A complete, restored issue of Pulp Fiction from 1869 — all 100 pages of painted-cover fiction magazines that launched science fiction, horror, and hardboiled crime, free to page through at ComicBooks.com.

Home › Exhibition › Pulp Fiction › Read

A complete issue · 100 pages · 1869

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy

1869 · Free to read

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 2 of 100 — 2 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 3 of 100 — 3 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 4 of 100 — 4 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 5 of 100 — 5 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 6 of 100 — 6 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 7 of 100 — 7 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 8 of 100 — 8 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 9 of 100 — 9 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 10 of 100 — 10 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 11 of 100 — 11 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 12 of 100 — 12 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 13 of 100 — 13 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 14 of 100 — 14 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 15 of 100 — 15 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 16 of 100 — 16 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 17 of 100 — 17 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 18 of 100 — 18 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 19 of 100 — 19 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 20 of 100 — 20 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 21 of 100 — 21 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 22 of 100 — 22 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 23 of 100 — 23 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 24 of 100 — 24 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 25 of 100 — 25 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 26 of 100 — 26 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 27 of 100 — 27 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 28 of 100 — 28 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 29 of 100 — 29 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 30 of 100 — 30 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 31 of 100 — 31 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 32 of 100 — 32 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 33 of 100 — 33 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 34 of 100 — 34 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 35 of 100 — 35 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 36 of 100 — 36 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 37 of 100 — 37 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 38 of 100 — 38 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 39 of 100 — 39 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 40 of 100 — 40 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 41 of 100 — 41 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 42 of 100 — 42 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 43 of 100 — 43 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 44 of 100 — 44 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 45 of 100 — 45 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 46 of 100 — 46 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 47 of 100 — 47 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 48 of 100 — 48 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 49 of 100 — 49 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 50 of 100 — 50 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 51 of 100 — 51 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 52 of 100 — 52 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 53 of 100 — 53 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 54 of 100 — 54 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 55 of 100 — 55 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 56 of 100 — 56 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 57 of 100 — 57 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 58 of 100 — 58 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 59 of 100 — 59 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 60 of 100 — 60 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 61 of 100 — 61 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 62 of 100 — 62 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 63 of 100 — 63 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 64 of 100 — 64 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 65 of 100 — 65 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 66 of 100 — 66 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 67 of 100 — 67 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 68 of 100 — 68 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 69 of 100 — 69 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 70 of 100 — 70 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 71 of 100 — 71 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 72 of 100 — 72 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 73 of 100 — 73 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 74 of 100 — 74 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 75 of 100 — 75 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 76 of 100 — 76 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 77 of 100 — 77 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 78 of 100 — 78 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 79 of 100 — 79 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 80 of 100 — 80 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 81 of 100 — 81 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 82 of 100 — 82 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 83 of 100 — 83 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 84 of 100 — 84 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 85 of 100 — 85 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 86 of 100 — 86 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 87 of 100 — 87 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 88 of 100 — 88 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 89 of 100 — 89 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 90 of 100 — 90 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 91 of 100 — 91 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 92 of 100 — 92 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 93 of 100 — 93 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 94 of 100 — 94 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 95 of 100 — 95 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 96 of 100 — 96 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 97 of 100 — 97 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 98 of 100 — 98 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 99 of 100 — 99 / 100

Beadle's Dime Novels No. 172: Despard, the Spy — page 100 of 100 — 100 / 100

About this issue

This issue of Beadle's Dime Novels (No. 172) contains "Despard, the Spy; or, The Fall of Montreal" by W. J. Hamilton, a serialized adventure set during the French and Indian War period. The narrative opens with a cloaked gentleman named Despard rescuing Marie D'Arigny, a Montreal socialite, from three kidnappers on a dark street. After a sword fight and intervention by French musketeers, Despard safely delivers Marie home. In her parlor, Marie reveals she harbors secrets: her brother was murdered by an Indian called the Giant Chief, and she maintains contact with an English spy named Wilton, whom she loves. Despard, himself an Englishman posing as French, has been supplying the English with military intelligence for years. Wilton has sent Marie a coded message using three colored sticks (representing different military forces) hidden at a riverside location, indicating the approach of British regulars under Lords Rollo and Amherst. The story establishes themes of espionage, divided loyalties, and romance amid imperial conflict.

Browse this issue page by page

Each page has its own page — the cartoon, who’s in it, and what the satire means.