Old California Joe — Edward S. Ellis / Edward Sylvester Ellis

Old California Joe is an engaging, likeable old coot who, in addition to being one of the greatest shooters of his time, took time out to teach younger, less-experienced men and boys the way of the West. Action? How about gold-mining, demons, indians, romance and some really nasty dudes.In 1860, the publishers Erastus and Irwin Beadle released a new series of cheap paperbacks, Beadle's Dime Novels. Dime novel became a general term for similar paperbacks produced by various publishers in the early twentieth century. Dime novels varied in size, even in the first Beadle series, but were mostly about 6.5 by 4.25 inches with 100 pages. The first 28 were published without a cover illustration, in a salmon-colored paper wrapper. A woodblock print was added in issue 29, and the first 28 were reprinted with illustrated covers. The books were priced, of course, at ten cents.