Quick Guide to Regular Dust Jacket Backs
1917-1974
The back of a dust jacket can help you date it. This is particularly useful when the front or inverse don't provide conclusive information.

This quick guide describes the major dust jacket backs used in the series 1917-1974. Anomalies exist, but those listed here are the common ones seen by most collectors. Style numbers are based on the ones in the Toledano Guide. Dates are generally accurate but occasional examples exist of older dust jacket styles used years after you'd expect.

For Giant DJ backs, see Quick Guide to Giant Dust Jacket Backs 1931-1974.

NOTE: An ISBN number at the bottom indicates a post-1970 printing.

Style a     1917 - 1918

a variation 1918

Style b Series 1918 - 1925

(Click here to see variations)

Style c     1925 - 1929

Style c'     1929 on binding 5

Style d     1929 - 1932

Style e     1933 - 1935

Style f     1936

Style g     1936 - 1944

Style h     1944 to Fall 1946

Style h* Spring 1947 to Fall 1954

There are at least five variations of style h:

  1. 95 cents. Giants listed at $1.45. Address on coupon is 20 East 57th St. Spring 1944 to Fall 1945
  2. 95 cents. Giants listed at $1.75. Address on coupon is 20 East 57th St. Spring 1946
  3. 95 cents. Giants listed at $1.75. Address on coupon is 457 Madison Ave. Spring 1946 to Fall 1946 [shown above as "h"]
  4. $1.10. Giants listed at $1.95. Address on coupon is 457 Madison Ave. Fall 1946 to Spring 1947
  5. No prices listed for regular or giant editions. "Charge my account" check box on coupon removed. Spring 1947 to Fall 1954 [shown above as "h*"]
Quite a few 95 cent and $1.10 type h jackets exist with a sticker on the front jacket flap covering the price with the following text: "As of April 15, 1947, the price of The Modern Library in U.S.A. is $1.25 a copy Other markings void. The Modern Library, Inc."

Style i    1954 - 1963

Style j     1960 - 1963

Style j*     1960 - 1963

Style k    1963 - 1966

Style l Series  Fall 1965 through Post-1970
(Click to see variations)

Style m     1966

Unique Faulkner Backs     1966 + Beyond

Style n "genre" series   1967 - 1970+
("ML" appears on its own line)
Click here for more info about genre DJ backs

Style o  "genre"  Series 1969 - 1970+ (taller size only)
("ML" has text to its right on the same line)
Click here for more info about genre DJ backs