A Lester Leith Cover Gallery

Following up on yesterday's never before - I think - reprinted story "The Crimson Mask" (still available for reading or download), here are more covers celebrating the early adventures of Lester Leith. Sure wish I had these mags. These images are borrowed from the amazing Galactic Central site.

1929

1929

1930

1930

1931

1931

A complete Lester Leith story by Erle Stanley Gardner

Lester Leith was one of the legion of series characters Erle Stanley Gardner employed in the pulps before (and even after) Perry Mason came on the scene. Among the others were Ed Jenkins the Phantom Crook, Paul Pry, Sidney Zoom, Paul Wennick, the Patent Leather Kid, Ken Corning, Bob Zane, Senor Lobo and The Man in the Silver Mask. ESG was a busy guy.

One internet source says Lester Leith alone appeared in 67 stories between 1929 and 1943. I know of only five that have been reprinted, in the 1980 collection The Adventures of Lester Leith. "The Crimson Mask", from 1931, was not among them.

I think you'll agree Lester is an engaging character, far more fun the stodgy Mason. Here's hoping some enterprising publisher will someday bring us the complete adventures of Lester Leith.

(please click on each page to enlarge!)

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