George Orwell
‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’

By Daniel J. Leab:

The 1955 Signet (by the New American Library) paperback appeared in May 1955; the Orwell book had been reprinted every 4-5 months since first appearing in July 1950; this is the 13th printing. Altogether in the 25 years since New American Library first brought out Nineteen Eighty-Four in paperback, the company sold over 7,500,000 copies. Signet Giants were first introduced in 1950 just so the company could charge more than the traditional 25 cents for a paperback. The 1955 printing had the then-requisite sexy cover — with a very daringly cut blouse on a very attractive, sexy woman, and on the blouse is pinned prominently a big Anti-Sex League button.