I have been waiting impatiently for this year's Red Cross Book Sale--waiting since October 28, 2012. Yeah, that would be when I loaded up at the sale last year. I had quite a year in 2012--bringing home a record number of 55 books. Some of my friends out on Facebook had a friendly little wager going on--how many books I'd snag this year.
At first, it looked like Ellen
was going to be the winner (70). I walked in, headed straight to the
first hardback mystery section and promptly filled my little rolling
carry-all bag (thanks Kathy...several
Christmases ago) a little over half-full. There were three more
hardback sections, five paperback mystery sections, and the clearance
section (where vintage mystery gems often lurk) yet to go. Things fell off after that...and I was beginning to think that Monica
might be right (60). I might just barely beat my last record.
But.....unless I do another round on Sunday (half-price day)...it looks
like Ryan
pretty much nailed it. 48 books and 5 Christmas CDs. Fewer
books...but A LOT of vintage authors I've been looking for. In reprint
form, rather than vintage copies , but I'll take what I can get. We'll call a betting winner once we see if I resist going back on Sunday.....
I was VERY tempted by a 1st Edition, dust-jacketed Mr. & Mrs. North book by Frances & Richard Lockridge. But I talked myself out of it....I would have had to put over half of the other books back in order to justify it. But...who knows. Maybe it's still there on the shelf and will call my name until I come back out on Sunday.
But here is this year's haul so far:
Hardback:
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett (w/dust jacket)
This Club Frowns on Murder by Albert Borowitz (w/dust jacket)
Death in a Salubrious Place by W. J. Burley (1st edition w/dust jacket)
The Coral Princess Murders by Frances Crane (1st edition w/dust jacket--prize of the shopping spree!)
Murder in Bright Red by Frances Crane (1st edition but edges stamped "Property of US Army")
The Book of the Dead/Button, Button/Date With Danger by Elizabeth Daly/Marion Bramhall/Roy Vickers (3-in-1 Detective Book Club Edition)
Top of the Heap/Night Train to Paris/ The Under Dog & Other Stories by A. A. Fair/Manning Coles/Agatha Christie [3-in-1 Detective Book Club Edition]
The Book of the Dead/Button, Button/Date With Danger by Elizabeth Daly/Marion Bramhall/Roy Vickers (3-in-1 Detective Book Club Edition)
Top of the Heap/Night Train to Paris/ The Under Dog & Other Stories by A. A. Fair/Manning Coles/Agatha Christie [3-in-1 Detective Book Club Edition]
Death in Zanzibar & Death in Kenya by M. M. Kaye [2-in-1 volume]
Paperback:
Murder Begins at Home by Delano Ames (Rue Morgue reprint)
Shadow on the Wall by H. C. Bailey (Rue Morgue reprint)
The Sound of Murder by John & Emery Bonett
The Bells of Old Bailey by Dorothy Bowers (Rue Morgue reprint)
Deed Without a Name by Dorothy Bowers (Rue Morgue reprint)
Tour de Force by Christianna Brand
Murder with Blue Ribbon by Leo Bruce [academic mystery]
Death at the Dog by Joanna Cannan (Rue Morgue reprint)
Death Finds a Foothold by Glyn Carr (Rue Morgue reprint)
Our First Murder by Torrey Chanslor (Rue Morgue reprint)
An Overdose of Death by Agatha Christie (1st New Dell printing)
Dragon's Cave by Clyde B. Clason (Rue Morgue reprint) [academic mystery]
The Man from Tibet by Clason (Rue Morgue reprint) [academic mystery]
Murder Gone Minoan by Clason (Rue Morgue Reprint) [academic mystery]
Poison Jasmine by Clason (Rue Morgue Reprint) [academic mystery]
The Purple Parrot by Clason (Rue Morgue Reprint) [academic mystery]
Only a Matter of Time by V. C. Clinton-Baddeley [academic mystery]
The Turquoise Shop by Frances Crane (Rue Morgue reprint)
Death & Letters by Elizabeth Daly [I have been hunting this one for-ev-er. I read it once upon a time from the Spencer Library & haven't found it since. Until today.]
Death & Letters by Elizabeth Daly [I have been hunting this one for-ev-er. I read it once upon a time from the Spencer Library & haven't found it since. Until today.]
Murder Is a Collector's Item by Elizabeth Dean (Rue Morgue reprint)
The Cases of Susan Dare by Mignon G. Eberhart
The Arsenic Labyrinth by Martin Edwards
Murder in a Cathedral by Ruth Dudley Edwards
The Crime & the Crystal by Elizabeth Ferrars [academic mystery]
Too Much Water by Bruce Hamilton
Ransom Game by John Buxton Hilton
Murder in the Vatican by Ann Margaret Lews [signed by author; Holmes stories]
Black-Headed Pins by Constance & Gwenyth Little
Bogmail by Patrick McGinley
How Like an Angel by Margaret Millar
Dead Men's Morris by Gladys Mitchell (Rue Morgue Reprint)
A Hearse on May-Day by Gladys Mitchell (Rue Morgue reprint)
Mortal Term by John Penn [academic mystery]
Unto the Grave by John Penn
A Will to Kill by John Penn
The Frightened Stiff by Kelley Roos (Rue Morgue Reprint)
An Old School Tie by Andrew Taylor (academic mystery)
The Adventure of the Eleven Cuff-Buttons by James Francis Thierry [one of 1st Sherlock Holmes pastiches]
A Talent for Murder by Anna Mary Wells
Anybody else want to take bets on whether I go back?
Anybody else want to take bets on whether I go back?
You should definitely go back. Sounds like they have lots of good books. I cannot believe that first ed. Frances Crane book. Just wonderful. I just went to a big sale like that and I went three times and bought around a hundred books. I will have to get myself a rolling book bag.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping I stay the winner! And I'm glad you got so many great books.
ReplyDeleteWow, great loot.
ReplyDeleteYou're going to love The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett, I know I did http://manoflabook.com/wp/?p=63
Nicely done! You had some good book karma with the Lockridge and Crane books. I bet you went back for the Lockridge book. I would! Joe and I had fun three years ago when we went to this a sale for the first time. All book sales on hold for a while, sadly.
ReplyDeleteI read The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett when it first came out. Was fascinated by the whole story of that forger/thief. You'll love it, I'm sure.
John--I didn't go back for the Lockridge (sadly). I'll probably kick myself for that periodically. But--the two Crane books were/are terrific finds. Sorry to hear that book sales are on hold for you--hope all is well.
ReplyDelete