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

Category: spicy

aka Lawrence Block

1960 Midwood paperback original

cover art by Paul Rader

November 16, 2013

Posted on November 2, 2025November 1, 2025Categories paperback, pulp, spicyTags lawrence block, lesbian fiction, lurid, midwood paperback, paul rader, sheldon lordLeave a comment on aka Lawrence Block

Nappi x 3

1952 Avon reissue

cover art by Rudy Nappi

1958 Avon paperback original

cover art by Rudy Nappi repurposed

better image than previously posted

1963 Avon reissue

Posted on October 28, 2025October 12, 2025Categories crime fiction, Hardboiled, mystery, paperback, pulp, spicyTags avon paperback, dame, edmund schiddel, michael carey, police procedural, rudy nappi, vice squadLeave a comment on Nappi x 3

aka Lawrence Block x 2

1959 Midwood/Tower paperback original

cover art by Paul Rader

1967 Midwood paperback reissue

November 27, 2013

Posted on October 27, 2025October 12, 2025Categories paperback, pulp, spicyTags garter, lawrence block, lingerie, lurid, midwood paperback, sheldon lord, sleaze, smoking, stockingsLeave a comment on aka Lawrence Block x 2

Confidential x 3

1936 Vanguard hardcover (this the 1944 Triangle reissue)

cover art by Rhoda Field

1950 Avon paperback reissue

cover art by Ray Johnson

1955 Avon reissue

Posted on October 22, 2025October 12, 2025Categories crime fiction, gangster, Hardboiled, hardcover, paperback, pulp, spicyTags avon paperback, donald henderson clarke, municipal corruption, ray johnson, rhoda field, viceLeave a comment on Confidential x 3

September 1936 issue ~ cover art by Norman Saunders

September 1936

cover art by Norman Saunders

better image than previously posted

Posted on October 6, 2025September 25, 2025Categories action fiction, adventure, Hardboiled, magazine, mystery, pulp, spicyTags bound, cobra, e. hoffmann price, frank bunce, lurid, mystery adventure magazine, norman saunders, racist imagery, sam mimsLeave a comment on September 1936 issue ~ cover art by Norman Saunders

January 1941 issue

January 1941

better image than previously posted

Posted on October 6, 2025September 25, 2025Categories Hardboiled, magazine, pulp, spicy, true crimeTags bound, headquarters detective magazine, stockingsLeave a comment on January 1941 issue

1960 Belmont reissue – cover art by Robert Maguire

1960 Belmont

cover art by Robert Maguire

1959 Grove edition in the US

Posted on September 29, 2025September 25, 2025Categories finest kind, hardcover, paperback, pulp, spicyTags belmont paperback, grove hardcover, philippe sollers, robert maguireLeave a comment on 1960 Belmont reissue – cover art by Robert Maguire

1959 Monarch paperback original – cover art by Robert Maguire

1959 Monarch paperback original

cover art by Robert Maguire

Posted on September 29, 2025September 25, 2025Categories finest kind, paperback, pulp, spicyTags dame, lurid, monarch paperback, robert maguire, whitman chambersLeave a comment on 1959 Monarch paperback original – cover art by Robert Maguire

1950 Archer paperback – cover art by Reginald Heade

1950 Archer paperback in the UK, 1951 in the US

cover art by Reginald Heade

November 26, 2013

Posted on September 28, 2025September 25, 2025Categories british pulp, Hardboiled, paperback, spicyTags archer paperback, noose, reginald head, slim vincentLeave a comment on 1950 Archer paperback – cover art by Reginald Heade

1954 Pyramid paperback original – cover art by Carl Bobertz

1954 Pyramid paperback original

cover art by Carl Bobertz

November 28, 2013

Posted on September 26, 2025September 23, 2025Categories paperback, pulp, spicyTags carl bobertz, day keene, pyramid paperbackLeave a comment on 1954 Pyramid paperback original – cover art by Carl Bobertz

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