Pan Mac celebrates 70 years with classics in technicolour

Pan Macmillan is celebrating 70 years of publishing with the reissue of 20 “classic” Pan paperbacks, in combination with a series of events and promotions throughout the autumn. 

In homage to "the golden age of paperback publishing", the Pan 70 series will comprise a selection of books reissued with new "eye-popping and witty” designs which the publisher said “evokes the past while looking to the present”.

Re-jacketed titles in the series, characterised by "brilliant technicolour”, include classic novels by authors including Rudyard Kipling, H G Wells, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Margaret Mitchell, James Herriot, Jeffrey Archer, Ken Follett and Peter James, among others. 

The original concept for the covers is rooted in the traditions of mid-century Swiss graphic design, adhering to a grid and three Pantone colours. This minimalist framework, using circles, squares and triangles and a pure colour ethos for each design, gave it "the freedom to create covers that drew on the essence of the titles”, said the publisher. The rejacketed classics, covers designed by Justine Anweiler, are due to publish on 7th September priced at £7 each.

Independent booksellers are being encouraged to mark the occasion by using special point of sale material Pan Macmillan has provided, including postcards, posters and "versatile shelving”, the latter they can keep subject to a 40-book minimum order. They are also invited to enter an in-store window display competition. The bookshop judged to have the best display will receive a hamper from Pan Macmillan. It is also offering special terms to independent retailers to enable them to run a "Buy One Get One Half Price Offer" in store and participating stores will also get "Buy One Get One Free" signage. 

As part of further planned celebrations, Pan Macmillan is also re-introducing its Golden Pan statuette. On Tuesday 5th September at Foyles, it will be awarding give "Golden Pans" to authors on its list who have sold 1m copies over the lifetime of a book. It will also be celebrating its 70th anniversary with a party at Frankfurt.

For further details, including the full list of titles in the Pan 70 series, readers and booksellers can go to www.panmacmillan.com/pan-70