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The Ted Scott series takes off

Dust jacket for the first Ted Scott volume, Over the Ocean to Paris (1927).

The first volume of the Ted Scott series was an obvious retelling of the first solo Transatlantic flight by Charles A. Lindbergh in May 1927.  From time to time a reference is made to how quickly the story was rushed into print.  An examination of the dates is interesting. Charles Lindbergh departed from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, […]

Ghostwriting in the Mega-Books era 3

In a further exploration of the Mega-Books writers’ guidelines from the early 1990s, some of the topics which were off limits in the Syndicate era were allowed (murder) while some topics used in early books (drugs or alcohol) were prohibited.

What the Font — 1930s Nancy Drew

DeVinne typeface used for Nancy Drew in the 1930s.

The typeface used to publish a book is of significant importance to the readability and overall success. The early Nancy Drew books, along with many other Syndicate books, used a particular typeface that was one of Edward Stratemeyer’s favorites.

Artifact — Holiday Bookselling

Part of a Grosset & Dunlap pamphlet called Best Books for Boys and Girls, 1914.

Edward Stratemeyer was more than an author of books and proprietor of a literary syndicate, he was interested and actively involved in nearly every phase of the production, publication, and promotion of his books. For several years publisher catalogs were printed and mailed after Thanksgiving upon his direction.