Judging books by the back of the cover....
One of the more interesting developments in publishing was the invention of the paperback Dell Map Back. Map Backs were usually mysteries, often distinguished by a helpful "Cast of Characters" cover art by fine artists, and a map on the back cover usually showing the scene where the story takes place.
Map Backs began in 1943 with a mystery novel titled "Four Frightened Women" by George Harmon Coxe. Dell editor Lloyd Smith came up with the idea for Map Backs, and according to most accounts, he designed and envisioined the series, originating the maps, casts of characters, and other features -- and even suggested the air-brushed cover art. Chicago graphic artist Ruth Belew drew at least 150 of the eventual 577 maps.
Many popular authors had their books reprinted as Map Backs. Rex Stout and his famous Nero Wolfe stories appeared beginning with Dell Book #9 in 1942. Eventually, Stout had a dozen Map Backs to his name.
Besides distinctive front covers and back-cover maps, Dell paperbacks had a number of other interesting features, including an "eye-in-the-keyhole" logo, front-cover blurbs, character lists, lists of key items or events in the book, crowded title pages, and special chapter titles. While most Map Backs were mysteries, many different sorts of books found their way into this inclusive line. The rarest Map Back of all is #278, Second Dell Book of Crossword Puzzles.
Some Map Backs had movie tie-ins, including Gerald Butler's wonderfully named "Blood Off My Hands," which was published as the less-wonderfully named "The Unafraid" with a cover photo of Joan Fontaine and Burt Lancaster.
Two advantages to collecting Map Backs: They are a "closed" category, meaning it's possible to get all of them, and they are usually inexpensive. They're also a lot of fun.
