Bantam Books


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
2. The gift Horse- Frank Gruber
3. Nevada- Zane Gray
4. Evidence of Things Seen- Elizabeth Daly
5. Scaramouche- Rafael Sabatini

The following numbers were not used:
153, 157, 159-199, 215-226, 228-249, 263-299 316, 318, 319, 321-349, 367-399, 424, 428-449, 457, 468, 472, 475, 478-499, 508-549, 558-699 and 719. Numbers 7-9, 19, 22, 24, 26, 44, 67, 75, 315, 355, 360, 421 and 462 were released with dustjackets. Dustjackets were also used on numbers 143-146, 148-151, 155 and 156; the first numbers were released Superior Reprints , while the last two were rereleases of Infantry Journal - Penguin Book S238 and Infantry Journal Book J101.  Gobin Stair was art director during the early years; he was replaced by Don Gelb, who was himself replaced, in 1955, by Leonard Leone, who still holds the position today.
The following artists provided covers between 1945 and 1948:
Rafael Palacios, Robert Jonas, Alexander, Charles Andres, Edgard Cirlin, Clement, Cal Diehl, Bill English, H.L. Hoffman, Lester Kohs, Ava Morgan and Davis Triggs.

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)