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SMB Noir

For the Fans of Hardboiled, Pulp & Gumshoe Art

Back in 2013, our tumblr site was started and ran until 2018, when they decided it was too "adult" - too lurid, supposedly. We followed the exodus to newtumbl and four years of dedication vanished in June of 2023. That work was not only new posts but upgrades of hundreds of old tumblr posts as well. So far, there has been no way to rescue those posts, so this will be the third version of this project. And, I'll warn you in advance, I may slip in covers that are not crime or mystery but just because I like the artwork. Enjoy!

July 2026
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All rights to this ongoing project are reserved by the owner.

Day: July 31, 2026

Summer 1946 issue

Summer 1946

cover art looks like George Gross but there’s no signature

Posted on July 31, 2026July 8, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags bullet hole, detective book magazine, james gunn, woman with a gunLeave a comment on Summer 1946 issue

September 1946 issue

September 1946 issue

Posted on July 31, 2026July 8, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags c.s. montanye, crack detective stories, frank kane, woman with a gunLeave a comment on September 1946 issue

1951 issue – debut

1951 issue – debut

Posted on July 31, 2026July 8, 2026Categories magazine, true crimeTags pulp illustration, true police yearbookLeave a comment on 1951 issue – debut

November 1948 ~ cover art by George Gross

November 1948

cover art by George Gross

Posted on July 31, 2026July 8, 2026Categories Hardboiled, magazine, original art, pulp, true crime, uncategorizedTags flashlight, george gross, jewel thief, smash detective cases, stockings, woman with a gunLeave a comment on November 1948 ~ cover art by George Gross

cover art by Robert Maguire

cover art by Robert Maguire

1956 Simon and Schuster hardcover

1959 Pyramid paperback reissue

cover art by Robert Maguire

better image than previously posted

Posted on July 31, 2026July 25, 2026Categories crime fiction, finest kind, mystery, original art, paperback, pulpTags holly roth, pyramid paperback, robert maguireLeave a comment on cover art by Robert Maguire

Hostile Valley / Valley Vixen

1943 Dutton hardcover

1948 Avon reissue

cover art by Carl D. Stricker

Posted on July 31, 2026July 15, 2026Categories hardcover, mystery, paperback, pulpTags avon paperback, ben ames williams, dame, dutton hardcover, femme fataleLeave a comment on Hostile Valley / Valley Vixen

1952 Scion softcover

1952 Scion softcover

February 21, 2014

Posted on July 31, 2026July 8, 2026Categories british pulp, crime fiction, mystery, paperbackTags hans lugar, police line up, scion paperbackLeave a comment on 1952 Scion softcover

1959 Avon paperback original – cover art by Victor Kalin

1959 Avon paperback original

cover art by Victor Kalin

1959 Digit edition from the UK

Posted on July 31, 2026July 8, 2026Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, paperback, pulpTags avon paperback, dan marlowe, digit paperbackLeave a comment on 1959 Avon paperback original – cover art by Victor Kalin
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