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The spine features a white circle
with a black line drawing profile of Nancy--like those spine symbols in color used on some
wrap dust jackets and all picture covers. The back cover is why I call these the
'magnifying glass' editions. There is a black magnifying glass with scenes from 3 Nancy
Drew® volumes--#2, The Hidden Staircase, second art by Bill Gillies, #23, The
Mystery of the Tolling Bell, first art by Russell Tandy, and #26, The Clue of the Leaning
Chimney, first art by Russell Tandy. Some library editions have turned up which I call
'non-magnifying glass' library editions. They are identical to the magnifying glass editions
in every way except they lack the magnifying glass on the back cover. I combine these on the
same page here with the magnifying glass editions. I am not certain as to the dates of
these editions. Since some carry original cover art on the covers like Tapping Heels, they are
likely circa pre-picture cover. Either that or the printer/publisher of these liked some of
the original art and texts! Below, #3, a brown magnifying glass edition, has the
digger endpapers for further dating information. As well as the non-magnifying glass editions
there are a monochromatic non-magnifying glass edition that have the art on the cover in the same color
as the rest of the boards with black ink outlining and these are identical to the regular non-magnifying
glass editions except for the monochromatic scheme. Interesting to note, the monochromatic Larkspur Lane
pictured below has the Tandy art and the revised text!
The Magnifying Glass Library Editions are one of my
favorite library editions. The boards come in various colors--red, green, orange, brown, and blue.
On the cover centered in black/white is the picture for the book which is a copy of the art
from the dust jackets/picture covers--all Russell Tandy or Bill Gillies cover art. The way
the cover art is framed gives you a feeling like you are looking into a picture or a window
to see the scene that is going on--the square is bordered by a frame. For example, the two
volume #16, The Clue of the Tapping Heels editions I have use the Russell Tandy first
cover art scene. These have the original texts inside.
Click below on the sample library edition thumbnail images
for a larger view of each volume.
As always, if you have a volume not pictured here
or a library edition I do not have that is interesting please send a scan!
1 
3 
13 
16 
17 
19 
28 
Non-Magnifying Glass Editions:
1 
2 
9 
*
20 
24 
Non-Magnifying Glass Monochromatic Editions:
10 
31 
* Scan of #9 non-magnifying glass edition above is from Lisa McGuirk