Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Recents Finds - Nancy Drew Reporter Theater Program


I recently purchased this old theater program which features an ad for Nancy Drew Reporter inside - the blurb (click on it for larger view) states, "Nancy Drew, the demon detective, has turned reporter! Don't miss her latest and swellest adventure!" Another slogan, "Nancy wants a scoop a day...and two scoops on her sundae!"

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Sleuth Shop Spotlight - Clever Nancy Drew Goodies


A sampling of goodies you can find in our Nancy Drew Sleuth Shop - where we sell licensed Nancy Drew merchandise, vintage books and collectibles, and our own officially licensed merchandise. Select the standard shipping option when checking out to pay just one flat rate shipping no matter how much you purchase. Also, orders over $100 (pre-ship total to US addresses) get free shipping to celebrate the 85th Anniversary of Nancy Drew this year.

 
 
 

Monday, September 28, 2015

Mildred Wirt Benson - Digtial Archive Highlights #5


Highlights from Mildred Wirt Benson's Archive
University of IA: Women's Archive, Digital Collection
Image from Univ. of IA Women's Archive

Located at the University of Iowa's Digital archive is this clipping from Millie's memory book filled with clippings and other fun stuff from her university days.

I'm currently writing a biography on Millie Benson - visit the Mildred A. Wirt Benson Website for more details and research information.

Contact Me (Jennifer Fisher): nancydrewsleuth@aol.com

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Nancy Drew Drewtique - Cleverly Handcrafted Gifts


Nancy Drew Sleuths and other Nancy fans have been crafting some clever Nancy Drew crafts for The Drewtique located at The Sleuth Shop. You can purchase these consigned items there which benefits those who create them so cleverly - some use the great Nancy Drew fabric and others images of Nancy Drew - all under official licensing too, unlike other non-licensed items on the market. Shop at The Drewtique for our great selection from jewelry to bags and cases, bookmarks to car decals, key chains to pillows, quilted items to book boxes and much more.   

 
 
 

Friday, September 25, 2015

Nancy Drew at Cafe Press


Here's a sampling of all the neat items you can get at our Cafe Press Nancy Drew Shop - all officially licensed by Nancy Drew Sleuths! Spend $45 or more in our shop - and use code SHIP6ZG to get free shipping through 12-31-15! 

 
 
 

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Secrets from the Syndicate Files #2


Over 300 boxes were donated in the mid-1990s to the New York Public Library from Simon & Schuster--containing the business papers/books/artwork from the Stratemeyer Syndicate which they purchased in 1984 - and it's a great resource for researchers like myself who are working on projects, like my Millie Benson Biography! I will be sharing interesting historical items from the Syndicate Files as I work my way through my research for the book.

Millie wrote book 12, The Message in the Hollow Oak in Iowa on a family visit and once the Syndicate received it and looked it over, they wrote to her on 8-11-1935, "We appreciate your promptness in mailing this story to us, and we think it one of the most interesting, though somewhat different from the usual Nancy Drew. Yet Nancy seems to be the same ingenious  and clever sleuth throughout, whether she be at home or in the Canadian forests."

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

The Nancy Drew Board Game


Have you got The Nancy Drew Board Game yet? I purchased this game as a part of the original Kickstarter campaign - it's trivia based and fun. You can now purchase it at the Nancy Drew Board Game website. Members of Nancy Drew Sleuths will be playing the game at this year's Drew-O-Ween in October.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Sleuth Shop Spotlight - Clever Nancy Drew Goodies


A sampling of goodies you can find in our Nancy Drew Sleuth Shop - where we sell licensed Nancy Drew merchandise, vintage books and collectibles, and our own officially licensed merchandise. Select the standard shipping option when checking out to pay just one flat rate shipping no matter how much you purchase. Also, orders over $100 (pre-ship total to US addresses) get free shipping to celebrate the 85th Anniversary of Nancy Drew this year.

 
 
 

Monday, September 21, 2015

Mildred Wirt Benson - Digtial Archive Highlights #4


Highlights from Mildred Wirt Benson's Archive
University of IA: Women's Archive, Digital Collection
Image from Univ. of IA Women's Archive

Located at the University of Iowa's Digital archive is this fabulous image of Millie doing a swan dive over the Iowa River.

I'm currently writing a biography on Millie Benson - visit the Mildred A. Wirt Benson Website for more details and research information.

Contact Me (Jennifer Fisher): nancydrewsleuth@aol.com

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Nancy Drew Drewtique - Cleverly Handcrafted Gifts


Nancy Drew Sleuths and other Nancy fans have been crafting some clever Nancy Drew crafts for The Drewtique located at The Sleuth Shop. You can purchase these consigned items there which benefits those who create them so cleverly - some use the great Nancy Drew fabric and others images of Nancy Drew - all under official licensing too, unlike other non-licensed items on the market. Shop at The Drewtique for our great selection from jewelry to bags and cases, bookmarks to car decals, key chains to pillows, quilted items to book boxes and much more.   

 
 
 

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Series Books: Scary Things Kids (& Adults) Do #2


Cherry Ames - Nurse From Hell!

Someone's annoying little brother had fun with this one!

Friday, September 18, 2015

Nancy Drew at Cafe Press


Here's a sampling of all the neat items you can get at our Cafe Press Nancy Drew Shop - all officially licensed by Nancy Drew Sleuths! Spend $45 or more in our shop - and use code SHIP6ZG to get free shipping through 12-31-15! 

 
 
 

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Nancy Drew Merchandise from Litographs


New from Litographs are the Nancy Drew print, tee, and tote - the background is made up of the first Nancy Drew book, The Secret of the Old Clock, which is reprinted over the entire background. Grab your magnifying glass and get reading! 

Take a Nancy Drew's Guide to the Career You Should Actually Have Quiz from Litographs to see what kind of career you're best suited for based on the popular Nancy Drew series - taking the quiz also nets you a discount code to save on a purchase today (9-17-15)!

 

Mildred Wirt Benson Quotes #2


Many people who knew Mildred "Millie" Benson have a "Millie Story" - I'm saving most of those for the book, but there's also some great Millie quotes! I wanted to share some of these with you all as I'm plugging through my research files and writing my Biography on Millie Benson.

Millie: "I'd go to these archaeological sites and it was pretty difficult to get there and the easiest way to get there was to hire a bush pilot and he'd go in and he'd land in a field and sometimes I, I think it's a miracle that I ever escaped a crash but I did. And, we'd fly in and I'd get different bush pilots to fly me into these sites and I just got so that I liked it and it was rather exciting."

--2000 Interview by WGTE for The Storied Life of Millie Benson - regarding her numerous trips to Central America Yucatan sites back in the 1960s at a time when sites were rather wild and untamed

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Sold at eBay - Nancy Drew Lilac Inn


A first printing Nancy Drew sold at eBay recently - The Mystery at Lilac Inn - for $4302.22. Pricey, yes, and would have to be priced up more to resell. Let's break it down.

Condition: DJ is very poor - see all the water staining and possible mildew? Unfortunately the seller didn't show the full DJ so I'm not sure how much wear and tear it has. But these kind of flaws devalue a book greatly. Why? We'll, it's got imperfections--in this case huge imperfections. Plus, if one were to invest this much in a book of this condition, in my opinion, it's an expensive upgrade. You're always going to be wanting to upgrade this, so why not invest your money in one in better condition? This, as a general rule, is how I make my purchase choices--it's easier to resell a book in better condition if you end up upgrading. So, it's risky.

The book is another story--look at how chewed up it is. Definitely due to the water/moisture damage in part, but there could be mildew. Mildew spreads to other books, though there are ways to try and get rid of it. I don't have a first printing of this book in my collection, but for the above reasons, this is why I avoided this auction, that and the high price.

Farah's 12th Guide to the Nancy Drews values the DJ at 3500.00--that price, however,  is for a book in very good condition, little flaws. So this book sold well above guide and condition value.
 
 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Sleuth Shop Spotlight - Clever Nancy Drew Goodies


What decade is your Nancy Drew? A sampling of our classic Nancy Drew decades (30s, 40s, 50s, 60s & 70s) clutch bags you can find in our Nancy Drew Sleuth Shop - where we sell licensed Nancy Drew merchandise, vintage books and collectibles, and our own officially licensed merchandise. Select the standard shipping option when checking out to pay just one flat rate shipping no matter how much you purchase. Also, orders over $100 (pre-ship total to US addresses) get free shipping to celebrate the 85th Anniversary of Nancy Drew this year.