Vintage San-Antonio Fleuve Noir paperback retro 50s thriller

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This old paperback features an illustrated cover typical of French crime novels from the 1950s-1960s. The front cover displays the title "C'est mort et ça ne sait pas" in red letters on a blue background, with a drawn scene depicting a man in a beige suit crouching near a rug, surrounded by scattered books and a partially visible body. The visual atmosphere, marked by the retro crime novel aesthetic, evokes the world of Commissaire San-Antonio, an iconic signature of popular detective fiction in France. The mention "Commissaire SAN.ANTONIO" clearly appears on the lower red band, as well as "Éditions Fleuve Noir," an emblematic publishing house of the genre.

The graphic style of the cover, with its vibrant colors (midnight blue, beige, red) and realistic illustration, reflects the tradition of suspense novels of the era. The illustrator signed "M. Gourdon" at the bottom right, a characteristic detail of older editions of the series. The spine of the book, partially visible, shows wear consistent with the age of the work, confirming its vintage authenticity.

The front cover shows numerous creases, signs of handling, blunted corners, and reading marks, including a large central vertical fold and rubbing on the edges. These elements testify to a previous life, typical of paperbacks read and reread, and reinforce the retro aspect of the object. The cover paper appears matte, with some reflections due to the lighting.

The photo's setting, with a bookcase in the background, enhances the book's value in a crime novel collection context, highlighting its interest for lovers of popular literature and vintage French crime novels.

The book's edge is only partially visible, but signs of wear and slight chips on the edges are discernible. No other details are readable on the edge or spine in this image.

Condition

The item is second-hand and sold as is. Shows numerous signs of wear: creases, blunted corners, rubbing, and handling marks on the cover. The overall structure remains stable despite these signs of age.

Did you know? The San-Antonio series of novels, created by Frédéric Dard in 1949-1950, were published by Fleuve Noir and illustrated by Michel Gourdon until the late 1960s. This collection marked the history of French crime fiction with its humor and unique style, selling over 175 million copies.

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Keywords: San-Antonio paperback, old crime novel, vintage Fleuve Noir, retro detective novel, Commissaire San Antonio, old crime book, Michel Gourdon cover, old French paperback, 1950s crime novel, Fleuve Noir edition, illustrated crime novel, vintage detective novel