All Men Are Liars — Strange, Dell Mapback 1950

🏙️ All Men Are Liars is a taut, mid-century courtroom murder drama written by Dorothy Stockbridge Tillett under the pen name John Stephen Strange. Published as a highly collectible Dell Mapback edition (No. 438), this volume captures the precise tension of a post-war Manhattan legal battle, blending Golden Age whodunit tropes with the atmospheric grit of 1950s pulp crime.

Quick Facts

• Title: All Men Are Liars (also published as Come to Judgment)
• Author: John Stephen Strange (Dorothy Stockbridge Tillett)
• Publisher: Dell Publishing Company (Dell Book No. 438)
• Format: Vintage Paperback / Mapback Edition
• Era: c. 1950
• Special Feature: Original Lower Manhattan cartography on rear cover
• Genre: Mid-Century Mystery / Courtroom Drama

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a Dell Mapback edition? A distinctive mid-century paperback format where the rear cover features a detailed geographic map of the story’s setting. These are prized by collectors for their utility and aesthetic contribution to the “noir” experience.
• Who is the author? The book was written by English mystery novelist Dorothy Stockbridge Tillett, who used the pseudonym John Stephen Strange for her crime fiction.
• What is the plot? The story follows a “man about town” on trial for his life in a high-stakes murder case, navigating the treacherous legal and social waters of New York City.

Cover Art & Illustrations

The cover features a quintessential pulp illustration: a man in a dark suit raising his hand to take an oath in a courtroom, while a woman in a tan suit looks on with deep apprehension. A shadowy figure with a gun looms in the background, signaling the danger beneath the formal proceedings. The design includes the bold red title typography and the signature “keyhole” emblem at the bottom, characteristic of Dell’s 1950s paperback branding.

The Mapback Feature

This edition is specifically sought after for its rear map of Lower Manhattan. The cartography depicts the criminal court district, marking key sites such as the Criminal Courts Building, The Tombs, and City Hall. This geographic grounding provides a tangible sense of place, mapping the actual terrain where the story’s legal drama unfolds.

For Collectors

Mapback editions represent a peak in the “atmospheric” marketing of 1950s paperbacks. Finding a copy with vibrant original green stained edges and an uncreased spine makes this an exceptional example of the format. The pseudonym “John Stephen Strange” adds a layer of bibliographic interest for those tracking Tillett’s output across the mid-century.

#### **Condition Report**

Overall Grade: Very Good (VG)

Cover & Spine: Minor rubbing to extremities with small laminate stress lines and faint edge wear; spine remains uncreased with intact typography.

Text Block & Pages: Original publisher green stained edges remain rich and vibrant; interior leaves are off-white/cream and free of brittle aging.

Binding: Square, tight, and completely sound softcover binding.

See accompanying images for full condition details. Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

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