Mapback is a term used by paperback collectors to refer to the earliest paperback books published by Dell Books, beginning in 1943. The books are known as mapbacks because the back cover of the book contains a map that illustrates the location of the action. Dell books were numbered in series.
Mapbacks refer to the initial paperback novels released by Dell Books in 1943, which are characterized by the presence of a map on the back cover that shows the location where the action occurs. These early publications were part of a larger series of titles published by Dell Books.