A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON EARLIEST NZ PAPERBACK
This plea from Dr. Donald Kerr, F.L.S.
Special Collections Librarian University of Otago

In organising my book history workshop (1930-1970) for later in October, I am particular interested in finding out the first NZ writer to feature in a paperback. Penguin arrived here in 1973; was there any other earlier paperback titles that featured a NZer, particularly those from a home-grown publishing rather than the traditional UK based ones?

In talking to Iain Sharp, he vaguely remembered Owls Do Cry in paperback – quite early on (dates a little blurry) and then a possibility of Maurice Shadbolt and his NZers. Even Keith Sinclair, although his NZ history was in paperback but out of the UK branch. Any light you can shed on this wd be appreciated.

Any comments/suggestions please e-mail: donald.kerr@otago.ac.nz and copy me at graham@beattie-boyd.co.nz