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New!
Nancy Drew®
The Dust Jacket Collection
In the mid-1940s, publisher Grosset & Dunlap updated the original packaging of its popular Nancy Drew Mystery Stories®, issuing new volumes with a dust jacket that featured wraparound art and modern type for an edgier, more contemporary feel. This approach colorfully echoed the visual styles of film noir and pulp fiction, then in vogue. Between 1950 and 1979, commercial artists Bill Gillies and Rudy Nappi produced artwork for new titles and revised many of the earlier covers by original series artist, Russell H. Tandy, in this darker, mid-century style. However, in 1962, dust jackets were discontinued and ensuing books in the series were released as picture cover hardbacks only. Now, licensed by Simon and Schuster for the first time, Literarture is offering a complete dust jacket collection of some of the most evocative artwork by Tandy, Gillies and Nappi from this period for all 56 titles of the original series. Every jacket has been carefully recreated utilizing the best vintage elements and fresh layouts with an eye for improved consistency. In addition, the covers of later volumes never released with dust jackets are being adapted to the format to finally accommodate a complete series feel. The jackets' final trim size is 7.6" x 18.5" on a paper of comparable weight to the original dust jackets, but improved durability, enhanced by a protective aqueous coating. Titles will be available in individually numbered editions of 200 with a few additional titles added monthly. Products available only while supplies last.
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Volume #1
The Secret of the Old Clock
The first title in the Nancy Drew series, this jacket is based on a 1950 printing and represents illustrator Bill Gillies' premiere revision of Russell Tandy's 1930 cover art in an edgier style evocative of film noir and detective novels. Original 1950 Grosset & Dunlap promotional advertising is also featured.
Volume #2
The Hidden Staircase
For his 1950 cover illustration of this early classic, artist Bill Gillies continued the vintage detective novel spirit in presenting a refreshingly different scenic moment from Russell Tandy's 1930 original. This dust jacket is based on a 1953 format and features corresponding promotional art.
Volume #3
The Bungalow Mystery
This volume is one of few in the series to feature a variety of different cover scenes over the course of its publishing span. Bill Gillies' dramatic 1950 art perfectly establishes a more evocative spirit of suspense than the title suggests. A restored classic Dana Girls advertisement is showcased on back.
Volume #4
The Mystery at Lilac Inn
Bill Gillies' 1950 reinterpretation of Russell H. Tandy's 1930 art captures Nancy Drew stumbling upon a group of jewel thieves. The cover was discarded in 1961, when a different story was developed under the same title. The jacket is based upon a 1956 printing and features original advertising.
Volume #5
The Secret at Shadow Ranch
Bill Gillies' 1950 cover art vividly captures an exciting moment in one of the more adventurous early entries in the series. This painting bears the colorful flavor of its era and remained in print until 1965, when Rudy Nappi created a similar composition for a new story under the same title.
Volume #6
The Secret of Red Gate Farm
Among the best known covers in the history of the series, Bill Gillies' stylish 1950 revision of Russell Tandy's 1931 original art is among his most beautiful and intriguing. The art was used extensively over the years in end paper designs and promotional materials, and remains in print to this day.
Volume #8
Nancy's Mysterious Letter
Bill Gillies' 1950 cover art depicts an entirely different moment of the plot from the original 1930s edition and continues his visual exploration of Nancy Drew as an idealized, innocently glamorous blonde of the period. This jacket is based upon a 1950 printing and features accompanying promotional art.
Volume #9
The Sign of the Twisted Candles
This cover, painted by Bill Gillies in 1950 to replace Russell Tandy's Depression-era original, features an iconic moment for the series, as the sinister window view of the man digging in the yard became the basis for the series' illustrated end papers during the mid-1950s.
Volume #10
The Password to Larkspur Lane
This controversial art was only published outside the United States. Believed to have been commissioned by the publisher in 1953, the art was allegedly rejected due to the indiscreet display of Nancy Drew's thigh. Consequently, the original 1930s art remained in print until 1962.
Volume #11
The Clue of the Broken Locket
Considered one of the most unusual entries in the series is Rudy Nappi's 1962 revision for this title. Only available as a yellow spine picture cover until 1965, the art utilizes an eerie palette and casts Nappi himself in a key role. A more complete version of the art makes its dust jacket debut here.
Volume #12
The Message in the Hollow Oak
Although twelfth in the series, this title was one of the last to be revised in dust jacket form before Grosset & Dunlap adopted the picture cover format. Rudy Nappi's detailed rendering features a gorgeous autumnal scene and the extremely rare, original 1961 edition is highly coveted.
Volume #13
The Mystery of the Ivory Charm
This 1962 art by Rudy Nappi was introduced to modernize the look of this volume prior to its 1974 text revision. Unlike Russell Tandy's 1930s cover art, Nappi's colorful version illustrates an early moment in the book as Nancy and her friends are introduced to the powerful charm of the book's title.
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