More Gothtober! When did Ace do it better -- 1967 (left) or 1973 (right) Robert Maguire did the 1973 illustration. Not sure about the one on the left.

It's now October, so time to share this ~spooky~(?) cover. I believe it's referencing the legend that if a gal looks into a mirror at midnight on Halloween, she'll see an image of her future love. 🪞🎃🦇 ALL-STORY LOVE (STORIES OF THE AMERICAN GIRL), Oct. 18, 1930. Art by Madge Geyer. #pulp #romance

Happy Gothtober! Here's a vintage gothic romance thread 👻

Every so often it's good to pause & remember that this book cover actually exists, in mass market pb & book club hardcover. It'll be a long time before we see the likes of such book covers again Tender Is The Storm, by Johanna Lindsey Avon, 1985 Illustrated by Robert McGinnis

🍂🍃🍁 Tempting Fate, by JoAnn Ross Harlequin (Temptation line), 1987 Illustrator uncredited

The Harlequin Superromance line is hit or miss in terms of illustration quality, but this 1994 copy's a hit, thanks to Pino Daeni 😍

Today's thrift store find: gothics! 🖤 Consider this a preview of October content 😁

Today's thrift store find: gothics! 🖤 Consider this a preview of October content 😁

Happy Labor Day! The perfect day to bring back one of my favorite romance pulp covers: ALL-STORY LOVE STORIES, September 21, 1935. Artist probably Mary Frances Morgan. #romancelandia @collectingromance.bsky.social

Wild Texas Rose, by Catherine Creel Fawcett, 1993 Illustrator unidentified, but I think it might be Steve Assel I'm including a photo of the book tipped toward the light in the second post so you can appreciate the heavy embossing

A unusually lurid story and cover for one of the female-aimed romance pulps (even if ALL-STORY LOVE seems to have been one of the "wilder" ones out there). #pulp #romance? Serialized across 3 issues, it was written by Pauline Kohler, who only has 2 credits listed on The FictionMags Index—this, and…

My Enemy, My Love, by Mary Ann Taylor Pageant, 1988 Illustrated by Ted Sizemore I'm always happy to find a Pageant book, likely because it was a joint venture between Crown & WaldenBooks & WaldenBooks was the happy place of my youth

Most of us know about nurse romances, but "lady" doctor romances were a mid-century thing, too! Here are five from an epic vintage paperback (mostly nurse romance) haul I made yesterday at the Bouckville Antiques Show in central NY. These are '60s reprints of earlier hardcovers

The Incredible Year, by Faith Baldwin Dell, (pub year not identified in this ed, likely a reprint) Illustrated by S.B. Jones I don't know a lot about Baldwin except that she was hugely prolific in the mid 20th century -- sort of like a mid-century Nora Roberts

Hostage Nurse, by Jane Converse Signet, 1973 Illustrator unidentified Nurse romance illustrations from this era are generally chaste, so the shoulder slip here is sorta fun. Do you think it's due to interrupted amorous activity or hostage-related violence?

Hostage Nurse, by Jane Converse Signet, 1973 Illustrator unidentified Nurse romance illustrations from this era are generally chaste, so the shoulder slip here is sorta fun. Do you think it's due to interrupted amorous activity or hostage-related violence?

The Incredible Year, by Faith Baldwin Dell, (pub year not identified in this ed, likely a reprint) Illustrated by S.B. Jones I don't know a lot about Baldwin except that she was hugely prolific in the mid 20th century -- sort of like a mid-century Nora Roberts

Most of us know about nurse romances, but "lady" doctor romances were a mid-century thing, too! Here are five from an epic vintage paperback (mostly nurse romance) haul I made yesterday at the Bouckville Antiques Show in central NY. These are '60s reprints of earlier hardcovers

Highland Ecstasy, by Mary Burkhardt Zebra, 1993 Illustrated by Renato Aime

The Braeswood Tapestry, by Robyn Carr Pocket Books, 1987 (reprint of 1984 original) Illustrated by Sharon Spiak

Highland Ecstasy, by Mary Burkhardt Zebra, 1993 Illustrated by Renato Aime

The Braeswood Tapestry, by Robyn Carr Pocket Books, 1987 (reprint of 1984 original) Illustrated by Sharon Spiak

No idea who Mildred Van Inwegen is/was, no idea what "Ten Minutes to One" is about, but damn if that isn't a nice early example of the Gothic romance trope of a woman running away from a spooky house, at night, in a filmy dress. ALL-STORY WEEKLY, July 29, 1916. #pulp

I've made a blog post about it; I guess I'm officially committed to the project now. 😅 Pulp romance anthology (the best of ALL-STORY LOVE, 1929) in the works! 💕 #romancelandia #booksky 📚💙

Stepback for This Side Of Heaven, by Karen Robards Dell, 1991 Illustrated by Elaine Duillo Always fun to have a cat included, & extra fun when it's a black cat! 😻Extra, extra fun when there's a black cat & a dog!! 🎉

Voices In A Haunted Room, by Philippa Carr Fawcett, 1985 Illustrator uncredited

Stepback for Beneath Passion's Skies, by Bobbi Smith Zebra, 1993 Illustrated by Pino Daeni

I’m finding a number of the male writers at France & Epic Books (my obsession) later wrote gothic romances sometimes using female pseudonyms.

Stepback for A Whisper Of Roses, by Teresa Medeiros Bantam, 1993 Illustrated by Steve Assel Apologies for my infrequent posts lately. All lives have seasons, & mine's been in a challenging one, but I hope to resume regular cover & collecting posts soon 📚💚

Stepback for A Whisper Of Roses, by Teresa Medeiros Bantam, 1993 Illustrated by Steve Assel Apologies for my infrequent posts lately. All lives have seasons, & mine's been in a challenging one, but I hope to resume regular cover & collecting posts soon 📚💚

Love! I have the PB version, which included not only a message from Lanigan but a sweet note about romance readers and romancelandia by Michael Douglas, who produced the film & starred in it alongside Kathleen Turner. Posted a photo of the pages long ago at mariaslozak.tumblr.com/post/1535414...

Courting An Angel, by Patricia Grasso Dell, 1995 Illustrated by John Ennis

Courting An Angel, by Patricia Grasso Dell, 1995 Illustrated by John Ennis

A montage of Catherine Coulter covers from the 80s. All illustrated by Pino Daeni except for Night Fire, which is by Steve Assel. Shout out to the wonderful Fayetteville (NY) Public Library Book Sale this AM, where I got these, & library volunteer extraordinaire @brundagetricia.bsky.social

The Would-Be Widow, by Mary Jo Putney Signet (Regency), 1988 Illustrator uncredited & unknown by me

Lady Of Fortune, by Mary Jo Putney Signet (Super Regency), 1988 Illustrated by Pino Daeni

"With spitfire courage she fought for her land--and the blazing passion of a magnificent love." Midnight Blue, by Dorothy Garlock Warner Books, 1989 Illustrated by Sharon Spiak

Stepback for The Diamond Tiger, by Ann Maxwell (aka Elizabeth Lowell) Harper, 1992 Illustrated by James Griffin

The Cave Dreamers, by Jeanne Williams Originally published in 1983 as a trade ed; this mass market ed was released in 1984 Illustration signed "G Johnson" I think, but Avon credits Mark English on the copyright page (see below) 🤷I'm more inclined to believe the signature

A somewhat more subtle Easter cover (and a rare non-Modest Stein cover) for LOVE STORY MAGAZINE, April 8, 1939. Art by Ski Weld, who had a distinctive bold, almost graphical style to his work. #pulp #romancelandia @collectingromance.bsky.social?

Lord Of Scoundrels, by Loretta Chase Avon, 1995 (first printing) Illustrated by Diane Sivavec Collectors note: there are at least 7 printings with this original illustration -- all sell for a premium. But only the first printing has the embossed metallic purple lettering

Spanish Serenade, by Jennifer Blake Fawcett, 1990 (1st ed; trade ed) Illustrated by James Griffin Cover design by James R. Harris Text design by Holly Johnson (Yay, Fawcett, for crediting all the creatives!)

Perfume Of Paradise, by Jennifer Blake Fawcett, 1988 (1st ed; trade ed) Illustrated by James Griffin Cover design by James R. Harris

So sad to learn of the recent passing of the great illustrator (& my favorite), Robert McGinnis. Here's his obituary, & some of his romance covers below to enjoy: www.legacy.com/us/obituarie...

Was in Cuba earlier this month and snapped a couple pictures of some early 2000s Russian and French (French Canadian?) Harlequin editions in the resort lending library. Made me think of @collectingromance.bsky.social

Idk why this was specific to LOVE STORY (Modest Stein?), but it nevertheless WAS a distinct cover trend for this magazine in the late-1920s—a young couple being romantic in the foreground, and then her father looking on in anger/disapproval/horror. #pulp #romancelandia @collectingromance.bsky.social

Courting Cassidy, by Stephanie Bartlett Zebra, 1997 Illustrated by Pino Daeni (a late-career illustration for him)

The Fulfillment, by LaVyrle Spencer Avon, 1979 Illustrated by Renato Aime

Stepback for Night Way, by Janet Dailey Pocket Books, 1981 Illustration is signed "Jones" & I believe it's George Jones It's unusual to find stepback illustrations in Dailey's books -- especially clinches

The Fulfillment, by LaVyrle Spencer Avon, 1979 Illustrated by Renato Aime