Vintage Paperbacks in Tiny Town

Quick Readers were a short-lived miniature paperback book series. They were put out in the 1940's and only about 49 books were printed in the series. Each Quick Reader measures approximately 4.5" x 3.25" and contains illustrations plus abridged text. These tiny little books were perfect for the war-time 1940's in which paper had to be conserved. These books are so tiny, they look small even in the hands of a child, and that just adds to their charm. Here are four "Quick Readers" from our collection. Note the "Japanese menace" element on "Bushido."

Over-the-Top Takes on the War with the Japanese

The pulp era was full of over-the-top takes on current events. Whether it was stirring up fear about the "red peril" of Communism or warning of the "dope menace," the popular books and magazines of the era knew how to sensationalize just about anything. As usual, popular literature gets off on showing us outrageous, scandalous things through a condemnation of those same things.

The two men's magazines featured here are examples of what was known pejoratively as "the yellow menace." Didn't you know?... the goal of every Japanese soldier was to rape blond, pasty skinned white women. As Borat would say, "Not!"