Acquired Tastes XLIII:
Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 208
Spade Classics
Part 4 of 5
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. Then, a new style, similar to the first, was introduced with a white banner which 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.
A third style is introduced with today's titles. It's very similar to the first, but now the logo on the left side has gone vertical. Also, a new script font takes the place of the previous bold block font for the book's title. In addition, the illustration appears softer, more like a pen and ink drawing rather than a linocut.
This third style adorns only three titles, before the publishers revert to the first cover design. They will then introduce a fourth style, which we will take a look at next week.
All the authors are presumed to be writing under pseudonyms.
These books tend to sell for between $25.00 to $55.00.
Here are the next ten Spade Classic titles. I was able to locate all ten covers.
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Hank’s Navy Buddies
Author: Parker Schaeffer
Spade Classics
1973
SPADE-131
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Norman’s Twelve Houseboys
Author: Paul Stevenson
Spade Classics
1973
SPADE-132
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Hard On Randy
Author: Lance Peters
Spade Classics
1973
SPADE-133
According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, this one is about a "teen who goes to a boys’ school".
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Sucked Into Success
Author: Sal Peters
Spade Classics
1973
SPADE-134
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The Hung Roommate
Author: Steven Brooks
Spade Classics
1973
SPADE-135
According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, this one is a "college story".
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Author: Jack Evans
Spade Classics
1973
SPADE-136
According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, this one is about an "athletic trainer and his boys".
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The Meat-Eater Millionaire
Author: George Ferren
Spade Classics
1974
SPADE-137
According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, this one is about "a black man who inherits his white lover’s millions and becomes a model".
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing for $1.95.
Hot Country Chicken
Author: Larry Lowe
Spade Classics
1974
SPADE-138
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The Willing Guide Boy
Author: James Marcus
Spade Classics
1974
SPADE-139
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing for $1.95.
The Chicken Cruiser
Author: Ronnie Lord
Spade Classics
1974
SPADE-140
According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, this one is about a "young man who picks up hitchhiking high school boys".
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing for $1.95.
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