Ellery Queen's Awards: Ninth Series
Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1954. First Edition, First Printing.
A snapshot of the 1950s 'Golden Age' of the short story.
This Ninth Series volume showcases the winners of the prestigious annual short-story contest sponsored by Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. As a First Edition, First Printing, it serves as a vital historical record of the mid-century mystery genre, capturing the transition from classic Golden Age puzzles to the grittier, psychological suspense that began to dominate the 1950s. The collection remains a cornerstone for collectors of the Queen "Awards" run, representing the editorial excellence of the Dannay and Lee partnership.
KEY FEATURES
+++ Imprint: Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1954 (First Edition/First Printing).
+++ Contents: Sixteen prize-winning stories from the Ninth Annual Short-Story Contest.
+++ Notable Contributor: Features John Ross Macdonald, a pivotal figure in the development of the hardboiled PI novel.
+++ Dimensions: 7.5 inches tall; 276 pages.
+++ Construction: Bound in publisher's cloth with original illustrated dust jacket.
CONDITION
+++ THE BOOK: The bindings are tight and square, providing a firm structure for the 276-page text block. The text is clean and free of markings, displaying only the light, even age-toning typical of mid-century paper stock. The boards show moderate shelf handling wear, consistent with careful ownership.
+++ DUST JACKET: Very Good. The jacket remains vibrant but is noted as having a piece missing (specific location per client inspection). Now preserved in a clear, archival protective sleeve to prevent further wear.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE —
The Ellery Queen Awards series acted as the ultimate tastemaker for the mystery field. By 1954, the contest was internationally renowned, drawing over 120,000 entries in previous years. The inclusion of authors like John Ross Macdonald—who was just beginning to redefine the private eye subgenre—demonstrates Ellery Queen’s sharp eye for emerging literary talent that would shape the next half-century of crime fiction.
SUBJECTS: Mystery Fiction, Short Stories, Literary Contests, Mid-Century Americana, Crime, Suspense, Anthologies.
Item #21881
Price: $19.95
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