Emanuel Haldeman-Julius, a newspaper publisher, opened a publishing house in Girard, Kansas, where he published small, inexpensive paperback books, including classic works of literature and essays on myriad topics, for the working and middle classes. The publications in the Little Blue Books Collection are arranged by number from 1 to 1914. Gaps in the numbering usually indicate missing titles.

Emanuel Haldeman-Julius, a newspaper publisher, opened a publishing house in Girard, Kansas, in 1919 where he published small, inexpensive paperback books, including classic works of literature and essays on myriad topics, for the working and middle classes. For his first printing project, he selected fifty classic and socialist works. In 1923 he named the series "Little Blue Books." Little Blue Books measure 3½" x 5" and took their name from their blue covers. They fit into a pants or shirt pocket, and were especially popular across the US through the 1930s and 1940s, especially with travelers. He began issuing the Big Blue Books in 1925. They were 5 ½" x 8 ½."

16.00 linear feet

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