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Monday, September 16, 2024

Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 208 - Spade Classics, Part 2 of 5

Acquired Tastes XLIII:
Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 208
Spade Classics
Part 2 of 5

Today, we take a second look at Spade Classics.

This was yet another imprint brought to you by the good people at Star Distributors, LTD., the Spade Classics imprint lasted a three years, from 1972-1974, publishing 52 titles in all. Star Distributors, LTD. operated out of a P.O. Box at the Canal Street Station in New York City and are responsible for numerous, short-lived vintage gay pulp imprints. As with most such publishers, information is in short supply.

The books covers went through four distinct styles changes. Initially, they featured a solid black background with the title in a unique bold white font, below which you'd find a black and white erotic drawing done in a linocut style. Their unique logo, a black card spade set in a white Mars/male symbol with the name of the imprint could be found in the upper left corner of the cover, the price - in the upper right, and the author's name below the linocut style drawing.  

That changed with the thirteenth book in the series. The new style was similar to the first, but now a white banner ran the width of the top of the book, containing the Spade Classics logo, name and price. The artwork, by the same artist, was now framed in a circular frame with the sides cut flat. The artwork also softened a bit, looking more like a pen and ink drawing or an engraving, rather than the rough linocut look used previously.

With no rhyme or reason, the imprint would see saw back and forth between the two styles for the next twenty titles, at which point a third style would be introduced. 

All the authors are presumed to be writing under pseudonyms. 

These books tend to sell for between $25.00 and $50.00.

Here are the next ten Spade Classic titles. I was able to locate nine of ten covers.

--- ---
 
Boarding House Buddies
 Author: Jason Styles 
Spade Classics
 1973 
SPADE-111

According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, this one is about "active sex in a boarding school".

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing for $1.95!

--- ---

Male Hunters
 Author: Jason Styles 
Spade Classics
 1973 
SPADE-112

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

Young Hard and Handsome
 Author: Mike Smith 
 Spade Classics
1973
SPADE-113

Listed on the spine as simply '13'.

 Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

The Farmer's Son
 Author: Grant Myerson 
Spade Classics
 1973 
SPADE-115 

Listed on the spine as simply '15'.

--- ---

The Special Breed
 Author: C. Kell 
Spade Classics
 1973 
SPADE-116

 Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

Rock-Hard Roommates
 Author: Lindsay Latham 
Spade Classics
 1973 
SPADE-117

According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, this one is about a "boy who finally dares to make it with his roommate".

 Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

Cycle Slaves
Author: Roland Pichette
 Spade Classics 
1973
 SPADE-118

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

Lust for Leather
 Author: C. Kell 
Spade Classics
 1973 
SPADE-119

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

--- ---

The Meat Eaters
Author: Jamie Bolin
Spade Classics
1973
SPADE-120

--- ---

And that's all for now.

Next week: ten more tantalizing Spade Classics titles. 

Until then...

Thanks for reading!

Rock Hard - Suzi Quatro

1 comment:

Sixpence Notthewiser said...

Very sleazy, no?
I like that in one-hand reading. Don't like the covers as much, but hey...

XOXO