Sax Rohmer's Fawcett "Gold Medal" editions

Updated 13 June 2004

The American paperback publisher, Fawcett, issued a series of "Gold Medal" paperbacks, each stating very clearly "The Gold Medal seal on this book means it is not a reprint. To select an original book, look for the Gold medal seal." They printed the first American editions of seven Rohmer titles.

Following World War II, the Rohmers' financial situation led to the sale of their British home, "Little Gatton." They moved to a flat on Sloane Street. Then, after a trip to Monte Carlo, they decided to move to the United States. They travelled to Jamaica and waited to make the quota for foreign residents. That done, they moved, for a short time, to a furnished apartment near Madison Avenue in New York City, and finally to a home in Greenwich, Connecticut (also the home of Fawcett Publications, Inc.).

"At this juncture a new, if not very elegant, market opened up with a quite unexpected bid for The Sins of Sumuru, which Sax had not seriously thought would sell to anyone. The Fawcett Publishing Company, which turned out first editions in paperback format, saw glamorous possibilities in this female stand-in for Fu Manchu. Sax, who had never written anything for  the paperback market, felt that the whole thing was vaguely undignified. But such had become the prevailing fashion of the day, and he consoled himself with the idea that in England at least the story would subsequently obtain the status of a hard cover, which, in fact, it did. He accepted the offer, and Fawcett's launched Sumuru under the more promising title of Nude in Mink." -- Master of Villainy (277)

See The Page of Sumuru for further details, other Rohmer editions and the movies.

The first Sumuru book. 1950 Nude In Mink. Greenwich, Connecticut: Fawcett - Gold Medal original.
         First printing, May, 1950, 105
         Second printing, May, 1950, 105
         Third printing, June, 1950, 105
         Fourth printing, Oct., 1950, 105
         Fifth printing October, 1951, 105
         Sixth printing, July, 1953, 321

 

Artist: Not credited

 

The sixth printing is pictured; the first may be seen on The Page of Sumuru. The only discernable differences are the "105" vs. the "321" and the addition of the white blurb bar. The spine on the left is from the "105" first edition.
          

From the collection of Lawrence Knapp

1951 Sumuru. Greenwich, Connecticut: Fawcett - Gold Medal original 199.
         Second printing
         No month given, 1958. s757
           From the collection of Lawrence Knapp
     

 

 

From the collection of Lawrence Knapp
Artist: Not credited
1952 The Fire Goddess. Greenwich, Connecticut:: Fawcett - Gold Medal original 283. December, 1952

 

Artist: Not credited

From the collection of Lawrence Knapp
     

1954 Return of Sumuru. Greenwich, Connecticut:: Fawcett - Gold Medal original 408.
         First printing, June, 1954
         Second printing, March, 1959 868

 

Artist: James Meese

Compare to two foreign editions

From the collection of Lawrence Knapp
      

1956 Sinister Madonna. Greenwich, Connecticut: Fawcett - Gold Medal original 555.  February, 1956
           From the collection of Lawrence Knapp
         

Artist: Charles Binger

From the collection of Lawrence Knapp
1957 Re-Enter Fu Manchu. Greenwich, Connecticut: Fawcett - Gold Medal original s684
         First printing, July, 1957
         Second printing, no month indicated,
          1957 k1458
               From the collection of Lawrence Knapp
         

Artist: Barye Phillips

First Printing

From the collection of Lawrence Knapp

Barye Phillips' art was later used on a British paperback edition of The Shadow of Fu Manchu.
1959 Emperor Fu Manchu. Greenwich, Connecticut:: Fawcett - Gold Medal original s929  October, 195

 From the collection of Lawrence Knapp
Artist: Not credited

  
  
  
 
From the collection of Lawrence Knapp
The only known instance of Sax Rohmer providing a promotional blurb for another author was his comment on the cover of Richard Telfair's The Bloody Medallion. Greenwich, Connecticut: Fawcett - Gold Medal original 847, January, 1959.

 

"This Richard Telfair novel is as terrifying
as anything I myself have written"
SAX ROHMER
Creator of Dr. Fu Manchu

 

 

Artist: Not credited

From the collection of Lawrence Knapp

Sax Rohmer's scarab

Copyright © 1997 - 2000 Lawrence Knapp. All rights reserved.