The Titles

All known instances of Sax Rohmer material in Collier's are listed below. Wherever possible, the titles have been given as they actually appear. Early issues of Collier's had no Table of Contents so the titles given are from the opening page of the story. Beginning with "The   Emperor of America" in 1927, two titles are given: the first from the Table of Contents and the second (marked ~) from the story itself. The distinction between subtitles and editorial comments appended to the titles is not always clear, so both are included to give the true flavor of Sax Rohmer in Collier's. Running titles are included only when they were actually printed. "The Zayat Kiss" was simply presented as a story; no mention was made of  a "Mystery of" or  an "Insidious"  Dr. Fu-Manchu.

All but two of the over two hundred stories were later printed in book form [book titles are given in brackets]. In addition to the stories, Rohmer himself was featured in the November 23, 1929 issue.

The Art

Well after the stories became available in hard cover, readers prefered  to read the Collier's magazine versions because they were so well illustrated, catching and enhancing the moodiness and atmosphere of Rohmer's prose. John E. Carroll, an early member of the Sax Rohmer Society and contributer to The Rohmer Review recalls, "When I had time to spend an afternoon in the Reference Room of the Pratt Free Library downtown, I used to have the bound copies of Collier's for a particular year sent up from storage."

The first stories were illustrated by J. C. Coll who illustrated Rohmer's stories from "The Zayat Kiss," February 15, 1913 to the final Fire-Tongue story on March 12, 1921.  The three parts of  "The Black Mandarin," beginning November 4, 1922 were illustrated by "Jack" Flanagan and also included two drawings  by Sax Rohmer himself.

W. T. Benda provided three covers: "The Emperor of America" (November 5, 1927), "Fu Manchu's Daughter" (March 8, 1930) and the particularly striking "Mask of Fu Manchu" (May 7, 1932). Interior illustrations for "The Emperor of  America" were  by R. L. Lambdin. John Richard Flanagan illustrated all of the stories from 1929 to 1935 and Rohmer acquired a number of  the originals which he displayed in his home.

C. C. Beall followed Flanagan and provided the illustrations for "The Invisible President," beginning February 29, 1936. The Bazarada stories published from September 18, 1937 to August 6, 1938 were illustrated by Ronald McLeod.  Illustrations for "The Drums of Fu Manchu" were quite a departure from previous stories and used photographs by William Ritter

The final stories were illustrated by Elmore Brown and C. C. Beall. Covers were done by photographer Erwin Blumenfeld for "Seven Sins" and Vincent Guise for "Shadow of Fu Manchu."

The Parody

The February 19, 1937 issue of The Punch Bowl, a humor magazine published by the students at the University of Pennsylvania, was an elaborate spoof of Collier's. The students poked fun at all the popular writers and artists. Included, of course, was a story by "Sox Rohmer."

Note: This page will load slowly because of the art which is included, but as noted above, the art was a major factor in the Collier's experience. Issues marked with the symbols (*) (%)  or (#) are at hand should you have any questions.

April 12, 1913
Illustrated by J. C. Coll

Rohmer, himself, drew both the black mandarin and the scarab illustrations used in the story. The Mandarin was adapted to create the background of this and most other pages at this site. The scarab appears at the bottom of this and many other pages.

The Emperor of America

Cover artist: W. T. Benda

"The girl's self-possession in the
presence of the masked horror
was admirable."

The Interior illustrations were by 
R. L. Lambdin. A portion of the opening illustration was placed in the table of contents with a typically different sub-title.

The Fires of Baal

"Flanagan illustrated all of Sax's stories for Collier's from 1929 to 1935, and Sax thought highly of his work. He never lost an opportunity to acquire the originals, and they formed a notable item of furnishings in his household."

-- Master of Villainy, p. 187.

John Richard Flanagan

"The Author: Sax Rohmer is shown here in a deep, dark study where the characters in those mystery masterpieces of his lurk behind secret panels until released by their creator's magic touch on a typewriter key"

         A differently cropped version was used on the back of  many later Pyramid paperbacks.
         The full photo shows more detail of his study.
    

Next Week

We've debated our next step very carefully. With Congressman Fish's revelations and the continued activities of our more irrepressible gangsters there is quite a bit of nervousness in some quarters.  Should we further complicate matters by publishing Sax Rohmer's new novel?  There's a pretty question. We put it off and then kept on putting it off until, as usual, our readers solved it for us. They began to request -- nay, demand -- a Rohmerish novel. "What this country needs," wrote a young woman from Chicago, of all places, "is a good, shivery mystery story."
   And that is precisely what she will get in "Yu'an Hee See Laughs," Mr. Rohmer's latest book. Yu'an Hee See -- there's a villain if we ever saw one and his shrill, unearthly laughter will make you wonder whether your backbone has ever known anything but chills. In a way, you've brought it on yourself.
    

The Mask of Fu Manchu

Collier's, May 7, 1932,
The stunning cover by
W. T. Benda

W. T. Benda and Masks

"To an accompaniment of eerie wails Sax Rohmer traces the footsteps of Dr. Fu Manchu. Even we are amazed." 
                                               --editorial comment, page 4 

The Mask of Fu Manchu
Part VII

"Then the lid was raised and we saw those precious relics of the Masked Prophet"

Illustrated by
John Richard Flanagan

Details of the mask

Fu Manchu's Bride

   "I thought that his face had the
   majesty of Satan -- that this
   was the Emperor of the
   Underworld come to claim
   a doomed city."

Illustrated by
John Richard Flannagan

Collier's for May 6, 1933

The Trail
of Fu Manchu

"I suggest that the beautiful figure Preston saw was not constructed at Sèvres, but was Fleuette in that trance which only Fu Manchu is able to induce."

Illustrated by
John Richard Flanagan

C. C. Beall's portrait of the "Insidiouser and insidiouser"
Fu Manchu (March 7, 1936)

The Drums of Fu Manchu

Series illustrated with photographs
by William Ritter

"Long narrow eyes seemed to be watching me. They held my gaze hypnotically."

Pool o' the Moon

"Be careful," she murmured, "One is watching." "May blessings be with you," intoned the dervish.

Illustrated by Elmore Brown

Collier's July 3, 1943, page 15
Artist: Elmore Brown

Lord Marcus raised his arms like a priest before the alter and intoned words in an unfamiliar language. The long-lashed eyes of the woman never flickered.
  

The unusual photographic cover   introducing Seven Sins.

Photographer: Erwin Blumenfeld

"This week's cover: Mystery Girl. As an extra helping of Sax for the new Rohmer serial, Artist Vincent Guise chose Lillian Brokal, Conover model, to pose in the mood macabre. She lives in New Jersey, is married, and has had Hollywood offers. She had a hard time looking horrified for Mr. Guise because she and her husband on that day finally found an apartment. . . .    Ted Shane"