Since the publication of "The Secret of the Old Clock" in 1930, the Nancy Drew series of books has remained popular with readers and collectors to this day. Though first editions of the various titles can command high prices at auction and at retail, they still do surface at yard, church, and benefit book sales for quite reasonable prices. (Last summer I bought several at a yard sale for just a dollar each!) There is one problem for collectors, however. The series has been so popular, that with each generation, Grosset & Dunlap would not only publish multiple editions of each title, but would also republish the entire series in new formats. Thus, for example, the first six titles (published between 1930 and 1932) have appeared, in multiple editions, in more than a dozen different formats!

So, what does all this mean to the collector? Well, if we look at a few of the prices being asked for "The Clue in the Diary" (Vol. 7) at various auction and book-dealer sites, we see that it certainly pays to be able to not only distinguish between various editions, but also to be able to identify the different formats! "The Clue in the Diary" appeared in the first format (solid blue cover, no silhouette, white end papers) in its first edition only. Its rarity is substantiated by the fact that a signed copy is currently being offered over the Internet for $350! Then there is a copy in the second format (blue cover, orange silhouette) for $75; a copy in the third format (orange end papers, war-paper edition) for $65; and one in the blue tweed, "digger" end paper format for $40. (Keep in mind that, as always, condition greatly affects price.)

One would need a book to describe, in depth, the different formats and their variations, so for more information, the serious collector should consult the "bible" of the Nancy Drew series of books, Farahs Guide, by David Farah, or check the following Web sites:

http://www.stratemeyer.net (very good; also found under www.larilana.com), and http://www.bibliofind.com