 written by John Hunter Series 4 ran from June 1956 until June 1963 a total of 168 issues The first title in the series was Frightened Lady 8 by Howard Baker Series 5 ran from February 1965 until 12 October 1968 a total of 45 issues The first title in the series was Murderer at Large written by W A Ballinger 9 Writers who worked on Sexton Blake stories throughout this 53 year span included Charles Henry St John Cooper 10 George Hamilton Teed Edwy Searles Brooks William Murray Graydon Robert Murray Graydon John Creasey Jack Trevor Story John G Brandon Michael Moorcock and many many others 11 The majority of Sexton Blake Library covers prior to editor William Howard Baker s 1956 revamp of the character were painted by master Sexton Blake illustrator Eric Parker 12 A few issues of note EditIssue 1 1st series 1915 of The Sexton Blake Library was published on 20 September 1915 entitled The Yellow Tiger and written by George Hamilton Teed This issue featured popular Blake villains Wu Ling and Baron de Beauremon in an eleven chapter story costing 3d 1 25p The story is 107 pages a second story The Great Cup Tie not featuring Blake completes the remainder of the issue s 120 pages 13 Issues 2 and 4 1st series 1915 Ill Gotten Gains 14 and The Rajah s Revenge 15 were written by Andrew Murray and featured master criminals Professor Kew and Count Ivor Carlac in their first team ups The first four issues of the Sexton Blake Library were collected and re issued in The Sexton Blake Detective Library in 1989 by Hawk Books 16 Issue 41 1st series 1917 The Mysterious Mr Reece 17 written by Robert Murray Graydon marked the debut of Mr Reece a criminal mastermind that would play a prominent role in the landmark Criminals Confederation epic that spanned close to 70 tales over the next 10 years 18 Issue 501 4th Series Caribbean Crisis 1962 is Michael Moorcock s first published novel 19 References Edit Nevins Jess 2005 Encyclopedia of Fantastic Victoriana p 76 Monkey rain Books ISBN 9781932265156 Turner E S 1976 Boys Will Be Boys Chapter 9 Penguin ISBN 9780140041163 a b Wright Norman 1989 The Adventures of Sexton Blake Detective In Higgs Mike ed The Sexton Blake Detective Library Hawk Books ISBN 9780948248962 http mark hodder com blakiana blakebibliography 1968 html sbl5 45 http mark hodder com blakiana blakebibliography 1915 html sbl1 1 http mark hodder com blakiana blakebibliography 1925 html sbl2 1 http mark hodder com blakiana blakebibliography 1941 html sbl3 1 http mark hodder com blakiana blakebibliography 1956 html sbl4 359 http mark hodder com blakiana blakebibliography 1965 html sbl5 1 Marshall H 1924 Memories of a Private Detective London Hutchinson p 236 Holland Steve The Case of the Perplexing Pen names An Index to the 3rd and 4th Series of the Sexton Blake Library and a Guide to Their Authors CADS 1994 ISBN B008FODRCG https www blackpawbooks com pages books 150904020 steve holland the case of the perplexing pen names an index to the 3rd and 4th series of the sexton blake library and W O G Lofts The Eric Parker Story Collectors Digest Vol 37 issues 437 440 1983 http mark hodder com blakiana blakebibliography 1915 html sbl1 1 http mark hodder com blakiana blakebibliography 1915 html sbl1 2 http mark hodder com blakiana blakebibliography 1915 html sbl1 4 The Sexton Blake Detective Library 978 0948248962 http mark hodder com blakiana blakebibliography 1917 html sbl1 41 Homer Harry December 1950 Monograph on the Criminals Confederation Collectors Digest Christmas Edition p 76 77 https www friardale co uk Collectors 20Digest 1950 Xmas CollectorsDigest ChristmasAnnual 04 pdf http mark hodder com blakiana blakebibliography 1962 html sbl4 501Further reading EditTurner ES 1948 Boys Will be Boys History of British boys weeklies from Victorian times up to the 1950s Andrew Lucy 2017 The Boy Detective in Early British Children s Literature Palgrave page 96 Watt amp Green 2017 The Alternative Sherlock Holmes Pastiches Parodies and CopiesExternal links EditIssues of The Sexton Blake Library at ComicBooksPlus The Sexton Blake Library at Blakiana The Sexton Blake Library at The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Children and Young Adult Literature portal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Sexton Blake Library amp oldid 1163505858, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
