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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!

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For altered posts, choose the category "Updated"

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

Category: original art

March 1960 issue ~ cover art by Carl Pfeuffer

March 1960

Carl Pfeuffer

Posted on January 26, 2026January 17, 2026Categories digest, Hardboiled, original art, pulpTags al james, art crocket, carl pfeuffer, dagger, garter, james rosenquest, leslie g. sabo, off beat detective stories, stockingsLeave a comment on March 1960 issue ~ cover art by Carl Pfeuffer

Three Day Pass – to Kill

cover art by Paul Rader

1958 Berkley reissue

better image than previously posted

1955 Berkley paperback original

cover art by Harry Barton

Posted on January 24, 2026January 17, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, original art, paperback, pulpTags berkley paperback, edward grace, harry barton, j.w. burkeLeave a comment on Three Day Pass – to Kill

March 1936 issue ~ cover art by William F. Soare

March 1936

cover art by William F. Soare

Posted on January 19, 2026January 14, 2026Categories action fiction, adventure, crime fiction, espionage fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, original art, pulpTags dagger, frederick c. davis, secret agent x detective mysteries, skeleton, venetian blinds, william f. soareLeave a comment on March 1936 issue ~ cover art by William F. Soare

cover art by Mitchell Hooks

cover art by Mitchell Hooks

Oil on board, 23 x 19 in., not signed

1988 Ballantine release, first US print

owner’s copy

Posted on January 18, 2026January 14, 2026Categories anthology, Hardboiled, original art, paperback, pulpTags australian fiction, ballantine paperback, cliff hardy, mitchell hooks, private eyeLeave a comment on cover art by Mitchell Hooks

November 1941 issue ~ cover art by Rafael de Soto

November 1941 issue

cover art by Rafael de Soto

better image than previously posted

Posted on January 16, 2026January 7, 2026Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, original art, pulpTags arthur leo zagat, dane gregory, day keene, detective tales magazine, rafael desoto, wyatt blassingameLeave a comment on November 1941 issue ~ cover art by Rafael de Soto

Unknown Painter x 3

unknown artist – Howell Dodd?

November 1950 Smash Detective Crime Cases

cover art reused for March 1954 Best True Fact Detective

cover art repurposed for 1958 Beacon paperback original

Posted on January 16, 2026January 7, 2026Categories Hardboiled, magazine, original art, paperback, pulp, spicy, true crimeTags beacon paperback, best true fact detective, george kramer, lurid, sleaze, smash detective casesLeave a comment on Unknown Painter x 3

January 1938 issue

cover art unknown – Delos Palmer?

January 1938 issue

Posted on January 12, 2026January 6, 2026Categories magazine, original art, pulp, true crimeTags dame, femme fatale, front page detective, wanted posterLeave a comment on January 1938 issue

May 1937 issue ~ cover art by Dalton Stevens

May 1937

cover art by Dalton Stevens

Posted on January 6, 2026January 5, 2026Categories Hardboiled, magazine, original art, pulp, true crime, updatedTags dalton stevens, master detective magazine, shoulder holster, smokingLeave a comment on May 1937 issue ~ cover art by Dalton Stevens

April 1952 issue ~ cover by Norman Saunders

April 1952

cover by Norman Saunders

better image than previously posted

Posted on December 29, 2025December 9, 2025Categories crime fiction, magazine, mystery, original art, pulp, uncategorizedTags detective tales magazine, don james, john d. macdonald, mason noble, norman saunders, pay phone, phone booth, richard goggin, woman with a gunLeave a comment on April 1952 issue ~ cover by Norman Saunders

1956 Signet paperback original – cover art by Paul Rader

Paul Rader (American, 1906-1986), not signed
Girl Running , Signet 1956
oil on canvas board, 30 x 20 inches (76.2 x 50.8 cm)

Adam Knight was a pen name of Lawrence Lariar

Posted on December 27, 2025December 9, 2025Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, original art, paperback, pulpTags adam knight, lawrence lariar, oil on board, paris fiction, signet paperbackLeave a comment on 1956 Signet paperback original – cover art by Paul Rader

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