NSW Bookstall Company was a

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

company which operated a chain of newsagencies throughout

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

. It was notable as a publisher of inexpensive

paperback A paperback (softcover, softback) book is one with a thick paper or paperboard cover, also known as wrappers, and often held together with adhesive, glue rather than stitch (textile arts), stitches or Staple (fastener), staples. In contrast, ...

books which were written, illustrated, published and printed in Australia, and sold to commuters at bookstalls in railway stations and elsewhere in

History

The company was founded as the Sydney Bookstall Company by Henry Lloyd (ca.1847 – 24 September 1897) of "Linden Hall",

Annandale, New South Wales Annandale is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Annandale is located within 5 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the Local government in Australia, local governme ...

around 1880 as a newsagent. Its first foray into publishing may have been racebooks ( form guides or programmes) for the Hawkesbury Race Club around 1886. Over its lifetime, the NSW Bookstall company published over 350 titles with over 1000 reprints, with total sales of over five million copies. A. C. Rowlandson (15 June 1865 – 15 June 1922) joined as a tram ticket seller in 1883 and built a strong interest in the business, which he bought from Henry Lloyd's widow. The greatest part of the company's business consisted of retailing local, interstate and overseas periodicals, postcards ( Neville Cayley produced a series) and stationery from its eight city shops and fifty-odd railway stall outlets, but was important as one of Australia's most successful book publishers and retailers of locally produced paperback books. Considerable effort was put into the artwork of the paperbacks, both on their brightly colored covers and the illustrations within. Artists who contributed included J. Muir Auld, Percy Benison, L. H. Booth,

Norman Carter Norman St Clair Carter (30 June 1875 – 18 September 1963) was an Australian painter, known particularly for murals and stained-glass designs. History Carter was born in Kew, Melbourne and studied 1892–98 at the National Gallery School under ...

, H. W. Cotton, John P. Davis,

Ambrose Dyson Ambrose Dyson (1876 – 4 June 1913), often known as Amb Dyson was an Australian illustrator and political cartoonist, born at Alfredton, near Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, the son of George Dyson, then a hawker and later a mining engineer, an ...

Will Dyson William Henry ('Will') Dyson (3 September 1880 – 21 January 1938) was an Australian illustrator, artist and political cartoonist who achieved international recognition. He initially worked as a freelance artist in Australia, developing a spec ...

, Tom Ferry, A. J. Fischer (often "Fisher"), Harry Garlick, C. H. Hunt, Ben Jordan,

Harry Julius Henry George "Harry" Julius (15 November 1885 – 29 June 1938) was an Australian commercial artist who had a long association with Sydney Ure Smith. History Julius was born in Sydney. While quite young he enlisted with volunteers and served in ...

, George W. Lambert, Fred Leist,

Norman Lindsay Norman Alfred William Lindsay (22 February 1879 – 21 November 1969) was an Australian artist, etcher, sculptor, writer, art critic, novelist, cartoonist and amateur boxing, boxer. One of the most prolific and popular Australian artists of hi ...

Lionel Lindsay Sir Lionel Arthur Lindsay (17 October 187422 May 1961) was an Australian artist, known for his paintings and etchings. Early life Lindsay was born in the Victoria (Australia), Victorian town of Creswick, Victoria, Creswick, into a creative f ...

Percy Lindsay Percival (Percy) Charles Lindsay (17 September 1870 – 21 September 1952) was an Australian landscape painter, illustrator and cartoonist, born in Creswick, Victoria. Percy was the first child born to Jane Lindsay (née Williams) and Dr Robe ...

Ruby Lindsay Ruby Lindsay (20 March 1885 – 12 March 1919) was an Australian illustrator and painter, sister of Norman Lindsay and Percy Lindsay. Biography Lindsay was born in Creswick, Victoria, the seventh child and second daughter of Robert and Ja ...

, Vernon Lorimer, David Low, Hugh Maclean, Frank P. Mahony,

Claude Marquet Claude Arthur Marquet (1869–1920) was an influential Australian political cartoonist, noted for his bold illustrative style and strong commitment to the labour movement and radical politics. Marquet developed his artistic skills without for ...

, R. H. Moppett,

Charles Nuttall Charles Nuttall (born James Charles Nuttall; 6 September 1872 – 28 November 1934) was a prolific Australian artist, writer and radio broadcaster. He spent much of his working life in Melbourne, apart from a period in New York City from 1905 ...

, G. C. Pearce, James Postlethwaite, L. L. Roush,

James F. Scott James Floyd Scott (4 May 1942 – 6 April 2020) was an American physicist and research director at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. He is considered one of the pioneers of ferroelectric memory devices. He was elected to t ...

Sydney Ure Smith Sydney George Ure Smith OBE (9 January 188711 October 1949) was an Australian arts publisher, artist and promoter who "did more than any other Australian to publicize Australian art at home and overseas". Unlike most of his contemporaries, he s ...

, D. H. Souter, Percy Spence, Martin Stainforth, Alf Vincent and Harry J. Weston. The

University of Sydney Library The University of Sydney Library is the library system of the University of Sydney. It comprises eight locations across several campuses of the university. Its largest library, Fisher Library, is named after Thomas Fisher, an early benefactor. ...

has 153 of the original artworks used in the NSW Bookstall Company's publications, including cover artworks and illustrations. The

State Library of New South Wales The State Library of New South Wales, part of which is known as the Mitchell Library, is a large heritage-listed special collections, reference and research library open to the public and is one of the oldest libraries in Australia. Establis ...

holds the company records from 1909 to 1938. On Rowlandson's death, Reg. Wynn (ca.1866 – 17 December 1925) took over as managing director, and W. A. Crew was circulation manager. The company erected a large building at the corner of Market Street and

Castlereagh Street Castlereagh Street is a major street located in the Sydney central business district in New South Wales, Australia. The street runs north-to-south, in a One-way traffic, one way direction only. Description Castlereagh Street's northern terminu ...

. Reg. Wynn was succeeded by Paul Dowling. With the onset of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, imports of comic books was severely restricted, which opened the market, previously swamped by the U.S. and British houses, to anyone who could provide a quality product, and the NSW Bookstall Company was ideally placed to publish and distribute such work. Tony Rafty, Will Donald, Tom Hubble, Noel Cook and Terry Powis were among the more successful artists, and the partnership of Brodie Mack and writer Peter Amos (real name Archie E. Martin) produced some excellent work for the NSW Bookstall Company. By 1949, the opportunity provided by wartime shortages no longer applied, and Australia was once again flooded with excess overseas production. Between 1957 and early 1958 the company's assets had been sold.

Titles

This list of titles of the range of NSW Bookstall titles, which is commonly referred as The

Bookstall Series The Bookstall series was a series of Australian books published by the NSW Bookstall Company from 1904 onwards. Among the novelists published under the series were Ambrose Pratt and Arthur Wright. The books were sold for one shilling and consis ...

, is representative but not exhaustive. *

J. H. M. Abbott John Henry Macartney Abbott (26 December,1874 – 12 August,1953) was an Australia, Australian novelist and poet who was born in Haydonton, Murrurundi, New South Wales in 1874. Early life Abbott was the eldest son of son of (Sir) Joseph Pal ...

: ''Ensign Calder'' :::''Sally: The Tale of a Currency Lass'' :::''The Sign of the Serpent'' * Arthur H. Adams: ''Double-Bed Dialogues'' :::''The Knight of the Motor Launch'' :::''The New Chum'' & four other stories * Malcolm Afford: ''Owl of Darkness'' *F. Agar: ''Eros! Eros Wins!'' *Bob Allen: ''The Mare with the Silver Hoof'' *Gerald R. Baldwin: ''In Racing Silk'' :::''Lydia's Lovers'' *Vera Barker: ''Equality Road'' :::''When Satan Laughs'' * J. A. Barry: ''The Luck of the Native Born'' :::''South Seas Shipmates'' :::''Steve Brown's Bunyip'' *A. Bathgate: ''Sodger Sandy's Bairn'' *

Louis Becke George Lewis Becke (or Louis Becke; 18 June 1855 – 18 February 1913) was at the turn of the nineteenth century, the most prolific, significant, and internationally renowned Australian-born writer of the South Pacific region. Having lived and ...

: ''The Adventures of Louis Bleke'' :::''Bully Hayes, Buccaneer'' *

Randolph Bedford Randolph Bedford (born George Randolph Bedford 27 June 1868 – 7 July 1941) was an Australian poet, novelist, short story writer and Queensland state politician. Early life Bedford was born in Camperdown, Sydney, the son of Alfred Bedford, w ...

: ''Aladdin and the Boss Cockie'' :::''Billy Pagan, Mining Engineer'' An attractive advertisement. :::''Silver Star'' *George W. Bell: ''The Little Giants of the East'' * Francis E. Birtles (illus. by author): ''Lonely Lands'' *H. K. Bloxham: ''The Double Abduction'' :::''On the Fringe of the Never Never'' * Lancelot Booth: ''The Devil's Nightcap'' :::''Tools of Satan'' * E. J. Brady: ''Tom Pagdin, Pirate'' * Hilda M. Bridges: ''The Squatters' Daughter'' :::''The Lady of the Cavern'' *

Roy Bridges Roy Bridges may refer to: * Roy D. Bridges Jr. (born 1943), American aviator and astronaut * Roy Bridges (author) (1885–1952), Australian novelist * Roy Bridges (historian) (1932–2020), British historian of exploration and Africa See also ...

: ''The Barb of an Arrow'' :::''By His Excellency's Command'' :::''By Mountain Tracks'' :::''Cards of Fortune'' :::''The Fenceless Ranges'' :::''Haunts of Fear'' :::''On His Majesty's Service'' :::''Mr. Barrington'' :::''Mystery of the Cliff'' :::''The Stony Heights'' *John X. Cameron: ''The Spell of the Bush'' * R. J. Cassidy: ''Chandler of Corralinga'' * Charles Chauvel: ''Uncivilised'' *E. F. Christie: ''The Calling Voice'' * George Cockerill: ''The Convict Pugilist'' *

Dale Collins Cuthbert Quinlan Dale Collins (9 April 1897 – 3 March 1956) was an Australian journalist and author of popular fiction. He is notable for a series of sea romances written in the 1920s and 1930s, some of which were adapted for motion pictures, ...

: ''Stolen or Strayed'' *Arthur Crocker: ''The Dingo Pup'' :::''The Great Turos Mystery'' :::''South Sea Sinners'' *Paul Cupid: ''The Rival Physicians'' *

George Darrell George Frederick Price Darrell (1851–1921) was an Australian playwright best known for '' The Sunny South'' (1883), which was made into a film ''The Sunny South or The Whirlwind of Fate''. Darrell began his professional career with Simonsen's ...

: ''The Belle of the Bush'' *Aiden de Bruno: ''The Carson Loan Mystery'' *Don Delaney: ''The Captain of the Gang'' :::''For Turon Gold'' :::''Gentleman Jack'' :::''A Rebel of the Bush'' :::''The White Champion'' *Will Donald: ''Heel Hitler'' *Con Drew: ''The Doings of Dave'' :::''Jinker'' :::''Rogues and Ruses'' *

Edward Dyson Edward George Dyson (4 March 1865 – 22 August 1931) was an Australian journalist, poet, playwright and short story writer. He was the elder brother of illustrators Will Dyson (1880–1938) and Ambrose Dyson (1876–1913), with three sisters ...

: ''Benno and Some of the Push'' :::'' Fact'ry 'ands'' :::''The Grey Goose Comedy Co.'' :::''In the Roaring Fifties'' :::''Loves of Lancelot'' :::''The Missing Link'' :::''Spats' Factory'' :::''Tommy the Hawker and Snifter his Boy'' *A. R. Falk: ''Puppets of Chance'' :::''Red Star'' * J. D. Fitzgerald: ''Children of the Sunlight'' * Mabel Forrest: ''

A Bachelor's Wife ''A Bachelor's Wife'' is a 1919 silent drama film directed by Emmett J. Flynn and starring Mary Miles Minter. As with many of Minter's films, the film is thought to be a lost film. In the weeks before its release, some film magazines listed the ...

'' *The Poems of

Adam Lindsay Gordon Adam Lindsay Gordon (19 October 1833 – 24 June 1870) was a British-Australian poet, horseman, police officer and politician. He was the first Australian poet to gain considerable recognition overseas, and according to his contemporary, write ...

Beatrice Grimshaw Beatrice Ethel Grimshaw (3 February 1870 – 30 June 1953) was an Irish writer and traveller. Beginning in 1903, she worked as a travel writer for the ''Daily Graphic'' and ''The Times'', leading her to move to the Territory of Papua, wh ...

: ''The Coral Queen'' :::''White Savage Simon'' :::''Queen Vaiti'' *Kate Harriott: ''Invalid and Convalescent Cookery'' * W. G. Henderson: ''The Bathers'' *Bert James: ''The Loser Pays'' :::''The Mystery of the Boxing Contest'' *A. E. Jobson: ''The Adventures of Russell Howard'' *Cecil Ross Johnston: ''The Trader'' *

Robert Kaleski Robert Lucian Stanislaus Kaleski (1877-1961) was a self-taught writer, bushman, environmentalist and canine authority living in New South Wales at the turn of the nineteenth century. While he is perhaps best known for his role in breeding and co ...

: ''Australian Barkers and Biters'' *A. R. Kent: ''A Chinese Vengeance'' *

: '' A Curate in Bohemia'' :::''Norman Lindsay's Book'' * Sumner Locke: ''Brownie Unlimited'' :::''The Dawsons' Uncle George'' :::''Mum Dawson — Boss'' :::''Skeeter Farm'' *H. R. McDuffie: ''Rooks and Crooks'' *

Claude McKay Festus Claudius "Claude" McKay OJ (September 15, 1890See Wayne F. Cooper, ''Claude McKay, Rebel Sojourner In The Harlem Renaissance'' (New York, Schocken, 1987) p. 377 n. 19. As Cooper's authoritative biography explains, McKay's family predate ...

and

''Theatrical Caricatures'' *John D. Fitzgerald: ''Greater Sydney and Greater Newcastle'' * Jack McLaren: ''Feathers of Heaven'' :::''Fringe of the Law'' :::''The Oil Seekers'' :::''Fagaloa's Daughter'' :::''Red Mountain'' :::''The Savagery of Margaret Nestor'' :::''The Skipper of The Roaring Meg'' :::''Spear-Eye'' :::''Sunlight, Adventure and Love'' :::''Talifa'' *A. Ian Macleod: ''Hack's Brat'' *A. E. Martin: ''The Romance of Nomenclature,'' (1943) containing 1,250 Place Names in South Australia, West Australia and the Northern Territory *Clarence W. Martin: ''Ubique'' * Harold Mercer: ''Amazon Island'' *Edward Meryon: ''At Hollands' Tank'' :::''One False Step'' :::''Yellow Silver'' *William Monckton: ''Three Years with Thunderbolt'' *Jack North: ''The Black Opal'' :::''Harry Dale's Grand National'' :::''A Son of the Bush'' *

Ernest O'Ferrall Ernest Francis "Kodak" O'Ferrall (16 November 1881 – 22 March 1925) was an Australian journalist and writer, known for his comic sketches, short-stories and verse published under the pseudonym 'Kodak'. He was on the staff of ''The Bulletin ( ...

: ''Bolger and the Boarders'' *Ernest Osborne: ''The Copra Trader'' :::''Creatures of Impulse'' :::''The Plantation Manager'' *

Harrison Owen Albert John "Harrison" Owen (24 June 1890 – 30 May 1966) was an Australian playwright, novelist, poet, and journalist. Career Although Owen spent most of his life as a daily journalist, his creative flair was never jeopardized. Throughout ...

: ''

The Mount Marunga Mystery ''The Mount Marunga Mystery'' is a murder mystery by Australian author Harrison Owen first published in 1919. Owen, a Melbourne-based journalist, was noted by reviewers for his detailed knowledge of police procedures and skillful narrative constr ...

'' *

Vance Palmer Edward Vivian "Vance" Palmer (28 August 1885 – 15 July 1959) was an Australian novelist, dramatist, essayist and critic. Early life Vance Palmer was born in Bundaberg, Queensland, on 28 August 1885 and attended the Ipswich Grammar School. Wi ...

: ''The Boss of Killara'' :::''The Shantykeeper's Daughter'' *Sydney Partrige: ''Rocky Section'' *Sydney Partrige and Cecil Raworth: ''The Mystery of Wall's Hill'' * S. W. Powell: ''The Closed Lagoon'' :::''A Golden Chance'' :::''The Great Jude Seal'' :::''Hermit Island'' :::''The Maker of Pearls'' :::''A Mantle of Authority'' :::''The Pearls of Cheong Tah'' :::''The Trader of Kameko'' :::''X-Mixture'' *

Ambrose Pratt Ambrose Goddard Hesketh Pratt (31 August 1874 – 13 April 1944) was an Australian writer born into a cultivated family in Forbes, New South Wales.''Oxford Companion to Australian Literature'' (2nd ed.) Oxford University Press, Melbourne 1994 ...

: ''Dan Kelly – Outlaw'' :::''The Golden Kangaroo'' :::''The Outlaws of Weddin Range'' :::''Three Years with Thunderbolt'' :::''Wolaroi's Cup'' *Clement Pratt: ''Caloola'' *"Rata" (Thomas Richard Roydhouse): ''The Coloured Conquest'' *Broda Reynolds: ''Dawn Asper'' :::''The Heart of the Bush'' :::''The Selector Girl'' * Charles Rodda: ''Cerise and Gold'' :::''The Fortunes of Geoffrey Mayne'' *Ivan Archer Rosenblum: ''Marjorie of Blue Lake'' :::''Stella Sothern'' *

Steele Rudd Steele Rudd was the pen name of Arthur Hoey Davis (14 November 1868 – 11 October 1935) an Australian author, best known for his short story collection ''On Our Selection''. In 2009, as part of the Q150 celebrations, Rudd was named one of the ...

: ''Back at Our Selection'' :::''The Book of Dan'' :::''Dad in Politics'' :::''The Dashwoods'' :::''Duncan McClure'' :::''For Life'' :::''Grandpa's Selection'' :::''Kayton's Selection'' :::''Memoirs of Corporal Keeley'' :::''On an Australian Farm'' :::''On Our Selection'' :::''Our New Selection'' :::''The Old Homestead'' :::''The Poor Parson'' :::''Sandy's Selection'' :::''From Selection to City'' :::''Stocking Our Selection'' *W. Sabelburg: ''The Key of the Mystery'' * John Sandes: ''Love and the Aeroplane'' * Charles E. Sayers: ''The Jumping Double'' *H. M. Somer: ''Base Brands'' * Edward S. Sorenson: ''Murty Brown'' :::''Mystery of Murrawang'' :::''The Rheas of Werriwang'' :::''The Squatter's Ward'' * Thomas E. Spencer: ''Bindawalla'' :::''Budgeree Ballads'' :::''The Haunted Shanty'' :::''How McDougall Topped the Score'', and other Verses and Sketches; :::''The Spring Cleaning'' :::''The Surprising Adventures of Bridget McSweeney'' :::''That Droll Lady'' :::''Why Doherty Died'' *

A. G. Stephens Alfred George Stephens (28 August 1865 – 15 April 1933), commonly referred to as A. G. Stephens, was an Australian writer and literary critic, notably for ''The Bulletin (Australian periodical), The Bulletin''. He was appointed to that positi ...

(ed.) ''Aboriginalities (from The Bulletin)'' :::''Bill's Idées'' :::''The Bulletin Book of Humorous Verses and Recitations'' :::''The Bulletin Reciter'' :::''Gum Blossoms: A Volume of Australian Verse'' *Crystal Stirling: ''Soldiers Two'' * Ralph Stock: ''The Pyjama Man'' :::''The Recipe for Rubber'' *R. S. Tait: ''Scotty Mac, Shearer'' *Taylor: ''Campaign Cartoons'' *

Harry Tighe Harry Tighe (1877–1946) was an Australian playwright and novelist. Born in Newcastle, New South Wales He was Cambridge educated and spent the most active part of his career in Britain. He spent three mature years living in Cremorne, Sydney du ...

: ''The Man of Sympathy'' * Robert Waldron: ''The Flying Doctor'' :::''Pearl Shell'' * J. M. Walsh: ''Goldie Law'' :::''Tap Tap Island'' *Charles D. Websdale (J. Muir Auld ill.): ''Seafarers'' * Charles White: ''Ben Hall'' :::''Captain Moonlite'' :::''Gardiner, King of the Road'' :::''John Vane, Bushranger'' :::''The Kelly Gang'' :::''Martin Cash'' :::''Short-lived Bushrangers'' * Arthur Wright: '' The Boss o' Yedden'' :::''The Boy from Bullarah'' :::''The Breed Holds Good'' :::''A Close Call'' :::'' A Colt from the Country'' :::'' Fettered by Fate'' :::'' Gambler's Gold'' :::''

A Game of Chance A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, and others worldwide. Its name in English is '' a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes''. It is similar in shape to the Ancient G ...

'' :::''

A Good Recovery ''A Good Recovery'' is a novel by Australian author Arthur Wright. It was originally serialised in 1924, in the Sydney newspaper, ''The World's News''. References External links''A Good Recovery''at AustLit''A Good Recovery''at National Archive ...

'' :::'' The Hate of a Hun'' :::''In the Last Stride'' :::''Keane of Kalgoorlie'' :::'' A Rogue's Luck'' :::'' A Rough Passage'' :::''

The Outlaw's Daughter ''The Outlaw's Daughter'' is a novel by Australian writer Arthur Wright about bushranging. Plot A bushranger, Devil Devine, abandons his daughter. Years later he holds her up and tries to marry her but is stopped. The bushranger is pursued by the ...

'' :::'' Over the Odds'' :::'' Rung In'' :::'' A Sport from Hollowlog Flat'' :::''

The Squatter's Secret ''The Squatter's Secret'' is a 1928 romantic adventure novel by Arthur Wright (1870-1932). Like most of Wright's novels, it appeared in serialised form in newspapers prior to publication. References External links''The Squatter's Secret''at Aus ...

'' :::'' Under a Cloud'' :::''

When Nuggets Glistened ''When Nuggets Glistened: A Cooee from '54'' is a novel by Arthur Wright set during the Australian Gold Rush of 1854. References External links''When Nuggets Glistened''at AustLit''When Nuggets Glistened''at National Archives of Australia ...

'' *Claude P. Wynn: ''Princess Naldi's Fetish'' *(none named): ''Australian Bungalow and Cottage Home Designs'' *(none named): ''Canberra Cookery Book'' *(none named): ''Guide to the City of Sydney and the Pleasure Resorts of New South Wales'' *(none named): ''The Harbour Guide'' *(none named): ''Panoramic Sydney'' *(none named): ''Sydney from the Air''

Notes

References

{{Reflist

External links

The New South Wales Bookstall Company
Sensational Tales: Australian Popular Publishing 1850s–1990s (exhibition),

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public university, public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state ...

NSW Bookstall Company artworks
digitised artworks out of copyright from the collection of the

Companies based in Sydney Book publishing companies of Australia Defunct publishing companies Book series Australian literature

History

Titles

Notes

References

Further reading

External links