Doing a cameo

Years from now, the sight of a familiar Nancy Drew book cover or the prospect of acquiring a rare edition at bargain price may bring me less of a thrill than it presently does.

Though I can't imagine ever regarding a tweed volume with nonchalance, there's a chance that someday I won't be over the moon with each Carolyn Keene book sighting. Till that time comes, however, I remain somewhat starry-eyed over the few lovely hardcover pieces on my shelf, some of which I have yet to read. 

It goes without saying that all the excitement accompanying my regard for these children's books stems from their being part of my childhood. I pored over each of Nancy's adventures involving Bess and George, and sometimes Helen Corning (and Ned Nickerson and Mr. Drew, with ever-reliable Hannah Gruen in the wings). And then the stories were mostly forgotten over the years. The books, save two, now belong to another family. 

The unique spine of the Nancy Drew Readers' Club edition, a.k.a. 'Cameo' edition

Now, decades later, and with the aid of the internet, the world of Nancy Drew has taken on a more fascinating turn. After the shock over the discovery of original-text (OT) versions wore off, various elements about the stories, the people behind the stories, and the books themselves opened up a whole new panorama for me.

I had seen pictures of lovely books that looked nothing like the Nancy Drews I grew up reading. "Cameo edition," someone called them, on account of the cameo of the teen sleuth that was visible on the spine and on the front cover. I thought it was beautiful. 

Now referred to by most as the Cameo edition, the two sets of this Nancy Drew Readers' Club edition were released in 1959 (first set) and 1960 (second set). Twelve titles from the classic series were included, each illustrated by artist Polly Bolian and all the pages bound between boards that were noticeably larger than the normal size the series books came in. 

One of 8 internal illustrations on a spread. Art: Polly Bolian (1959) / The Hidden Window Mystery by Carolyn Keene (New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1956)

From time to time, photos of the vintage books are shared among members of an online book fan group which I joined early this year. These books are collectors' items, and though they aren't nearly as rare as copies of the mysteries that came out in the 1930s, neither are they flooding the shelves in bookshops (after all, there couldn't have been that many copies since this edition came out only in 1959 and 1960). It's no surprise that hardly any copies have made it beyond America's borders, which means it is practically nowhere in the Philippines. 

Imagine my bewilderment upon seeing the familiar cameo on a book on a local seller's page. It was a few moments of disbelief as I came to understand that it was available! What? No one has purchased it yet? I thought in delighted confusion. 

Seeing that the price would not wipe out my bank account, and banishing right away any theories as to why this hard-to-find vintage treasure was being sold for far below its worth, I asked the seller for photos.

Shortly after, I joyfully purchased it. 

Full-color frontispiece. Art: Polly Bolian (1959) / The Hidden Window Mystery by Carolyn Keene (New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1956)

The line drawings as well as the full-color artwork -- all by Polly Bolian -- are amazing. But do you know what unexpectedly charmed me the most about this 1959 release? The uncut pages. Check this out:

 

Uncut pages: part of the charm of Nancy Drew's 'Cameo' edition

These uneven edges and the quality of the paper suddenly transported me back to the big, old books I used to explore as a child in the library at home where I grew up. I think most of them belonged to my grandfather and had the same irregular edges. Those books were way bigger and heavier and were not literary books but science-oriented ones. Still, the sight of the pages on this vintage children's book sent me back to the days of climbing a bookcase with the aid of a tall antique stool and pulling out books to explore since those were my only memories of a grandfather who passed away when I was still too young to remember him.

Much as I'd love to have a few more of the Cameos in my possession, I believe I'm fortunate to have stumbled upon one! I have the original text to experience -- just as first "Carolyn Keene" Mildred Wirt Benson wrote the mystery -- complete with descriptive imagery, more "leisurely" narration, and more developed characters, just as the pre-1959 versions related the mysteries with all their rich details.

There are eight beautiful line drawings spread over 16 pages plus the magnificent full-color frontispiece to admire.

There are even the fascinating endpapers that this edition alone holds. What more can I ask for? 

So, one title of this pretty Cameo edition should be enough. Probably that will make it more cherished, that even after the passage of decades, the mere sight of the cover and the feel of its irregularly edged pages will still be met with starry-eyed wonder. 

One of 12 volumes issued as part of the Nancy Drew Readers' Club edition released in 1959 (first set) and 1960 (second set).