Sr., Jr., III, IV & the new Young Inventor series! New & Out-Of-Print, Hardcover & Paperback! |
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| Tom Swift 1910-1941 by Victor Appleton |
and his inventions and adventures make the most interesting kind of reading. Most of the stories were written by Howard Garis, famed for his "Uncle Wiggily" stories, from outlines supplied by the Syndicate. |
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| Publishing Information - Who's Who - The Books | |
| ~ PUBLISHING INFORMATION ~ |
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When Grosset & Dunlap began publishing the stories, the dust jackets were a tan/brown paper with the same quad design as used on the cover. The paper was changed to white starting with volume 11. Beginning with volume 21, the DJs were changed to a 2 color process illustrating a scene (allegedly) from the story. Beginning with volume 29, this was changed to a full color process. Covers that were previously printed using the 2 color method were changed to full color. Although the same scene was depicted on these covers, it appears to me that, at least in many cases, the artwork is entirely new. In about 1933 the tan quad cover style was changed to a plain orange. At the same time, the previously blank endpapers were changed to orange and white illustrations of various scenes from several stories. Although the quad and 2 color jackets are far harder to find than their full color counterparts, they tend to be less valuable. Likewise, books with the plain orange binding tend to be worth less than the quad versions, despite the fact that the orange versions are far scarcer. After Grosset & Dunlap stopped publishing new stories, Whitman began to reprint volumes 29 - 38. These books come in a wide variety of cover stocks and colors, most of them of a very cheap quality although I have seen some better quality ones. The paper is always a cheap highly acidic pulp which tends to brown and get brittle rapidly. New dustjacket art was used and the frontispieces were omitted. Two different sizes were issued for all of the titles except Planet Stone: Small - about the same size as the G&D editions and Large - about an inch or so taller. The same plates were used to print both sizes. Whitman was also responsible for the two Big Little Books connected with this series. Many of the titles are now in the public domain and can be downloaded for free from Project Gutenberg. The available titles are linked to on this web site by clicking on the book title. These titles are now being released in paperback and hardcover format as well as on CD-ROM by Quiet Vision. In the early 1990's the first three volumes in the series were reprinted by Applewood Books using the tan quad binding style and modified copies of the full color dust jacket. In 2006 Easton Press released the first 6 volumes of the series in deluxe leather-bound editions. |
| ~ WHO'S WHO ~ |
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Tom Swift: Hero of the series. Although his age is never specifically stated, he seems to be in his very late teens when the series started and aged from there till he hit his mid-20's. Tom is clever, brave, polite, adventurous and a hard worker!
Barton Swift: Tom's father and noted inventor. His first invention was a mechanical butter churn. In the early volumes he is Tom's best friend and closest associate but later turns into a voice-of-doom doubter of Tom's latest invention. As the series progresses he becomes feeble and is less active in Tom's adventures. Ned Newton: Tom's best friend. Starts off as a teller in the Shopton bank but later becomes financial director of Swift Enterprises. Constant companion to Tom in almost all his adventures. Wakefield Damon: Eccentric middle-aged friend of Tom's. Given to blessing every one of his possesions and body parts. Constant companion to Tom in his adventures. Eradicate "Rad" Sampson: Black Steppen Fetchit-type itinerant handyman. Later becomes a general helper at the Swift compound. Accompanies Tom on many of his adventures. Much given to calling Tom "Massa" and, in some books, "Marse" and indulging in other demeaning activities. Despite this, he shows his courage many times during the course of the series. Boomerang: Rad's beloved pet mule. Passes away by the end of the series. Koku (August): Native South American giant brought back by Tom in volume 13. Serves as bodyguard and helper in the Swift compound. Accompanies Tom on many adventures. There is a constant rivalry between he and Rad as to who gets to serve Tom. Mary Nestor: Tom's sweetheart, later to become his wife (in House On Wheels.) Mrs. Baggert: Housekeeper and mother figure to the Swift household. Andy Foger: Tom's nemesis in the earlier books. A bully and braggert who is occasionally abetted by his father. Andy made his last appearance in volume 15, although he is mentioned in volume 18. Sam Snedecker: Andy Foger's closest crony. Shopton: Home town of Tom Swift and near Lake Carlopa. |
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| Some collectors believe the following two books should be included in
a complete Tom Swift collection.
While not directly related to the original series, they are interesting collectibles. Shorthand Tom, The Reporter by Edward Stratemeyer
Jack Swift And His Rocket Ship by Cliff Farrel & Hal Colson
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© 1996-2008 Robert W. Finnan - All Rights Reserved
