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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!

May 2026
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For altered posts, choose the category "Updated"

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Category: finest kind

January 1937 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

January 1937

cover art by H.J. Ward

better image than previously posted

[cover updated 11/19/25]

Posted on May 6, 2024November 19, 2025Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicy, updatedTags dagger, finest kind, h.j. ward, justin case, showgirl, spicy detective stories, top hatLeave a comment on January 1937 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

August 1940 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

August 1940

cover art by H.J. Ward

better image than previously posted

Posted on May 6, 2024April 23, 2024Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicyTags finest kind, h.j. ward, jerome severs perry, lingerie, spicy detective magazine, stockings, whipLeave a comment on August 1940 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

February 19, 1938 issue ~ cover art by Rudolph Belarski

February 19, 1938

cover art by Rudolph Belarski

better image than previously posted

Posted on May 6, 2024April 23, 2024Categories action fiction, adventure, crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags argosy magazine, borden chase, philip ketchum, richard wormser, rudolph belarskiLeave a comment on February 19, 1938 issue ~ cover art by Rudolph Belarski

March 1931 issue ~ cover art by Delos Palmer

March 1931

cover art by Delos Palmer

better image than previously posted

Posted on May 6, 2024May 23, 2025Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags dame, delos palmer, detective classics magazine, femme fatale, leslie charteris, simon templar, the saint, woman with a gunLeave a comment on March 1931 issue ~ cover art by Delos Palmer

cover art by H.J. Ward

No Pockets in a Shroud, Private Detective Stories magazine cover, July 1938
Oil on canvas, 21 x 29-3/4 inches (53.3 x 75.6 cm)
Signed lower right

[cover updated 11/6/24]

Posted on May 6, 2024November 6, 2024Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, original art, pulp, updatedTags dressing table, fedora, garter, h.j. ward, oil on canvas, private detective stories, roger torrey, stockings, thugLeave a comment on cover art by H.J. Ward

March 1939 issue

March 1939

better image than previously posted

Posted on May 6, 2024April 23, 2024Categories finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, true crimeTags dame, femme fatale, finest kind, real detective magazine, woman with a gunLeave a comment on March 1939 issue

May 1938 issue

May 1938

cover art by Marland Stone?

better image than previously posted

[updated 4/12/25]

Posted on May 6, 2024April 12, 2025Categories finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, true crimeTags fucking nazis, real detective magazineLeave a comment on May 1938 issue

September 1936 issue ~ cover art by Rafael DeSoto

September 1936

cover art by Rafael DeSoto

better image than previously posted

Posted on May 6, 2024April 23, 2024Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulpTags benton braden, george a. mcdonald, k. krausse, mermaid, rafael desoto, thrilling detective magazineLeave a comment on September 1936 issue ~ cover art by Rafael DeSoto

November 1941 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

November 1941

cover art by H.J. Ward

better image than previously posted

Posted on May 6, 2024April 23, 2024Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicyTags finest kind, h.j. ward, lingerie, robert leslie bellem, spicy detective magazine, stockingsLeave a comment on November 1941 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

June 1938 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

June 1938

cover art by H.J. Ward

better image than previously posted

Posted on May 6, 2024April 28, 2026Categories crime fiction, finest kind, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicyTags bathroom, finest kind, robert a. garron, spicy detective magazine, telephone, thugLeave a comment on June 1938 issue ~ cover art by H.J. Ward

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