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I love collecting books. I am a big fan of regional history books especially Texana! In my journey to add books to my personal collection I often end up with other collectible books that need to be saved and added to others collections. That is why I am on here as a private book collector. To spread the love of books and get them to their next home to be enjoyed.Up for consideration today is a true vintage treasure—a signed 1965 First Edition hardcover of Mystery of the Grinning Idol by Joan Lowery Nixon. What makes this piece exceptionally fun for a Texas-focused library is that Nixon, who would go on to become an absolute titan of children\'s mystery literature, was living and writing in Corpus Christi, Texas, when this was published!The front cover (11814.jpg) features striking blue and green artwork by Alvin Smith, showing the titular idol. The blue spine (11815.jpg) remains solid and vibrant, while the back cover (11816.jpg) displays a stylized illustration of a Mexican mission under a full moon. Inside the front dust jacket flap (11817.jpg), the original $3.00 U.S. retail price remains unclipped.The most remarkable feature of this copy is found on the front free endpaper (also visible in 11817.jpg and 11818.jpg): a beautiful, hand-written inscription in blue ink that reads, \"With best wishes to Peter, Christopher and Anne from Joan Lowery Nixon October 2, 1965\". The clean title page (11819.jpg) leads directly to the copyright and dedication pages (11820.jpg and 11821.jpg), which confirm the 1965 copyright by Criterion Books. Finally, the back dust jacket flap (11822.jpg) provides a wonderful early author photo and biography, noting her home in Corpus Christi.Author Summary
Joan Lowery Nixon (1927–2003) is widely considered the grande dame of young adult mysteries. She is the only author in history to win the prestigious Edgar Allan Poe Award four times for Best Juvenile/Young Adult Mystery. While she went on to publish over 130 books during her long career, her early work was heavily shaped by her time in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she taught creative writing and wrote her very first novels.Publisher Summary
Criterion Books was a New York-based publisher active in the mid-20th century that specialized in acquiring and printing high-quality juvenile fiction, educational literature, and translated European works for young readers in the United States.3 Fun Facts About the Book
An Incredible Milestone: Mystery of the Grinning Idol is only the second book Joan Lowery Nixon ever published (her first, Mystery of Hurricane Castle, came out just one year prior in 1964).A Launch-Year Autograph: The inscription in this copy is dated \"October 2, 1965.\" Finding an autograph dated the exact same year as the book\'s initial publication is an incredibly rare treat for collectors of her work.The Texas Tie-In: As noted on the dust jacket, Nixon was an active den mother for a Camp Fire group in Corpus Christi, Texas, during the time she wrote this novel!
