B A U M A N R A R E B O O K S S U M M E R 2 0 2 3 11 "PERFECTLY PITCHED TO BOYS' FANTASIES": FIRST EDITION OF HUNTING FOR HIDDEN GOLD, 1928, IN ORIGINAL DUST JACKET 11. DIXON, Franklin W. Hunting for Hidden Gold. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, (1928). 12mo, original red cloth, original dust jacket. $5800 First edition, "rst issue, of the "fth book in the popular Hardy Boys mystery series, with frontispiece illustration, in original dust jacket. Edward Stratemeyer oversaw the publication of numerous children's book series through his extremely e$cient and pro!table literary Syndicate. In 1927, Stratemeyer created "the !rst of two series that would introduce three generations of readers to the joys of mystery stories and outshine and outsell all his previous creations. That series, of course, was the Hardy Boys. In conjunction with Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys series accounts for over half of the Syndicate's estimated sales of roughly 200,000,000 copies. Both inspired countless imitators (none of which have attained similar success) and made their characters household names" (Johnson, 141-42). "The Hardy Boys books have always appeared under Stratemeyer's made-up byline, 'Franklin W. Dixon,' but credit for their singular success belongs with Leslie McFarlane" (New York Times). "McFarlane is widely credited for creating the literary style and characters' personalities that served as the template for the series, and he also served as its most proli!c author, writing 20 books in the 58-volume series" (McMaster Daily News)—including Hunting for Hidden Gold. First issue, with publisher's advertisements at rear and on verso of white-spined dust jacket as called for. Carpentieri & Mular 1928A-1. Book bright, clean and !ne. Dust jacket with paper reinforcement along edges on verso, closed tear to foot of spine, chip to rear panel at "ap fold, but bright and clean, front panel vivid and intact. A lovely copy.
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