Bantam Books Inc., New York
Founded in 1945 by Ian Ballantine, Who had just left Penguin. The first 20 titles were distributed locally in December of 1945 and nationally the following month. The first Bantam Giants, costing 35 cents , were released 1. Life on the Mississippi- Mark Twain
The following numbers were not used:
Five Nonfiction titles numbered A1-A5 appeared between June 1948 and January 1952. Bantam also published Bantam Biographies beginning in January 1956, Bantam Classics beginnig in September of 1958 (AC1 was Brave New World By Aldous Huxley) and Pennant Books beginning in June of 1953. |
(from The Book of Paperbacks by Piet Schreuders, Virgin Books,1981)