The Hardy Boys Original Series

In 1926, the founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate, Edward Stratemeyer, conceived the idea for the Hardy Boys. He created the plot outlines and then advertised for ghostwriters to complete the stories. Most notable among these writers is Leslie McFarlane, who wrote volumes 1-16 and 22-24 and is generally regarded as by far the best ghostwriter of the series. The first three volumes of the series were released as a "breeder" set in mid-May 1927. There were five more stories published in the following two years. After that, new titles were released in an almost unvarying pattern of one per year for the next fifty years.

Starting in 1959, the Stratemeyer Syndicate engaged in a 15 year project to revise the first 38 titles in the series. The earlier books were printed from copper plates which over the years had degraded so that copies printed from them were of poor quality. The revisions ranged from slight alteration to completely new stories. All the stories were reduced in length (all stories were now the same approximate length), had obsolete prose updated and had racial stereotypes (which appeared in many of the early volumes) removed. The quality of the revised stories is generally so far below that of the originals that it can only be considered as an act of literary vandalism.

In 1979, after 52 years and 59 titles (which includes Detective Handbook), Grosset & Dunlap lost the rights to publish any new Hardy Boys tales in a protracted court battle with the Syndicate. They did retain the right to continue publishing these 59 titles (refered to by most Hardy Boys enthusiasts as the canon) and continue to do so to this day, despite several changes in ownership (today it is part of Penguin Random House through its subsidiary Penguin Group.)

In 1991 Applewood Books began to publish first edition facsimiles of the early volumes. Dust jackets on earlier volumes are marred by an ugly "Just As You Remember Them" logo on the front cover. Thankfully, this was moved to the spine on later volumes. Beginning with volume 12, Footprints Under the Window, Applewood abandoned its practice of making facsimiles when it continued to use red cloth binding despite the fact that this title never came in that format. In 2007 Applewood announced it was not renewing its agreement with Simon & Schuster and would not continue publishing Hardy Boys books.

In 1962, Grosset & Dunlap changed the format of the books from dust jackets to picture covers (PC). Four original text stories (volumes 1, 2, 11 & 14) are not known to exist in picture cover format. Three revised text books (volumes 1, 2 & 14) were issued with dust jackets.

Early editions (1927-1932) with dust jackets are very scarce and are highly prized and sought after by collectors and a true first edition of The Tower Treasure is the Hardy collector's Holy Grail. Additionally, the first edition of volume 11, While The Clock Ticked, is extremely rare and perhaps the most valuable of all Hardy Boys books.

First editions of any volume, first editions of new cover art, first editions in PC format and first editions of revised texts are also very desirable and tend to bring higher prices. First editions of books with modified (not revised) text are sought by Hardy completists.

Authors are known from signed releases found in the Stratemeyer Syndicate Archives at the NY Public Library. The archives are occasionally contradictory and other documents indicate different authors for some titles. In some cases this conflict may be due to manuscripts being rejected by the Syndicate. These will be noted where applicable but the signed release forms are usually the best indicator of true authorship.

From 2005 until circa 2013 Grosset & Dunlap reprinted volumes 59 thru 66 of the Digests using the original art in the Flashlight picture cover binding style.

Starting in 2023 the early original text versions began entering the public domain and started showing up on Project Gutenberg and in paperback editions of varying quality.

01: The Tower Treasure - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1927 Leslie McFarlane (214 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Edward Stratemeyer
Revised: 1959 Harriet S. Adams (180 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Harriet S. Adams
Revision: Altered
2 in 1 edition of "The Tower Treasure" & "The House On The Cliff" - For Sale
Art: 1927 Walters S. Rogers (modified 1932) - Frontispiece: W.S. Rogers
Art: 1944 A.O. Scott - Frontispiece: Stricker
Art: 1959 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Art: 2016 Brian Edward Miller
Notes: Original text not known in picture cover (PC) format.
The Hardy Boys solve the theft of Hurd Applegate's treasure (not stamps!) by Red Jackley.
Description of current edition: A dying criminal confesses that his loot has been stored "in the tower." Both towers of the looted mansion are searched in vain. It remains for the Hardy boys to make an astonishing discovery that clears up the mystery and clears the name of a friend's father.
Orignal text available free on Project Gutenberg

2: The House On The Cliff - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1927 Leslie McFarlane (212 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Edward Stratemeyer
Revised: 1959 Harriet S. Adams (180 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Harriet S. Adams
Revision: Altered
2 in 1 edition of "The Tower Treasure" & "The House On The Cliff" - For Sale
Art: 1927 W.S. Rogers - Frontispiece: W.S. Rogers
Art: 1945 A.O. Scott - Frontispiece: Stricker
Art: 1959 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Julian Paul
Art: 2016 Matthew Taylor
Notes: In my opinion, the original text is the best story in the canon.
Original text not known in PC format.
Revised edition with "This Volume Free" overprinted on DJ is scarce.
The Hardy Boys break up a drug smuggling ring in a spooky old mansion high on the cliffs overlooking Barmet Bay.
Description of current edition: Frank and Joe Hardy are investigating a mysterious old house high on the cliffs above Barmet Bay when they are frightened off by a scream. The boys return to the apparently haunted house when they make a connection between the place and a smuggling case their father is working on. When their father goes missing, they have to investigate the caves beneath the house and confront the smugglers.
Orignal text available free on Project Gutenberg

03: The Secret Of The Old Mill - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1927 Leslie McFarlane (212 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Edward Stratemeyer
Revised: 1962 Alistair Hunter (174 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Harriet S. Adams
Revision: Drastically Altered
Art: 1927 W.S. Rogers - Frontispiece: W.S. Rogers
Art: 1944 A.O. Scott - Frontispiece: Stricker
Art: 1960 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Art: 2016 Jonathan Bartlett
Notes: Original text PC editions are harder to find.
The Hardy Boys break up a counterfeiting ring centered at an old mill on the outskirts of Bayport.
Counterfeit money is in circulation, and the limit is reached when Mrs. Hardy takes some from a stranger. Then the Hardy boys and their high school chums are warned to stay away from the old mill. Their curiosity plunges them into peril of the most unexpected kind.
Description of current edition: "Drop case or else danger for you and your family." This warning addressed to Fenton Hardy not only alarms the famous investigator and his detective sons, but also puzzles them, because Mr. Hardy is working on more than one case. Which one prompted the threat? When more ominous warnings follow, Frank and Joe suspect there is a link between the counterfeiting case they are investigating and a secret case their father cannot discuss since it involves national security. The key to the solution of both cases appears to be hidden in the old Turner mill, constructed in frontier days but now a gatehouse for Elekton Controls Limited engaged in manufacturing top-secret electronic parts for space missiles. But the millhouse is occupied by two Elekton employees who are hostile to Frank and Joe and refuse to allow the young detectives to question the company's fourteen-year-old messenger boy who unknowingly may be in possession of some vital clues. Determined to learn the secret of the old mill, Frank and Joe employ a clever ruse to gain entrance, only to find themselves trapped in a subterranean passageway. How the young detectives extricate themselves from this dangerous situation and unravel both mysteries will keep the reader tense with suspense.
Orignal text available free on Project Gutenberg

04: The Missing Chums - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1928 Leslie McFarlane (214 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Edward Stratemeyer
Revised: 1962 James Buechler (175 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Harriet S. Adams
Revision: Drastically Altered
Art: 1928 W.S. Rogers - Frontispiece: W.S. Rogers
Art: 1944 A.O. Scott - Frontispiece: A.O. Scott
Art: 1959 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Art: 2016 Ryan Brinkerhoff
Notes: In 1961 the text was slightly modified to correct typos.
Original text PC editions are harder to find.
Bank robbers pursued by Mr. Hardy mistakenly kidnap Chet and Biff, leaving it up to the Hardy Boys to solve the crime and capture the bad guys on Blacksnake Island.
Description of current edition: Something is amiss in Bayport, the Hardy boys' home town. First, there is trouble in Shantytown, then a strange black craft tries to ram Joe and Frank's boat, the Sleuth. That night the local bank is robbed. And later that same night the young detectives' pals, Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, mysteriously disappear after a masquerade party. Are the events related? And do they emanate from Shantytown-or from Hermit Island, an isolated land mass inhabited for many years by a strange recluse? Is it significant that both the missing boys and the bank robbers wore masquerade masks? Or is it more important that Chet was wearing a costume identical to Frank's? One by one, Frank and Joe tackle the clues, hardly daring to think what might have happened to their missing friends. But it is not until the two brothers confront the kidnapers that the overall pattern begins to emerge. The kidnapers ruthlessly plan to force Frank and Joe's famous detective father into choosing between justice and his sons! How the Hardy boys use all their courage and skill to outwit the criminals provides an exciting climax to one of the most baffling mysteries the young detectives have ever encountered.

05: Hunting For Hidden Gold - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1928 Leslie McFarlane (214 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Edward Stratemeyer
Revised: 1963 Alistair Hunter (177 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Harriet S. Adams
Revision: Drastically Altered
Art: 1928 W.S. Rogers - Frontispiece: W.S. Rogers
Art: 1944 Stricker - Frontispiece: Stricker
Art: 1959 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Art: 2017 Bryan Edward Miller - Design: Mallory Grigg
Notes: In 1940 the text on page 214 was modified to add the title of the next book.
Jim Lawrence edited and did much rewriting of the revised story.
The Hardy Boys head west to reclaim old miner Jadbury Wilson's lost treasure of gold and defeat Black Pepper and his gang.
Description of current edition: Timber wolves, a Rocky Mountain blizzard, and a mine cave-in are only a few of the perils Frank and Joe Hardy encounter during their search for the principal members of a notorious gang responsible for a payroll robbery.
In the old Montana mining camp of Lucky Lode, the young detectives puzzle over a series of mysterious events. A piano-playing ghost haunts the long-abandoned dance hall. Eerie blue lights flash from the hilltop cemetery in the dark of night. Strange men arrange a meeting at Shadow the Bear. A suspect disappears through a curtain of frozen ice.
How are these events related to the men who kidnapped the boys in Chicago? Who booby-trapped the helicopter which flew the young detectives to the ghost town? And what ever happened to Bart Dawson who seemingly deserted his gold-mining partners twenty-five years ago?
Clue by clue, Frank and Joe cleverly fit into place the scattered pieces of this dangerous puzzle and come up with the astonishing solution.

06: The Shore Road Mystery - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1928 Leslie McFarlane (212 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Edward Stratemeyer
Revised: 1964 David Grambs (178 pages) - For Sale
Outline: David Grambs
Revision: Completely Different
Art: 1928 W.S. Rogers - Frontispiece: W.S. Rogers
Art: 1944 A.O. Scott - Frontispiece: Stricker
Art: 1960 Rudy Nappi
Art: 1964 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Art: 2017 Matthew Taylor - Design: Mallory Grigg
The Hardy Boys use a Trojan Horse stategy to solve a car theft ring centered on the Shore Road.
Revision: The Hardy Boys help Jack Dodd and his father locate a missing treasure.
Description of current edition: When the Hardy boys eagerly agree to assist their friend Jack Dodd and his father in locating a family treasure, the two young detectives are unaware of the baffling complications that will arise. The only clue to the long-lost treasure is a cryptic message written by a Pilgrim ancestor. But when Mr. Dodd and Jack are accused of stealing cars and then mysteriously disappear, Frank and Joe are confronted with a triple mystery. Have their friends run away to avoid the law? Or are they secretly hunting for the treasure? Or have they been kidnapped? Despite mounting evidence and the bitter suspicions of the townspeople, the Hardys are convinced that the Dodds are the victims of a sinister plot. Clues that Frank and Joe uncover, with the aid of their jolly, plump friend, Chet Morton, lead to the secret hideout of a ruthless gang of criminals. Deadly road traps and aerial ambush, a spider man and a suspect who carries a menacing cane harass the young detectives as they seek the triple solution to this perplexing and exciting mystery.

07: The Secret Of The Caves - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1929 Leslie McFarlane (210 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Edward Stratemeyer
Revised: 1964 Andrew Svenson (175 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Revision: Completely Different
Art: 1929 W.S. Rogers - Frontispiece: W.S. Rogers
Art: 1944 A.O. Scott - Frontispiece: A.O. Scott
Art: 1960 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Art: 2017 Jonathan Bartlett - Design: Mallory Grigg
Notes: In 1940 the text on page 210 was altered to include the title of the next book.
The Hardy Boys locate the missing Todham Todd, an amnesiac living a bizarre existence in the caves by Barmet Bay.
Revision: The Hardy Boys locate a missing college professor and solve the sabotage of a local radar station.
Description of current edition: Triggered by the disappearance of a brilliant young professor, this mystery takes the Hardy boys first to Kenworthy College, where they find a puzzling message on an examination paper. But then their pal Chet Morton, with his new metal detector, and buddy Biff Hooper, turn up a clue that sends the young detectives on an exciting search in another direction-to the Honeycomb Caves, on the seacoast. A hot-tempered hermit who considers the caves his private domain complicates this seacoast mystery and challenges every sleuthing skill Frank and Joe possess. The case that their famous detective father is working on-suspected sabotage at the new radar station near the Hardys' home town of Bayport-further complicates the mystery, which grows more baffling with every chapter. After many dangerous encounters, including a nearly disastrous patrol on the stormy ocean, Frank and Joe discover a powerful searchlight in one of the craggy caverns along the seacoast. In the brilliant white glare of the searchlight, the startling secret of the caves is dramatically revealed.

08: The Mystery Of Cabin Island - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1929 Leslie McFarlane (214 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Edward Stratemeyer
Revised: 1966 Andrew Svenson * (178 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Anne Shultes
Revision: Altered
Art: 1929 W.S. Rogers - Frontispiece: W.S. Rogers
Art: 1944 A.O. Scott - Frontispiece: A.O. Scott
Art: 1960 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Art: 2017 Ryan Brinkerhoff - Design: Mallory Grigg
Notes: In 1940 the text on page 213 was altered to include the title of the next book.
* Anne Shultes wrote a manuscript for the revised edition which was rejected by Syndicate editor, Anne Hagen, who then requested that Svenson take over.
This is probably the most popular story among fans.
The Hardy Boys solve the mystery of Elroy Jefferson's missing stamp collection while camping on Jefferson's Cabin Island retreat on their Christmas vacation.
Description of current edition: THE HARDY BOYS are elated over their good luck when wealthy Elroy Jefferson invites them to spend Christmas vacation at his private retreat on Cabin Island. But when Frank and Joe make a reconnaissance trip in their iceboat the Sea Gull to the island, a belligerent stranger orders them off. Why? Before twenty-four hours have passed, the Hardys find themselves involved in two mysteries: the first concerns the recent disappearance of Mr. Jefferson's grandson, Johnny; the second, the baffling theft of a priceless collection of antique medals which took place two years ago. The young detectives, with their pals Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, pursue both cases on the icebound, snow- covered island. Sabotage to the Sea Gull, danger to themselves, and a ghostly prowler do not daunt Frank and Joe in their search for Johnny Jefferson and for clues to the stolen antique medals. How the teen-age investigators outwit a ruthless foe and succeed in solving both mysteries makes for mounting suspense in this brisk-paced adventure.

09: The Great Airport Mystery - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1930 Leslie McFarlane (210 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Edward Stratemeyer
Revised: 1965 Tom Mulvey (175 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revision: Completely Different
Art: 1930 W.S. Rogers - Frontispiece: W.S. Rogers
Art: 1944 Stricker - Frontispiece: Stricker
Art: 1960 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Notes: In 1940 the text on page 209 was altered to include the title of the next book.
Jim Lawrence wrote the precis and Harriet S. Adams wrote the outline for the revised story.
The Hardy Boys thwart a mail robbery attempt by their enemy, drunken mail pilot Giles Ducroy.
Revised: The Boys solve the theft of valuable electronics parts containing platinum.
Description of current edition: Valuable electronic parts containing platinum are being stolen from shipments made by Stanwide Mining Equipment Company's cargo planes, and Frank and Joe Hardy are called upon to assist their world-renowned detective father solve the baffling case. At Stanwide the boys pose as employees, and become suspicious of their boss's hostility toward them. Is he involved in the racket? And what is the truth behind the plane crash at sea in which Clint Hill, chief pilot for Stanwide, was killed? Frank and Joe launch an aerial search for clues to the platinum thieves' hideout, believing that they will also uncover the mystery behind Hill's accident. The puzzling trail of clues leads the young sleuths to an uninhabited Caribbean island, near the scene of the plane crash-then to a mountaintop in Montana and a danger-filled show-down with the band of thieves. But the final discovery-and most startling and exciting revelation of all-is made in the boys' home town of Bayport. Franklin W. Dixon fans will find suspense, action, and many breath-taking flying episodes in this thrilling story.

10: What Happened At Midnight - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1931 Leslie McFarlane (213 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Edna Stratemeyer
Revised: 1967 Tom Mulvey (173 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Tom Mulvey
Revision: Drastically Altered
Art: 1931 W.S. Rogers - Frontispiece: W.S. Rogers
Art: 1945 A new frontispiece by A.O. Scott
Art: 1946 New cover art by unknown artist (Paul Laune?).
Art: 1967 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Notes: In 1941 the text on page 213 was altered to include the title of the next book.
Jim Lawrence edited and did extensive rewriting on the revision.
The Hardy Boys break up the Taffy Marr jewel smuggling ring.
Description of current edition: FRANK and Joe Hardy receive an unusual assignment from their detective father. They are to "break into" the house of a Bayport neighbor, Malcolm Wright, and retrieve a top-secret invention that the scientist had hidden in his study before leaving for California. The invention is in danger of being stolen, and the boys race against time to beat the thieves at their own game. But the young detectives soon discover that they are involved in a mystery far greater in scope than just retrieving the invention. Their investigations put them on the trail of a dangerous gang of jewel thieves and smugglers. When Joe is kidnapped, this incident starts Frank off on a chase that almost ends disastrously for him and his pals. The exciting capture of several members of the gang during a stormy night on Barmet Bay and a perilous encounter with the insidious Anchor Pete concludes one of the most complicated cases of the Hardys' career.

11: While The Clock Ticked - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1932 Leslie McFarlane (213 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Edna Stratemeyer
Revised: 1962 James Buechler (174 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Harriet S. Adams, Grace Grote, Andrew Svenson
Revision: Altered
Art: 1932 J. Clemens Gretter (Gretta) - Frontispiece: Gretta
Art: 1944 A new frontispiece by A.O. Scott
Art: 1950 Bill Gillies - Frontispiece: Scott
Art: 1962 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Notes: Original text not known in PC format.
In 1940 the text on page 212 was altered to include the title of the next book.
Crazed Amos Wandy is threatening Raymond Dalrymple. The Hardy Boys solve the mystery of the secret locked room in Dalrymple's spooky mansion.
Description of current edition: A banker who has been receiving threatening notes enlists the help of the Hardy boys. Before long, the young sleuths find themselves entangled in the investigation of a notorious band of thieves.

12: Footprints Under The Window - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1933 Leslie McFarlane (218 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Edna Stratemeyer
Revised: 1965 David Grambs (177 pages) - For Sale
Outline: David Grambs
Revision: Completely Different
Art: 1933 J. Clemens Gretter (Gretta) - Frontispiece: Gretta
Art: 1944 A new frontispiece by A.O. Scott
Art: 1950 Bill Gillies - Frontispiece: Scott
Art: 1965 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Notes: In 1940 the text on page 217 was altered to include the title of the next book.
The Hardy Boys break up a ring smuggling and extorting illegal Chinese aliens.
Revision: The Hardy Boys foil a plot to steal a top-secret instrument vital to the space program.
Description of current edition: A plot to steal a top-secret instrument vital to the United States space program poses a challenging case for Frank and Joe Hardy. After rescuing a South American stowaway who mutters a warning about "Footprints " and then vanishes, Frank and Joe discover that documents belonging to their famous detective father are missing and that footprints linger under a window. The young detective's search for the diabolical mastermind of the "Footprints" spy ring takes them on a flight to a group of islands off the coast of South America.

13: The Mark On The Door - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1934 Leslie McFarlane (219 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1967 Tom Mulvey (175 pages) - For Sale
Revision: Drastically Altered
Outline: Harriet Adams
Art: 1934 J. Clemens Gretter (Gretta) - Frontispiece: Gretta (frontispiece removed in 1947)
Art: 1950 Bill Gillies
Art: 1967 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Notes: Revised text PC editions with the Gillies artwork are harder to find.
The Hardy Boys and Mr. Hardy travel to Mexico to locate a missing witness in an oil rights trial.
Description of current edition: In their motorboat the Sleuth Frank and Joe Hardy search Barmet Bay for a dangerous stranger who has stolen a valuable boat. Suddenly, in the eerie fog, they spot the craft drifting aimlessly out to sea. What happens next starts the young detectives and their pal Chet Morton on an intriguing adventure that takes them to Mexico and into the comparatively unexplored desert and mountain regions of Baja California.

14: The Hidden Harbor Mystery - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1935 Leslie McFarlane (219 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Edna Stratemeyer
Revised: 1961 James Buechler (177 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Grace Grote
Revision: Drastically Altered
Art: 1935 J. Clemens Gretter (Gretta) - Frontispiece: Gretta (frontispiece removed in 1947)
Art: 1950 Bill Gillies
Art: 1962 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Notes: In 1940 the text on page 218 was modified to include the title of the next book.
Original text not known in PC format. The dust-jacket edition of the revised text is scarce.
The Hardy Boys travel south to end the long-standing Rand-Blackstone feud.
Description of current edition: The boys once again have jumped into the thick of a complicated mystery. Samuel Blackstone and his brother Ruel Rand live on adjacent properties, and it appears that one of them is out to hurt the other because they are both attacked. Frank and Joe soon learn that treasure is rumored to be hidden between the two properties, and as they investigate, they learn that others are involved in the apparent plot between the two brothers. Spooky mansions, secret passages and rooms, mysterious characters, and a monster provide an enjoyable atmosphere to this Hardy Boys mystery.

15: The Sinister Sign Post - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1936 Leslie McFarlane (215 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1968 Tom Mulvey (175 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Tom Mulvey
Revision: Completely Different
Art: 1936 J. Clemens Gretter (Gretta) - Frontispiece: Gretta (frontispiece changed to plain paper in 1943)
Art: 1950 Bill Gillies (frontispiece: Gretta)
Art: 1968 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Notes: McFarlane was originally going to pass on writing this novel but changed his mind when he realized that no other author had as yet written a Hardy Boys book.
In 1940 the text on page 213 was altered to include the title of the next book.
Revised text title changed to The Sinister Signpost
The Hardy Boys locate a missing race horse and thwart the destructive plans of the insane Vilnoff.
Revision: The Boys investigate mysterious auto racing accidents and the kidnapping of a race horse.
Description of current edition: In one of the most dangerous and intriguing cases of their careers, Frank and Joe Hardy help their father investigate a series of mysterious car accidents. Each of the drivers had seen a signpost marked DANGER shortly before his accident. The young detectives investigate, only to discover that the signposts have vanished. The attempted theft of a secret experimental motor and the kidnapping of a famous race horse are part of this thrilling case, which proves to be as sinister as the signposts themselves.

16: A Figure In Hiding - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1937 Leslie McFarlane (212 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Edna Squier (nee Stratemeyer)
Revised: 1965 James Lawrence (176 pages) - For Sale
Outline: James Lawrence
Revision: Completely Different
Art: 1937 Paul Laune - Frontispiece: Laune
Art: 1962 John Leone - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Notes: In 1941 the text on page 211 was altered to include the title of the next book.
The Hardy Boys foil the fake eye surgery "Eye Syndicate" of quack Dr. Grafton.
Revision: The Hardy Boys smash the "Evil Eye" (aka "The Goggler Gang") theft ring.
Description of current edition: A blind peddler's warning and a weird glass eye plunge Frank and Joe Hardy into one of the most baffling cases they have ever tackled. The young detectives' investigation takes them to a walled estate guarded by savage dogs, where a wealthy businessman is hiding out in fear for his life. In a climax that will hold the reader spellbound with suspense, Frank and Joe find themselves trapped in a sinister house of mystery where there seems to be no escape!

17: The Secret Warning - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1938 John Button (220 pages)
Outline: Edna Squier (nee Stratemeyer)
Revised: 1966 James Lawrence (176 pages) - For Sale
Outline: James Lawrence
Revision: Completely Different
Art: 1938 Paul Laune - Frontispiece: Laune (frontispiece removed in 1947)
Art: 1962 John Leone
Art: 1966 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Notes: In 1941 the text on page 219 was altered to include the title of the next book.
The Hardy Boys go deep sea diving to recover the treasure from the sunken "Katawa" and foil the plans of the thuggish Gus Kuntz.
Revised: The Hardy Boys investigate the strange disappearance of an ancient Egyptian artifact.
Description of current edition: Strange events involve Frank and Joe Hardy in a mystery which shrouds an ancient treasure-the golden head of the Pharaoh Rhamaton IV. The owner of the million-dollar golden Pharaoh's head claims it was aboard the freighter Katawa, which sank not far from Whalebone Island. But suspicious developments indicate that Mehmet Zufar may be trying to defraud the shipping line's insurance company. Frank and Joe enthusiastically accept the challenge of their famous detective father to assist him in investigating the complex case for Transmarine Underwriters.

18: The Twisted Claw - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1939 John Button (217 pages)
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1969 Tom Mulvey (177 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Tom Mulvey
Revision: Altered
Art: 1939 Paul Laune - Frontispiece: Laune
Art: 1962 John Leone
Art: 1969 Rudy Nappi - Internal Illustrations: Unknown
Notes: Harriet S. Adams also signed a release form for the original edition.
In 1944 the text on page 217 was modified to include the title of the next book.
PC edition with Nancy Drew title list on back cover is scarce.
The Hardy Boys defeat "The Order of The Twisted Claw" smuggling gang.
Description of current edition: A series of museum thefts launch the Hardy Boys on this baffling mystery. Rare collections of ancient pirate treasure are being stolen, so Frank and Joe are asked to stake out the Black Parrot, a suspicious freighter docked in Bayport Harbor. This whirlwind chase after a self-styled pirate king in the Caribbean stronghold of the Empire of the Twisted Claw makes a gripping tale of suspense and high adventure..

19: The Disappearing Floor - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1940 John Button (218 pages)
Outline: Edna Squier (nee Stratemeyer)
Revised: 1964 James Lawrence (176 pages) - For Sale
Outline: James Lawrence
Revision: Completely Different
Art: 1940 Paul Laune - Frontispiece: Laune
Art: 1962 John Leone - Internal Illustrations (1964): Unknown
Notes: Original text PC editions are scarce.
The original text edition is generally regarded as the worst written story in the canon.
The Hardy Boys smash Duke Beeson's (AKA Chief Shining Light Of The Sun-Worshipping Ozonites) robbery gang using the weird inventions of Aunt Gertrude's former classmate, Eben Adar.
Revised: The Hardy Boys track down a gang of jewel thieves in a mysterious old mansion.
Description of current edition: Once again Frank and Joe Hardy take on a puzzling case when their famous detective father asks the boys to assist him in tracking down a notorious jewel thief and his accomplices. The trail leads to the outskirts of the Hardys' home town and to a weirdly guarded mansion on the old Perth estate. With their pal Chet Morton, the brothers must tackle the mystery of the mansion heir's sudden death. A disappearing floor, a huge, savage-looking, hound, a galloping ghost, and a college professor's startling invention are just a few of the strange elements that complicate the boys' efforts to solve both mysteries.

20: The Mystery Of The Flying Express - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1941 John Button (217 pages)
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1970 Vincent Buranelli (177 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Revision: Completely Different
Art: 1941 Paul Laune
Art: 1962 John Leone
Art: 1970 Rudy Nappi
Notes: Harriet S. Adams also signed a release form for the original edition.
Revised text title changed to Mystery Of The Flying Express
The Hardy Boys break up a spy ring which uses the speedy "Flying Express" train to maintain contact with its East Coast agents.
Revised: The Boys investigate the disappearance of the speedy hydrofoil ferry, the Flying Express.
Description of current edition: A sleek new hydrofoil is scheduled to start ferrying passengers between Bayport and Cape Cutlass. But business enemies of the hydrofoil owner have stirred up a hornets' nest of violent opposition among small boat owners. Fearing sabotage, he begs Frank and Joe Hardy to guard the Flying Express on her maiden trip. Startling developments plunge the teenage detectives into a dangerous chase by sea, air, and land in pursuit of a gang of hardened criminals who operate by the signs of the Zodiac. Tension mounts when the Flying Express vanishes - and so does Sam Radley, Mr. Hardy's skilled operative. Peril stalks Frank and Joe's every moves as they hunt down the terrifying gangleader Zodiac Zig and his vicious henchmen.

21: The Clue Of The Broken Blade - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1942 John Button (218 pages)
Outline: Edna Squier (nee Stratemeyer)
Revised: 1970 Richard Deming (178 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Revision: Drastically Altered
Art: 1942 Paul Laune
Art: 1962 John Leone
Art: 1967 Rudy Nappi
Art: 1970 Rudy Nappi
Notes: Pre-1987 PC editions with blank endpapers are scarce.
The Hardy Boys break up a truck hijacking ring and solve the mystery of the theft of Arthur Barker's swords.
Description of current edition: Frank and Joe Hardy become involved in an intriguing mystery which revolves around their fencing master, Ettore Russo. Proof that Russo is the rightful heir to his grandfather's estate hinges on retrieving the guard end of a broken saber lost many years ago in California. The young investigators' quest is complicated by a bank robbery during which some of their father's important records are stolen. A chase ensues in the grape-growing region of California as the boys engage in a dangerous game of hide-and-seek with the bank robbery gang.

22: The Flickering Torch Mystery - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1943 Leslie McFarlane (212 pages)
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1971 Vincent Buranelli (181 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Revision: Completely Different
Art: 1943 Paul Laune
Art: 1962 John Leone
Art: 1971 Rudy Nappi
Notes: In a 10/5/42 letter to the Syndicate, McFarlane thanked them for their check and apologized for the story, stating it had been written "under awkward circumstances... getting settled into a new city". McFarlane received the outline on 7/25/42 and completed the story by mid-September. He received $165 for this story.
Another source indicates Andrew Svenson as author of the revised edition.
PC editions lacking the white over-printing on the back cover are scarce.
The Hardy Boys solve the mystery of Asa Grable's missing silk moths and the theft of construction materials.
Revised: The Boys investigate mysterious plane crashes and contraband uranium isotopes.
Description of current edition: Two unexplainable plane crashes near an airport on the East Coast plunge Frank and Joe Hardy into a bizarre case. From the moment Frank and Joe find a radioactive engine in an airplane junkyard, unexpected dangers strike like lightning. Despite the repeated attempts on their lives, the teenage detectives pursue their investigation, discovering two vital clues and others that provide the solution to one of the most baffling mysteries the boys and Mr. Hardy have ever encountered.

23: The Melted Coins - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1944 Leslie McFarlane (215 pages)
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1970 Andrew E. Svenson (180 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Revision: Completely Different
Art: 1944 Paul Laune
Art: 1962 John Leone
Art: 1970 Rudy Nappi
Notes: In my opinion the original version is the stupidest plot premise of any Hardy Boys story.
The Hardy Boys foil a coin counterfeiting ring who are stealing valuable rare coins and melting them down to make counterfeits of circulating coinage.
Revised: The Boys solve the swindling of their pal, Chet Morton, and the theft of a golden Seneca Indian relic.
Description of current edition: Fran and Joe Hardy suspect that their best friend Chet Morton is the victim of a summer school swindle and offer to help get his money back. While probing a baffling burglary at the Seneca Indian Reservation in New York State they investigate Zoar College located nearby. Clues that Frank and Joe uncover indicate that there is a connection between the Zoar College swindle and the theft of the Senecas' gold tribal relic Spoon Mouth. This startling discovery propels the teen-age sleuths into a series of perplexing and dangerous situations. Two strange-acting college professors, a valuable coin collection, and a taciturn Indian who refuses to discuss the mystery surrounding Spoon Mouth-all blend into a fast-paced story with several surprise twists that will thrill the vast legion of Hardy Boys' fans.

24: The Short-Wave Mystery - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1945 Leslie McFarlane (217 pages)
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1966 Priscilla Baker-Carr (176 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Jim Lawrence
Revision: Completely Different
Art: 1945 Russell Tandy
Art: 1962 John Leone
Notes: Although he stated he was "glad to work" when he received the outline and the $85 advance, McFarlane apparently had difficulty finishing this story. On 6/5/44 he wrote that the story would be finished by 6/20. On 6/28, he wrote to apologize for the book not being ready. Another letter dated 7/5 offers a promise to finish the book. On 7/23, he sent more chapters and on 8/25 he sent 10 more along with a note stating "... probably you have assigned someone else...". Finally by the fall, the book was completed although he still hadn't sent in the release form.
Harriet S. Adams also signed a release form for the original edition.
In 1954 minor modifications were made to the text.
Another source indicates David Grambs wrote the revision.
The Hardy Boys head to Hudson Bay to solve the theft of radio parts.
Revised: The Hardy Boys go to Canada to solve the theft of stuffed animals and break up an industrial spy ring.
Description of current edition: WHEN thieves hijack a collection of stuffed animals from a country auction, Frank and Joe Hardy pursue the getaway car and are drawn into a thrilling mystery. The recently acquired interest of their best pal, chubby Chet Morton, in taxidermy as a hobby adds fresh twists to the puzzle. At the same time, the young detectives' father-famed private investigator Fenton Hardy-istracking down an industrial spy ring. Over the Hardys' ham radio, Frank and Joe pick up a coded message from the spies, consisting of names of various wild animals. Are the industrial spies somehow mixed up in the hijacking at the auction and the rash of stuffed animal thefts that follow? This suspense-filled story of pursuit and detection will keep the reader breathlessly following the chain of unexpected developments that lead Frank and Joe to the spine-tingling climax in the wilds of Northern Canada.

25: The Secret Panel - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1946 Harriet Stratemeyer Adams (212 pages)
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1969 Priscilla Baker-Carr (177 pages) - For Sale
Outline: None - Baker-Carr edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Altered
Art: 1946 Russell Tandy
Art: 1969 Rudy Nappi
Notes: In a letter to the Syndicate dated 4/2/45, Leslie McFarlane turned down writing this story due to other work.
Harriet S. Adams also signed a release form for the revised edition.
The Hardy Boys solve a kidnapping mystery at the weird Mead House, which lacks both door knobs and hinges.
Description of current edition: ANOTHER exciting mystery begins for Frank and Joe Hardy when they help a stranger who has had an accident with his car. The man introduces himself as John Mead, owner of a nearby estate. After he continues on his way, Frank finds an odd-looking house key which belongs to Mead. But when the Hardys try to return to it, they learn that John Mead died five years ago! They are even more amazed when they find that the intricately carved doors in the dead man's deserted mansion have no visible knobs or keylocks. While working on this mystery, the boys assist their detective father in tracking down a highly organized ring of thieves who are robbing warehouses of television and stero equipment. What happens when Frank and Joe discover that there is a link between Mr. Hardy's case and the mysterious Mead mansion will keep the reader on edge with thrills and suspense.

26: The Phantom Freighter - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1947 Amy McFarlane (216 pages)
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1970 Priscilla Baker-Carr (181 pages) - For Sale
Outline: None - Baker-Carr edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Altered
Art: 1947 Russell Tandy
Art: 1970 Rudy Nappi
Notes: A letter from Leslie McFarlane to the Syndicate indicated his wife Amy was taking over some of his work. In his autobiography McFarlane claimed authorship of this story. In a letter to the Syndicate dated 5/12/46 he stated the "book is well underway" and expected to finish it by mid-June. On 7/29/46 Amy McFarlane wrote to Harriet Adams that "Three chapters of the book remain to be written, so I hope to mail the rest of the manuscript by Wednesday. Was interupted in the middle of the job by a dental operation that meant the loss of 22 teeth at one fell swoop. At any rate you should have it by the end of the week." Based on this information, it's probable Amy finished the story that her husband started.
Andrew Svenson edited and did rewriting of the Baker-Carr (revised) manuscript.
The Hardy Boys break up a smuggling ring which uses the mysterious, disappearing "Phantom Freighter".
Description of current edition: WHEN eccentric Thaddeus McClintock invites Frank and Joe Hardy to accompany him on a sea voyage, the teen-age investigators become entangled in a web of mystery. Who is trying to block the three from securing reservations on freighter ships that carry passengers? Does Mr. McClintock have unknown enemies? Or is there a sinister conspiracy afoot to keep Frank and Joe from going on the trip? Is Captain Harkness's report about sighting a phantom freighter just a figment of his imagination? The determined efforts of Frank and Joe to find the answers lead to a hazardous game of wits with a ring of slippery smugglers and to a dramatic confrontation on the high seas. At the same time, the boys help their famous detective father solve his current case involving forgers who are selling counterfeit historical documents. Here is an exciting, action-filled mystery that will keep the reader on edge with suspense.

27: The Secret Of Skull Mountain - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1948 George Waller Jr. (212 pages
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1966 David Grambs (177 pages) - For Sale
Outline: None - Grambs edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Altered
Art: 1948 Russell Tandy
Art: 1966 Rudy Nappi
Notes: Harriet Adams wrote a manuscript which was not used for the original edition..
The Hardy Boys solve the mysterious disappearance of water from the Tarnack Reservoir.
Description of current edition: THERE is a crisis in Bayport! Soon the city will be without water! Every night water strangely disappears from the new reservoir near Skull Mountain. Frank and Joe Hardy join forces with a team of skilled engineers to solve the baffling mystery. When the boys arrive at the foot of the mountain, they are met by a human skull rolling down the slope-a chilling warning from a weird hermit. Violence, too, stalks the mountain, where a gang controlled by a powerful crime syndicate hatches a vicious plot. While trying to uncover the gang's sinister motive, Frank and Joe aid their detective father in his search for a missing scientist. By a clever experiment, the boys discover a clue to the puzzle of the vanishing water. Suspense mounts when they explore an ancient subterranean river channel, deep inside Skull Mountain. In a thrilling climax the famous young detectives solve their own mystery as well as Mr. Hardy's case.

28: The Sign Of The Crooked Arrow - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1949 Andrew Svenson (214 pages)
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1970 Priscilla Baker-Carr (178 pages) - For Sale
Outline: None - Baker-Carr edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Altered
Art: 1949 Russell Tandy
Art: 1970 Rudy Nappi
The Hardy Boys head to New Mexico to break up the "Crooked Arrow" robbery gang.
Description of current edition: WITH only the slender clue of an arrow-shaped tie clasp, Frank and Joe Hardy pick up the trail of a cunning gang of thieves responsible for a wave of jewelry-store holdups. But their investigations are interrupted when a desperate plea for help comes from their widowed cousin who lives on a cattle ranch in New Mexico. Frank, Joe, and their pal Chet Morton fly there immediately. The mysterious disappearance of one cowboy after another has given Crowhead Ranch the reputation of being jinxed, and it is quickly being stampeded toward financial ruin. The young detectives face grave danger before they uncover a cleverly conceived plot engineered by the crooked arrow gang. In a dramatic climax Frank, Joe, and Chet aid law-enforcement officers in smashing the highly organized band of criminals, putting an end both to the troubles at Crowhead Ranch and the jewelry-store robberies.

29: The Secret Of The Lost Tunnel - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1950 Andrew Svenson (210 pages)
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1968 David Grambs, June Dunn & Priscilla Baker-Carr (174 pages) - For Sale
Outline: None - Grambs, Dunn & Baker-Carr edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Slightly Altered
Art: 1950 Bill Gillies
Art: 1968 Rudy Nappi
Notes: Pre-1987 PC editions with blank endpapers are scarce.
The Hardy Boys find a missing Civil War treasure and clear the family name of General Smith.
Description of current edition: Difficult assignments are nothing new to the Hardy boys and this one that takes them to the Deep South is particularly challenging. Their mission: to vindicate a long-dead Confederate general, disgraced during the Civil War because he was accused of stealing hidden gold belonging to a bank. Skillfully avoiding booby traps and flying bullets, the boys persevere in their perilous quest. The arduous search is full of surprises that will thrill all fans of the Hardy boys.

30: The Wailing Siren Mystery - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1951 Andrew Svenson (Rewrite: Harriet Adams) (214 pages)
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1968 Priscilla Baker-Carr (177 pages) - For Sale
Outline: None - Baker-Carr edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Slightly Altered
Art: 1951 Bill Gillies
Art: 1968 Rudy Nappi
Notes: Harriet S. Adams also signed a release form for the revised edition.
Minor text revision on page 36 changing "Frank" to "Joe" in 1977.
The Hardy Boys go to the woods to break up the smuggling gang of South American revolutionary, Renaldo.
Description of current edition: Caught in their motorboat the Sleuth by a sudden storm at sea, Frank and Joe Hardy are relieved to see the lights of a yacht. But their SOS ignored. The shrill sound of a siren fills the night air and moments later a helicopter drops an object alongside the Sleuth: a wallet containing two thousand dollars! The next day, a truck carrying a shipment of high-powered rifles has been stolen. These two apparently unconnected events are clues in a tangle of mystery which turns out to be one of the detective brothers' most exciting adventures.

31: The Secret Of Wildcat Swamp - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1952 William Hallstead, Harriet Adams, William Dougherty (212 pages)
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1969 Priscilla Baker-Carr (178 pages) - For Sale
Outline: None - Baker-Carr edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Altered
Art: 1952 Bill Gillies (frontispiece: Roy Pellington)
Art: 1969 Rudy Nappi
Notes: Hallstead's manuscript for the original edition was apparently rejected by the Syndicate and Dougherty was hired to create a new one.
The Hardy Boys head out west to defeat Gerald Flint's train robbing gang and restore Mrs. Sanderson's deed to a valuable oil property.
Description of current edition: An invitation from Cap Bailey, science teacher at Bayport High, to accompany him out West to Wildcat Swamp on an archaeological expedition triggers off a series of dangerous events for Frank and Joe Hardy. On their way West the boys and Cap have a near-fatal accident in a private plane which has been sabotaged. Though warned to leave the area, Frank, Joe, and Cap doggedly remain until they have caught the cunning ex-convicts they are up against in this swift-paced adventure.

32: The Crisscross Shadow - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1953 Richard Cohen (213 pages)
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Revised: 1969 Priscilla Baker-Carr (177 pages) - For Sale
Outline: None - Baker-Carr edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Altered
Art: 1953 Rudy Nappi (frontispiece: Roy Pellington)
Art: 1969 Rudy Nappi
The Hardy Boys go to an Indian reservation to break up a gang of saboteurs.
Description of current edition: When a man selling leather goods door-to-door steals the key to their detective father's file cabinet, Frank and Joe Hardy set out to track him down. An odd mark on a key case which the man sold to their mother leads the teenage sleuths to an Indian village, whose chiefs begs them to help him find valuable tribal possessions and the deed for his land. How Frank and Joe find the missing deed and Ramapan treasures, how they prevent the phony leather-goods salesman from carrying out a ruthless scheme and how they help their father solve the top-secret case he is working on for the U.S. government makes exciting reading for all fans of the Hardy boys.

33: The Yellow Feather Mystery - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1953 William Dougherty (216 pages)
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Revised: 1971 Priscilla Baker-Carr (181 pages) - For Sale
Outline: None - Baker-Carr edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Slightly Altered
Art: 1953 Rudy Nappi
Art: 1971 Rudy Nappi
Notes: PC editions missing the white overprinting on the back cover are scarce.
The Hardy Boys go to the Woodson Academy to solve the mystery of a missing will.
Description of current edition: The famous young detectives Frank and Joe Hardy are caught up in a dangerous web of intrigue when they agree to help Greg Woodson search for his grandfather's missing will. When Henry Kurt, the temporary headmaster of Woodson Academy, insists that he is to inherit the property from Greg's grandfather, the case becomes even trickier. Frank and Joe must risk their lives several times before they solve the mystery of Yellow Feather and trap a sinister criminal who will stop at nothing - even murder - to satisfy his greed for money.

34: The Hooded Hawk Mystery - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1954 Charles S. Strong (212 page
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1971 Priscilla Baker-Carr (180 pages) - For Sale
Outline: None - Baker-Carr edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Slightly Altered
Art: 1954 Rudy Nappi
Art: 1971 Rudy Nappi
Notes: Harriet Adams allegedly did much rewriting to the Strong manuscript of the original edition.
Harriet S. Adams also signed a release form for the revised edition.
Pre-1987 PC editions with blank endpapers are scarce.
The Hardy Boys solve a kidnapping and break up a gang smuggling illegal Indian aliens.
Description of current edition: The young detectives receive a trained peregrine falcon as a gift that involves them in an exciting mystery. Imagine their astonishment when the swift-flying falcon brings down a homing pigeon carrying two precious rubies! Startling events that ensue indicate the gems are a ransom that has been paid for the release of a kidnapped student from India, who had come to the United States to complete his education. But Tava, the son of a wealthy industrialist, is still being held captive. Hoping to find a clue to Tava's whereabouts, the Hardys try to track down the owner of the ruby-bearing pigeon. Their every move, however, is thwarted by the dangerous criminals not only involved in the kidnapping, but also in the large-scale smuggling of aliens from India to the United States. How Frank and Joe eventually outwit their adversaries climaxes this thrill-packed mystery adventure.

35: The Clue In The Embers - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1955 John Almquist (214 pages)
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1972 Priscilla Baker-Carr (177 pages) - For Sale
Outline: None - Baker-Carr edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Slightly Altered
Art: 1955 Rudy Nappi
Art: 1972 Rudy Nappi
Notes: Harriet S. Adams also signed a release form for the revised edition.
The Hardy Boys head to Guatemala to foil Albert Torres' plot to steal the national treasure.
Description of current edition: Tony Prito enlists the help of his detective friends Frank and Joe Hardy when a sinister stranger demands that Tony sell him the bizarre curio collection he has just inherited. While the boys are discussing this suspicious incident, the stranger, Valez, telephones and threatens Tony. That same afternoon the three boys collect the cases of curios at a freight station only for Joe's life to be at risk on their way back to Tony's house. The next day a seaman claims two medallions in the collection that coincidently go missing. Did Valez steal them? And what was their significance. Unraveling the clues in this exciting mystery takes the Hardys and their friends to a desolate region in Guatemala and straight into the hands of a gang of dangerous thugs.

36: The Secret Of Pirates' Hill - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1956 John Almquist (Rewrite: Harriet Adams) (213 pages)
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Revised: 1972 Priscilla Baker-Carr (178 pages) - For Sale
Outline: None - Baker-Carr edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Slightly Altered
Art: 1956 Rudy Nappi
Art: 1972 Rudy Nappi
Notes: Harriet S. Adams also signed a release form for the revised edition.
Pre-1987 PC editions with blank endpapers are scarce.
The Hardy Boys go skin-diving to find a missing treasure in gold near Bayport.
Description of current edition: In a series of hair-raising adventures both on land and undersea the teenage brother detectives pit their wits against some of the most ruthless criminals they have ever encountered. It all starts when Frank and Joe are skin diving just for fun and the thrill of exploring the undersea world. Suddenly, deep in the waters that flow near the foot of Pirates' Hill, a mysterious skin diver fires a spear through Frank's air hose. From this moment on, danger is never far away. The very lives of the boys are at stake as they, along with the help of their pals, uncover a mystery involving an old Spanish cannon and a fabulous sunken treasure.

37: The Ghost At Skeleton Rock - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1957 James Lawrence (184 pages)
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Revised: 1966 Priscilla Baker-Carr (177 pages) - For Sale
Outline: None - Baker-Carr edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Slightly Altered
Art: 1957 Rudy Nappi
Art: 1966 Rudy Nappi
Notes: Revised text PC with 1957 cover art is rare.
The Hardy Boys head to the Caribbean to thwart Durling Hamilton's plot to fund a Cuban revolution and build an atomic weapon.
Description of current edition: A cryptic message from their famous detective father and a note concealed in a ventriloquist's dummy lead Frank and Joe Hardy on a dangerous search to the tropical islands in the Caribbean. There the teenage detectives are constantly beset by vicious henchmen of a criminal mastermind. Danger stalks the boys' every move, once in an isolated sugar mill, another time in a shark-infested sea. But when Frank and Joe come face to face with the ghost at Skeleton Rock, it will be as much of a surprise to the reader as it was to the young detectives themselves.

38: The Mystery At Devil's Paw - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1959 James Lawrence (Andrew Svenson wrote the last 3 chapters) (183 pages)
Outline: Harriet Adams
Revised: 1973 Priscilla Baker-Carr (180 pages) - For Sale
Outline: None - Baker-Carr edited the original manuscript.
Revision: Slightly Altered
Art: 1959 Rudy Nappi
Art: 1973 Rudy Nappi
Notes: Harriet S. Adams also signed a release form for both the original and revised editions.
The Hardy Boys head up to Alaska to solve some mysterious disappearances and break up a plot to steal a lost US moon rocket.
Description of current edition: When Frank and Joe Hardy receive a telegram from Tony Prito in Alaska telling them that his life is in jeopardy, they immediately make plans to fly to Tony's rescue. Unknown enemies dog the Hardys and their pal Chet Morton even before they start the 4,000 mile journey. Puzzling questions lead the Hardys into dangerous sleuthing in the wilderness of Alaska and British Columbia. The astounding secret that the young detectives uncover, in the shadow of the forbidding mountain peak Devil's Paw, winds up one of the most perilous adventures they have ever encountered.

39: The Mystery Of The Chinese Junk - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1960 James Lawrence (184 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Art: Rudy Nappi
The Hardy Boys and Chet become owners of the Chinese junk Hai Hau which contains a hidden treasure.
Description of current edition: The Hardys purchase a Chinese junk to use as a ferry service, in order to make some money over the summer. It soon becomes apparent that others are very interested in the ship.

40: Mystery Of The Desert Giant - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1961 James Buechler (182 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson, Harriet Adams
Art: Rudy Nappi
Notes: Last DJ edition. All subsequent titles released in PC format.
The Hardy Boys and Chet search on the California desert for missing industrialist, Willard Grafton, and break up a gang of criminals intent on defrauding the US government.
Description of current edition: In a search for the missing Willard Grafton, Frank Hardy and younger brother Joe, encounter a gang of criminals intent on defrauding the US government, and are lead across California and even into Mexico.

41: The Clue Of The Screeching Owl - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1962 James Buechler (177 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Grace Grote, Harriet Adams
Art: Rudy Nappi
The Hardy Boys and Chet are in the Pocono Mountains to locate Mr. Hardy's missing friend, a retired police captain, and solve the mystery of spooky Black Hollow.
Description of current edition: When dogs and men suddenly disappear, and strange screams fill the night, fantastic stories of vengeful ghosts are almost believable. It is these strange happenings which bring Frank and Joe Hardy to the Pocono Mountains to help their father's friend, a retired police captain, solve the mystery of Black Hollow. But when the Hardy boys and Chet Morton arrive at Captain Thomas Maguire's cabin on the edge of the hollow, he has disappeared. In the woods the boys find only a few slim clues: a flashlight bearing the initials T.M., a few scraps of bright plaid cloth, and two empty shotgun shells which had been fired recently. Frank and Joe are determined to find the captain, despite Chet's misgivings after a night of weird and terrifying screams. Neighbors of the missing man insist that the blood-curdling cries are those of a legendary witch who stalks Black Hollow seeking vengeance. Strangely, it is a small puppy that helps the boys disclose a most unusual and surprising set of circumstances, involving a mute boy, an elusive hermit, and a fearless puma trainer. Readers who relish the chill of suspense and the thrill of adventure will find plenty of both in this exciting story of mystery in the Pocono Mountains.

42: The Viking Symbol Mystery - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1963 Alistair Hunter (175 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Art: Rudy Nappi
The Hardy Boys and Chet travel to Canada's Northwest Territories to recover a stolen Viking artifact.
Description of current edition: The Canadian Northwest beckons Frank and Joe Hardy to mystery and adventure. It all starts when a French-Canadian trapper, Caribou Caron, makes a historical and valuable fin - a carved rune stone left by Vikings centuries ago near Great Slave Lake. When Caribou Caron attempts to sell the artifact to a representative of a museum, it is snatched by thieves. Like the intrepid Viking of old, Frank and Joe, with their close pal, Chet Morton set off on a perilous quest in the Northwest Territories to recover the valuable artifact before the robbers can decipher the symbols leading to the buried treasure.

43: The Mystery Of The Aztec Warrior - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1964 Harriet S. Adams (178 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Harriet Adams
Art: Rudy Nappi
Notes: Copies with complete fold out advertisement in back are rare.
The Hardy Boys head to Mexico to rescue Chet and solve the mystery of a cryptic will.
Description of current edition: The handwritten will of a deceased world-traveler is strange and mysterious. Its cryptic instructions are to deliver "the valuable Aztec warrior to the rightful owner, a descendant of an Aztec warrior." Frank and Joe Hardy have only one slim clue to work with: the name of a complete stranger who can help. Despite the harassments, the threats, and the attacks made upon them, Frank and Joe unravel clue after clue in their adventure-packed search for the living descendant of the mighty Aztec nation which once ruled in Mexico. It takes as much high courage as clever deduction for the young detectives to defeat their ruthless foes and to decipher the fascinating secrets of the strange and mysterious will.

44: The Haunted Fort - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1965 David Grambs (176 pages) - For Sale
Outline: David Grambs
Art: Rudy Nappi
Chet, attending a summer art school in New England, calls on the Hardy Boys to solve the mystery of the theft of two valuable oil paintings and find a lost treasure of gold.
Description of current edition: A long-distance telephone call from Chet Morton's uncle summons Frank and Joe Hardy and their staunch pal Chet to a summer art school, located near old Fort Senandaga which is reputed to be inhabited by a ghost. The young detectives' assignment: recover two famous oil paintings stolen from the valuable Prisoner-Painter collection owned by Jefferson Davenport. Mr. Davenport reveals that one of the famous pictures contains a clue to the hiding place of a priceless gold chain. Vicious threats and deadly traps beset Frank, Joe, and Chet as they search for clues to the stolen paintings and the gold treasure - a search that is complicated by the stormy feud between an Englishman and a Frenchman over the military history of the ancient fort.

45: The Mystery Of The Spiral Bridge - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1966 Andrew Svenson (177 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Art: Rudy Nappi
The Hardy Boys head to New York City and Kentucky to bring the kidnappers of Mr. Hardy to justice.
Description of current edition: Frank and Joe Hardy are determined to bring to justice the vicious criminals who kidnapped their detective father while he was investigation sabotage of a road-building project in the Kentucky wilderness. After Mr. Hardy's escape, the two young sleuths are spurred into action when he mumbles the word "Felix" and they discover a dossier of a notorious ex-convict was stolen from his files. The trail leads them to New York City but ends abruptly in a cemetery! With the new clue of a spiral symbol the boys head to Kentucky as part of a highway construction crew to track down the kidnappers and saboteurs.

46: The Secret Agent On Flight 101 - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1967 Tom Mulvey (176 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Tom Mulvey
Art: Rudy Nappi
Notes: Harriet Adams & Grace Grote retyped & changed the Mulvey manuscript. Adams also signed a release form for this title.
Working with a US spy agency, "SKOOL", the Hardy Boys travel to Scotland to battle the agents of "UGLI" and break up an international spy ring.
Description of current edition: Rarely do magicians reveal their professional secrets. Consequently Frank and Joe Hardy are amazed when a well-known magician, the Incredible Hexton, offers to reveal the secret of his "Vanishing Man Act" and invited Mr. Hardy to be the subject. When their detective father fails to reappear, his sons are convinced that something sinister is afoot, despite Hexton's insistence that Mr. Hardy is playing a joke on them. While desperately searching for their father, Frank and Joe find themselves working with SKOOL, a U.S. organization of secret agents pitted against UGLI, an international ring of spies stealing government secrets domestically and internationally. The young detective's gripping adventures culminate in a dramatic climax when they unmask the secret agent on Flight 101.

47: Mystery Of The Whale Tattoo - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1968 Jerrold Mundis (174 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Art: Rudy Nappi
The Hardy Boys travel to Connecticut, New York and California to break up a gang of mysteriously tattooed thieves.
Description of current edition: One exciting event follows another when Frank and Joe Hardy are hired to apprehend the pickpockets who have been plaguing Solo's Super Carnival. When their friends Tony Prito and Biff Hooper exhibit a stuffed whale dug up at a construction project, they all but put the carnival out of business. In this thrilling mystery the young detectives pit their wits against a gang of thieves whose bizarre identification, a three-part whale tattoo, proves to be a nearly insolvable riddle.

48: The Arctic Patrol Mystery - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1969 Andrew Svenson (176 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Art: Rudy Nappi
The Hardy Boys go to Iceland to locate a missing man and foil a plot aimed against the NASA moon project.
Description of current edition: Private investigator Fenton Hardy enlists the aid of his teenage detective sons in a search for a missing man being sought by an insurance company. All leads to the sailor's whereabouts have petered out and the boys fly to Iceland, the man's native land, hoping to find a new clue. From the moment Frank and Joe arrive in Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland, they are in constant danger. In the spine-chilling pursuit that follows, Frank and Joe uncover a diabolical espionage plot that threatens the life of a U.S. astronaut and NASA'S moon project.

49: The Bombay Boomerang - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1970 Vincent Buranelli (180 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Art: Rudy Nappi
The Hardy Boys head to sea to solve the theft of mercury shipments and a government missile and foil a terrorist plan to create havoc in the USA.
Description of current edition: Frank and Joe Hardy become involved in a case affecting national security when Joe dials a wrong telephone number and gets the Pentagon. Two words- "Bombay Boomerang"- that the boys hear before the line goes dead plunge them into a whirlpool of danger and intrigue. At the same time, Frank and Joe must save their father from a murderous gang stealing mercury shipments in the Baltimore harbor. With clues linking the mercury thefts to the top secret Super S missile mysteriously stolen from a government arsenal. In a race against time, the three Hardys foil a diabolical scheme to create widespread havoc in the United States!

50: Danger On Vampire Trail - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1971 Andrew Svenson (175 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Art: Rudy Nappi
Chet, Biff and the Hardy Boys head to the Colorado Rockies to smash a credit card forgery syndicate.
Description of current edition: AN assignment from their famous detective father to track down a ring of credit-card counterfeiters takes Frank and Joe Hardy on an exciting camping trip to the Rocky Mountains. The cross-country trek with their pals Chet Morton and Biff Hooper is jinxed from the very first day. Trouble with their tent trailer is compounded by vicious harassments all the way to Colorado. Here their enemies strike at Biff's lovable bloodhound in another attempt to scare the teen-age detectives off the case. In Denver a skein of clues confuses the Hardys. How many gangs are out to get them-one, two, or three? Strange happenings on a nearly impassable moun. tain lure Frank, Joe, Chet, and Biff to almost certain death before they discover the sinister reason for the danger on Vampire Trail.

51: The Masked Monkey - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1972 Vincent Buranelli (178 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Comment: Reputedly originally slated to be the revised text (RT) of "The Flickering Torch Mystery"
Art: Rudy Nappi
The Hardy Boys go to Brazil to locate the son of a wealthy industrialist and destroy a passport theft/phony identity ring.
Description of current edition: FRANK and Joe Hardy are called upon to find a wealthy industrialist's son who has mysteriously disappeared. Did Graham Retson flee from his home because he was at odds with his father, or was he kidnapped? Finding the answer turns into something more dangerous and larger in scope than Frank and Joe ever bargained for. The only clue in the case leads the two young detectives to South America, where the intrigues of evil adversaries almost cost them their lives. Involved in this complex mystery are a fierce-looking monkey trained to be a killer, a school of voracious, man-eating piranhas, a ruthless gang of passport thieves, and a cleverly operated change-your-identity mill for criminals.Only through their courage and perseverance do the Hardys solve one of the toughest cases they have ever tackled.

52: The Shattered Helmet - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1973 Andrew Svenson (180 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Art: Rudy Nappi
The Hardy Boys travel to Greece to locate a long-lost ancient Greek helmet and help Mr. Hardy break up an international crime syndicate.
Description of current edition: Danger is the name of the game when the Hardys agree to help their pen pal from Greece, Evan Pandropolos, search for a priceless, ancient Greek helmet. Years ago, Evan's uncle had loaned it to a Hollywood movie company for use in a silent motion picture, but the treasured helmet had been lost. At Hunt College, where Evan, Frank, Joe, and Chet Morton are taking a summer course in film-making, the boys are harassed by enemies who grow more and more vicious. Are gangsters hounding them to force Mr. Hardy to give up his investigation of an international crime syndicate? Or are the boys' sinister foes also seeking the helmet? Clues that the young detectives unearth keep them constantly on the move-from college campus to California and finally to Greece. In a sizzling climax the Hardys, Evan, and Chet match wits with their powerful enemies on the island of Corfu.

53: The Clue Of The Hissing Serpent - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1974 Andrew Svenson (181 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Art: Rudy Nappi
The Hardy Boys are in Hong Kong to solve the riddle of the serpent balloon and locate a missing chess trophy and wind up crushing an international crime ring.
Description of current edition: Why is a wealthy sportsman so frightened by the serpent design on a mysterious balloon that he begs Frank and Joe Hardy to protect him? And who stole the ancient, life-size chess king which is to be presented to the winner of the world chess championship? These questions and others equally as baffling in this exciting mystery seem to defy explanations. On the ground and in the air Frank and Joe find themselves the targets of diabolical enemies. An odd clue that they discover leads them across the Pacific to Hong Kong. There the young detectives match wits with their adversaries. How they help the police smash an international criminal organization provides an electrifying climax to one of the most challenging cases the Hardy boys have ever tackled.

54: The Mysterious Caravan - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1975 Andrew Svenson (182 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Art: Rudy Nappi
The Hardy Boys travel from Jamaica to Morocco to solve the mystery of an ancient bronze death mask and help Mr. Hardy break up an airline ticket theft ring.
Description of current edition: When the Hardy Boys take a winter vacation in Jamaica, Joe finds an ancient bronze death mask washed up near their beach house during a violent storm. Helping the Hardys and their friends in this bizarre mystery is William, a Jamaican boy, who flies to New York with startling news, only to be intercepted and held for ransom-the death mask! Frank and Joe must rescue William, plunge into their father's airline-ticket theft case, and fly into a maze of danger in Africa.

55: The Witchmaster's Key - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1976 Vincent Buranelli (179 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Andrew Svenson
Art: Rudy Nappi
Notes: After the first printing, the text on pages 178 & 179 was modified slightly to include the title of the next book.
The Hardy Boys travel to England, Ireland & the Isle of Man battling black magic to solve the robbery of Prof. Rowbotham's fortune.
Description of current edition: There is not time for explanations when Mr. Hardy telephones Frank and Joe form the West Coast and sends them flying off to England to help his old friend Professor Rowbotham. Their stay in East Anglia begins with a weird omen, as they witness the bizarre funeral of an old witchmaster. From then on, strange things happen. When the Hardys learn about the strange disappearance of Lord Craighead, the plot deepens. Danger follows them to Ireland as Frank and Joe survive a shipwreck and find a clue from a frightened white which that leads to the torture chamber of a black witches' coven, all in search of the telltale Witchmaster's Key.

56: The Jungle Pyramid - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1977 Vincent Buranelli (180 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Vincent Buranelli
Art: Rudy Nappi
Notes: One of the best of the later stories.
The Hardy Boys travel to Switzerland and the Yucatan jungle to locate stolen gold bullion.
Description of current edition: A million dollars' worth of gold bullion has been stolen from the Wakefield Mint under strange circumstances. Mr. Hardy is asked to investigate but before long his life is threatened, and he asks Frank and Joe to help him. The boys fly to Zurich, Switzerland, hoping to get information at the Swiss Gold Syndicate and to find the man who has stolen a valuable ancient gold figurine from a New York museum. Their search on both counts seems futile as they return to the United States where they uncover clues that lead them to an adventure in the Yucatán jungle. But the Hardy's travels lead to nothing but new doubts and nagging suspicions. And now their lives are in danger.


57: The Firebird Rocket - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1978 Vincent Buranelli (180 pages) - For Sale
Outline: Vincent Buranelli
Art: Rudy Nappi
The Hardy Boys head to Australia to locate a missing rocket scientist.
Description of current edition: The launching of the Firebird Rocket is endangered when a famous rocket scientist disappears without a trace on his way to the Woomera Monitoring Station in Australia. Assigned to the case, Fenton Hardy tells his sons he needs their help. And Frank and Joe must turn down a request that they find the missing son of a prominent senator. With courage, wit, and clever detective work, the young detectives begin to close in on the enemy, only to discover that the tables have been turned. Captured by their cunning adversaries, the Hardys face certain death! Will they escape? Will the Firebird Rocket ever be launched?

58: The Sting Of The Scorpion - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
1979 James Lawrence (180 pages) - For Sale
Outline: James Lawrence
Art: Rudy Nappi
Notes: After the first four printings in 1979, the text on page 179 was modified to remove the title of the planned next book, Night Of The Werewolf.
The Hardy Boys hunt a gang of terrorists and run into mystery at a new animal park on the Bayport outskirts.
Description of current edition: During Mr. Hardy's investigation of a ruthless gang of terrorists, Frank and Joe witness an explosion in the sky near an airborne dirigible owned by Quinn Air Fleet. They decide to look into the matter. The first clue takes them into a new animal park outside Bayport, where they are lured into a trap by an unknown enemy. Pop Carter, the park's owner, has problems, too. He is being pressured into selling out by a competitor as well as a real-estate firm that wants the land for other purposes. At the same time, strange occurrences frighten both visitors and animals. Frank and Joe are warned to stay out of the case, but follow up another clue. It leads them to an abandoned island, where they barely escape severe injury. When they return, they find a threatening message on their front door, written in an Oriental language. Do they have to contend with yet another adversary? They face danger from all sides, but their superior sleuthing skills and their courage win out in the end, when they unravel the threats of this many-faceted mystery.

The Hardy Boys Detective Handbook - Collectible Editions For Sale
Cover Art & Edition Information
Original: 1959 Dominick A. Spina
Revised: 1972 William F. Flynn - For Sale
Revision: Slightly Altered
Art: 1959 Rudy Nappi
Art: 1972 Rudy Nappi
Art: 1987 Rudy Nappi (Modification of 1972 art)
Notes: Considered as part of the original series by most collectors.
Now out of print.
Originally an oversized book, this volume was reduced in size to match the rest of the series in 1987.
Both the putative "authors" were law enforcement officers.

On Jan. 14, 1957 the Syndicate sent Spina a $300. check for his outline of the Handbook. They said that the publisher liked the idea and wanted to see a sample chapter.
More than a year later, a letter of agreement from the Syndicate on Jan. 21, 1958 indicated that Spina would be paid $150 for each of the 10 chapters planned in addition to the $300 for the outline already paid. The chapters would be turned in as batches of 3, 3, and 4 with payments of $450, $450, and $600. All chapters were to be turned in by July 1, 1958 and he would help with revision as needed.
On Sept. 12, 1958 the Syndicate sent a manuscript of the first four chapters to Spina for review on details of police procedure.
Svenson sent a release and check for $1,050 to Spina on Sept. 26, 1958. He said that he still had four chapters to edit which would be sent to Spina soon. He says that after the text was put into type he wanted to send galley proofs for Spina to review.
A draft of the foreword was sent to Spina by Svenson on Oct. 20, 1958.
On Dec. 17, 1958 Svenson sent $200 more for his editing of the galley proof of the Handbook.
It appears that Spina was paid $2,000 in 1957-58 for his work outlining ($300), writing ($1,500) and editing ($200) the Handbook. He was also a correspondent with the Syndicate on occasion, including supplying some notes on the structure of police departments in Germany for a story.
Courtesy James Keeline

Mr. Spina was arrested in a corruption probe of Newark NJ and Mr. Flynn was then hired to lend his name to the revised edition.
Several didactic short fictional stories illustrating various actual crime detection methods.

59: Night Of The Werewolf
Cover Art & Edition Information
1979 James Lawrence (181 pages)   For Sale
Art: George Gaadt
The Hardy Boys head to the Adirondacks to track a wolf-like creature and solve industrial sabotage.
Description of current edition: A ferocious, wolf-like creature appears during the night of the full moon in a small Adirondack town, attacking livestock and scaring many of the residents. A young man with a history of werewolves in his family line is suspect. Joe barely escapes a horrible death as the young detectives solve this exciting and hair-raising mystery

60: Mystery Of The Samurai Sword
Cover Art & Edition Information
1979 James Lawrence (179 pages)     For Sale
Art: George Gaadt
The Hardy Boys investigate the disappearance of a Japanese business tycoon.
Description of current edition: Shortly after his arrival in the United States, a Japanese business tycoon mysteriously disappears. Then a valuable samurai sword, said to have belonged to the missing tycoon's family for generations, is stolen from an auction gallery in New York. Danger confronts them constantly as the Hardy Boys search for the solution to the puzzle.

61: The Pentagon Spy
Cover Art & Edition Information
1980 Vincent Buranelli (182 pages)     For Sale
Art: George Gaadt
The Hardy Boys investigate the theft of antique weathervanes and the disappearance of a Navy employee and a top-secret document.
Description of current edition: First valuable antique weather vanes are stolen in Pennsylvania Dutch Country and Frank and Joe are hired to catch the thieves. Meanwhile, their father is asked to find a missing Navy employee and a top-secret government document. What is the connection between the missing weather vanes and the Pentagon spy? The final chapters of this thrilling mystery uncover a stunning revelation!

62: The Apeman's Secret
Cover Art & Edition Information
1980 James Lawrence (184 pages)     For Sale
Art: George Gaadt
The Hardy Boys investigate a mysterious Apeman and the disappearance of an 18-year-old girl.
Description of current edition: The Hardy Boys investigate the disappearance of an eighteen-year-old girl suspected of joining a sinister religious cult. A few days later the boys get an offbeat assignment from a comic book publisher: The real life double of his character, Apeman, is turning up everywhere and causing considerable damage! Frank and Joe tackle both cases and uncover an intricate scheme by a clever gang of crooks!

63: The Mummy Case
Cover Art & Edition Information
1980 Vincent Buranelli (180 pages)     For Sale
Art: George Gaadt
The Hardy Boys head to Egypt to investigate the theft of 5 priceless Egyptian statuettes.
Description of current edition: When five Egyptian statuettes are stolen from a museum, the Hardy Boys travel to exotic Egypt. En route, the boys are asked to safeguard a mysterious mummy and find themselves tangled in a web of international intrigue. On the Nile, the young detectives uncover a secret hiding place with countless stolen treasures and realize they must get to the police fast!

64: Mystery Of Smugglers Cove
Cover Art & Edition Information
1980 Vincent Buranelli (181 pages)     For Sale
Art: George Gaadt
The Hardy Boys travel to Florida to recover a valuable stolen painting.
Description of current edition: A painting is stolen, and the Hardy Boys are suspects. Determined to find the artwork, the young detectives fly to Florida, where they disguise themselves and join a group of sinister smugglers. Though the painting fails to appear, an important clue sends the boys on a perilous trek through the Everglades. Threatened at every turn by greedy enemies, the Hardys fight a tricky and powerful battle to expose the truth.

65: The Stone Idol
Cover Art & Edition Information
1981 Vincent Buranelli (177 pages)     For Sale
Art: Steven Assel
A missing stone idol and thefts from Navy bases lead the Hardy Boys from the Andes to Easter Island.
Description of current edition: When an ancient stone idol disappears, the Hardy Boys are off on another fast-paced adventure. It's a mystery that takes the boys from a primitive village in the Andes Mountains to Antarctica and finally to Easter Island. By using their fine investigative skills, the Hardy Boys find that the mystery of the stone idol is not what it seems!

66: The Vanishing Thieves
Cover Art & Edition Information
1981 Richard Deming (179 pages)     For Sale
Art: Steven Assel
The Hardy Boys head to the West Coast to locate a stolen rare coin.
Description of current edition: Chet Morton's cousin, Vern, is on his way to California to find a rare and valuable coin mysteriously missing from his uncle's bank vault. When he stops in Bayport, his brand-new car is stolen. The Hardys take on a double mystery-and double danger as they head for the West Coast to investigate this sinister mystery.

New Cover Art For 2016 & 2017

01: The Tower Treasure
Now with a brand-new look, this is an edition that collectors won't want to miss! In The Tower Treasure, the first book in the incredibly popular, long-running series, Frank and Joe Hardy work together to solve a high-stakes jewel heist. A special treat for Hardy Boys fans and any reader who's new to the series!

02: The House On The Cliff
Now with a brand-new look, this is an edition that collectors won't want to miss! In The House on the Cliff, the second book in the incredibly popular, long-running series, Frank and Joe Hardy face off against a dangerous group of smugglers. A special treat for Hardy Boys fans and any reader who's new to the series.

03: The Secret Of The Old Mill
Now with a brand-new look, this is an edition that collectors won't want to miss! In The Secret of the Old Mill, the third book in the incredibly popular, long-running series, Frank and Joe Hardy are on the case to bust a counterfeit money ring. A special treat for Hardy Boys fans and any reader who's new to the series.

04: The Missing Chums
Now with a brand-new look, this is an edition that collectors won't want to miss! In The Missing Chums, the fourth book in the incredibly popular, long-running series, Frank and Joe Hardy must save their friends from a rogue group of kidnappers. A special treat for Hardy Boys fans and any reader who's new to the series.

5: Hunting for Hidden Gold
Now with a brand-new look, this is an edition that collectors won't want to miss! In Hunting for Hidden Gold, the fifth book in the incredibly popular, long-running series, Frank and Joe Hardy pursue a notorious gang responsible for a payroll robbery. A special treat for Hardy Boys fans and any reader who's new to the series!

6: The Shore Road Mystery
Now with a brand-new look, this is an edition that collectors won't want to miss! In The Shore Road Mystery, the sixth book in the incredibly popular, long-running series, Frank and Joe Hardy encounter a perplexing set of mysteries when they agree to help their friend Jack Dodd and his father locate a family treasure. A special treat for Hardy Boys fans and any reader who's new to the series!

7: The Secret Of The Caves
Now with a brand-new look, this is an edition that collectors won't want to miss! In The Secret of the Caves, the seventh book in the incredibly popular, long-running series, Frank and Joe Hardy discover the secret of the Honeycomb Caves while searching for a missing professor. A special treat for Hardy Boys fans and any reader who's new to the series!

8: The Mystery of Cabin Island
Now with a brand-new look, this is an edition that collectors won't want to miss! In The Mystery of Cabin Island, the eighth book in the incredibly popular, long-running series, Frank and Joe Hardy encounter several dangerous setbacks as they search for Johnny Jefferson and some antique stolen medals. A special treat for Hardy Boys fans and any reader who's new to the series!

Hardy Boys Jigsaw Puzzles
For Sale	For Sale