Sexton Blake Library
Sexton Blake is a fictional character, a detective who has been featured in many British comic strips, novels and dramatic productions since 1893. Sexton Blake adventures were featured in a wide variety of British and international publications (in many languages) from 1893 to 1978, comprising more than 4,000 stories by some 200 different authors. Blake was also the hero of numerous silent and sound movies, radio serials, and a 1960s television series.
The first issue of The Sexton Blake Library was published on 20 September 1915, entitled “The Yellow Tiger” and written by G. H. Teed. This issue introduced villains Wu Ling and Baron de Beauremon in an eleven chapter story, costing 3d (1.25p). The story is 107 pages; a second story, “The Great Cup-Tie!” (not featuring Blake) completes the remainder of the issue’s 120 pages. The second issue, “Ill Gotten Gains (The Secret of Salcoth Island)”, had Blake fight Count Carlac and Professor Kew. Issue three was entitled “The Shadow of his Crime” and issue four “The Rajah’s Revenge”. The last edition, “Down Among The Ad Men” written by W. A Ballinger (Wilfred McNeilly), was published in October 1968. Some additional Sexton Blake books were published during 1968 and 1969 that were not labelled explicitly as part of the Sexton Blake Library.
