Hutchinson International Authors Ltd subsidiary of Hutchinson Ltd. (London, UK)
Series dates: 1940-1999
Size: various, 5″ x 7.5″ to 6″ x 8.25″
Is it a series or not? Hutchinson International Authors Ltd. was a subsidiary of Hutchinson Ltd. and published books from about 1940 to the late 1990s. All were international authors (not British).
The jackets were unique to each book, some illustrated some just text. But at least until the early 1960s, they shared a common logo, binding, and book design. But the size of the books varied. This 1947 copy of Turgenev’s A Nobleman’s Nest is smaller format (5″ x 7.5″) and comes across as a series book given the size and list of titles on the back of the jacket. Price is indicated (4/) as well as a book summary on the front jacket flap.
Additional Turgenev titles in the series – or by the publisher – are advertised on the rear flap. A list of Hutchinson International Authors titles is included on the back of the jacket.
Bindings are a rather striking black with silver reversed printing. The logo is carried over from the jacket front and placed at the base of the spine.
The half-title page includes the logo as well as the title.
The title page includes the date of printing.
A second book, Lion Feuchtwanger’s Proud Destiny, is an inch taller and wider than the Turgenev title. But the design of the book itself is the same. This was probably to accommodate the larger printing plates for the Feuchtwanger title. Typically, series books kept to the same size or possibly added a “giant” or “double” volume subset of the series. Not so with this “series,” it appears.
The gaudy jacket for the Feuchtwanger title. Notice the significantly higher price (12s/6p). The same titles are listed on the back of the jacket.
Hutchinson was merged with Random House UK in 1985. Titles with the Hutchinson International Authors Ltd imprint are published as late as 1999.