Series Book Questions from Summer 2012

These are questions that were asked this summer. I have rewritten the questions in order to avoid using direct quotes from private messages.

What type of covers should be purchased to protect dust jackets?  Do you recommend the 1.5 mm or the 2 mm?  Is it better to purchase ones with the center-slit backing paper or the ones that can be used for various height books?

This is a question that I am asked on a regular basis.

The 1.5 mm protectors work just fine. I have used the 2 mm, but I find that I prefer the way the 1.5 mm work. It’s hard to explain, but the 2 mm tends to be a little more rigid and not fold as well, which makes the jacket not rest right up against the book. They do provide better protection if a book and jacket are to be used heavily, but for a collection, the 1.5 mm is quite sufficient.

Demco Paperfold Book Jacket Covers

I like the ones from Demco because they are folded at the bottom instead of the center-slit. The ones with the center slit end up being a little bumpy in places, whereas the ones from Demco never do that.

I dislike the protectors offered by Gaylord since they stick to each other on the shelf. If you have several books in Gaylord protectors and try to remove one from the shelf, the rest come with it.

I use the 8-inch Demco covers for the Grosset and Dunlap dust jackets and the 9-inch Demco covers for taller books. The 9-inch covers work well for both sizes of books, since they can be easily adjusted down.

Do you sell copies of dust jackets?  I am not willing to pay high prices to get certain books with original jackets.

This is another question that I get asked fairly often, mainly because I usually have at least one book for sale with a copied dust jacket.  I do not sell copies of dust jackets, even though I sometimes print one for scarce books that would be easier to sell with a printed dust jacket.

Jim Towey has offered copies of dust jackets for years.  Visit his page about recreated dust jackets for more information.

What do you think of the Outdoor Girls series?  Are the books worth reading?  Do the books have four glossy illustrations or just a glossy frontispiece?

The Outdoor Girls series is one of my most favorite series of all of the ones that came before Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. The earlier series from the 1910s and 1920s are much more old fashioned and a bit different from the series that came later, but this one is one of the best.

You can visit Project Gutenberg and sample some of the texts to get a feel for whether you would like the series.

Outdoor Girls Books on Project Gutenberg

The books all have a glossy frontispiece. The books have additional internal illustrations, but all of the internals are on plain paper just like the regular text pages. The series books that began in the 1910s tended to have the additional illustrations on plain paper rather than on glossy paper.

Why are some of your Nancy Drew books described as blue or tweed and others not?  What is the difference?

The books that are called "tweed" have a cover that resembles tweed fabric. They are textured and are similar to cloth, although the covers are not made from cloth. The tweed books were in print from 1952 through 1961.

Nancy Drew books printed before 1952 are generally known as blue books. I have both the blue and the tweed books placed in the same subcategory in my booth.

This formats page should help you understand the different variations and will help you tell how old a book is.

Nancy Drew Formats

Also, you can more specifically tell how old a book is by getting the last title listed inside the book. The last title listed will tell you which year the book was printed.

I am looking for inexpensive reading copies of the original text Nancy Drew books.  What do you have available?  I can tell that the Applewood books have the original text but am not sure about the picture cover books.

The following statements concern Nancy Drew #1-34.

Each of my listings that has an original text book has a statement in the item description that the book has the original text. To make it easier, I often give the original copyright date in the title of my listings. If the copyright date is anywhere from 1930 to 1956, the book must have the original 25 chapter text. If you click on a listing, you can verify that the book has the original text by noting a copyright date between 1930 and 1956 and noting my statement that the book has the original text.

To find the books that have the original text, go to the main page of my booth, then click on the Nancy Drew category that appears on the left in the middle of the list of categories. On the resulting page, you will see additional subcategories. You will find many of the original text books that are priced reasonably in the "> Blue Books" and the "> PCs Blue Multi" subcategories.

In the "> Blue Books" category, all books have the original text. In the "> PCs Blue Multi" category, #1, 2, 3, and 4 are the only books that do NOT have the original text.* All other books in that category have the original text.

Most of the Nancy Drew books with dust jackets also have the original text, but those are generally priced a little higher. If you do look at the books with jackets, remember that the books copyrighted from 1930 to 1956 are the ones with the original text and that I have a statement in the item description stating that those books have the original text.

Note: #35 and up only had one text and were never revised, so all of those books have the original text by default, since it is the only version that ever existed.

*In my answer to the prospective buyer, I did not mention that I might sometimes have a few books in the "> Blue Books" category that do not have the original text, such as late tweed copies of #1-4 and #6.  I also did not mention that if I had an example of #6 listed in the "> PCs Blue Multi" category that it would also not have the original text.  I kept my answer limited to the books that were available in those categories on the day I answered the question so as not to further confuse the prospective buyer. 

My wife likes Nancy Drew books, but I know nothing about them.  I think I would like to purchase the 20 chapter picture cover versions of #1-56.  How should I go about doing that?  I also do not understand what is meant by "Jennifer's Series Books."

“Jennifer’s Series Books” is the name that I put on my booth. My name is Jennifer White, and I am the one selling the books that are listed in this booth.

If you decide to buy any books from me, you would first click on "Nancy Drew" which appears along the left side of my booth in the list of categories. On the resulting page, you will see a new list of categories on the left side. The books you mentioned will be found under "> PCs Blue Multi," "> PCs B&W Multi I," and "> PCs B&W Multi II." The category which mentions "Blue Multi" has more of the original text books. The other two categories have the 20 chapter revised text books. The titles of the three categories make reference to the type of endpapers inside each book.

Most Nancy Drew fans do like the original text books, so your wife probably would not mind getting some original text books. The original text books are available for #1-34, and you can also get #1-34 in the revised 20 chapter text versions. #35-56 are only available as 20 chapter texts.

If you do not mind using eBay, there are almost always bulk lots of Nancy Drew books up for sale there.* Sometimes you can find a bulk lot at a great savings per book over buying the books individually.

*I have found, especially in recent months, that many people now refuse to use eBay for any reason.  I finally have realized that instead of assuming that people are willing to use eBay that I should mention that if they do not mind using eBay that eBay is an option.