In the exhibition are shown about sixty-eight different examples of the famous “original yellow back” Dime Novels, which began to appear in 1860. No less than seventeen of the first twenty-five titles constituting this series are embraced in the collection. Number 8 is a first edition copy of Edward Ellis’ celebrated “Seth Jones,” a story of the New York Wilderness in 1785. More than 450,000 copies of this book had been sold in America before 1865, and it had been translated into seven foreign languages. Number 9, “The Slave Sculptor,” illustrates the little known bibliographical fact that Beadle and Company issued English editions of many of these books from 44 Paternoster Row, London. The English editions were printed from the American stereotype plates, with specially prepared title-pages. It was during the issuance of the first few titles of the original Dime Novels that various experiments were made by the publishers in the form and color of these books. Numbers 10, 11 and 12 illustrate such changes. But the appearance adopted in Number 11 was finally chosen, and thenceforth was adhered to during the printing of over 300 books in the yellow-back series. Among other titles included in this type is a copy of Mrs. Victor’s “Maum Guinea,” which was preferred by President Lincoln, as a portrayal of slavery, over Mrs. Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Still other celebrated issues among the yellow-backs shown are Ellis’ “Riflemen of the Miami,” Frances Barritt’s “The Land Claim,” and Ann Stephen’s “Story of the Oregon Trail.” [Illustration: COVER IN THREE COLORS TYPE C] [Illustration: COVER IN FOUR COLORS TYPE H]