Ace Books is the oldest active specialty publisher of science fiction and fantasy books (example pictured) and issued many of the best known science fiction writers of the 1950s and 1960s. The company was founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn, and began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns. It soon branched out into other genres, publishing its first science fiction title in 1953; this was a successful innovation, and within a few years, such titles outnumbered both mysteries and westerns. Ace became known for the tête-bêche binding format used for many of its early books, although it did not originate the format. Most of the early titles were published in this "Ace Double" format, and Ace continued to issue books in varied genres, bound tête-bêche, until 1973. These have proved attractive to book collectors, and some rare titles in mint condition command prices up to $1,000. It was one of the leading science fiction publishers for its first ten years, but its fortunes began to decline after the death of owner A. A. Wyn in 1967. Two prominent editors, Donald A. Wollheim and Terry Carr, left in 1971, and in 1972 Ace was sold to Grosset & Dunlap. It is now an imprint of Penguin Group (USA).

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_Books

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1865:

Slavery in the United States was officially abolished when the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

1917:

A ship in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada, carrying TNT and picric acid caught fire after a collision with another ship and caused the world's largest man-made accidental explosion (pictured). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion

1928:

On the behest of the United States, the Colombian Army violently suppressed a month-long strike by United Fruit Company workers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_massacre

1982:

The Irish National Liberation Army exploded a time bomb in Ballykelly, Northern Ireland, killing eleven British Army soldiers and six civilians. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Droppin_Well_bombing

1988:

The Australian Capital Territory was granted self-government. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Australian_Capital_Territory

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

Nicholine: Created by, in the style of, or pertaining to (any of several people named) Nicholas. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Nicholine

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The position which believers and unbelievers occupy with regard to their various forms of faith is very much the same all over the world. The difficulties which trouble us, have troubled the hearts and minds of men as far back as we can trace the beginnings of religious life. The great problems touching the relation of the Finite to the Infinite, of the human mind as the recipient, and of the Divine Spirit as the source of truth, are old problems indeed; and while watching their appearance in different countries, and their treatment under varying circumstances, we shall be able, I believe, to profit ourselves, both by the errors which others committed before us, and by the truth which they discovered. We shall know the rocks that threaten every religion in this changing and shifting world of ours, and having watched many a storm of religious controversy and many a shipwreck in distant seas, we shall face with greater calmness and prudence the troubled waters at home. --Max Müller https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Max_M%C3%BCller