Introduction
Harry Stephen Keeler was one of the most enigmatic writers of the twentieth century. Although he wrote mysteries, he belongs to the avant-garde. He claimed to build his plots from randomly selected newspaper articles, and if you've read Keeler, you'll believe it. His editors didn't know what to do with him, and he constantly revised his books so there are often significant differences between the U.S. and U.K. editions of his work. In fact, his books Ten Hours (U.K.) and 10 Hours (U.S.) are both part of the same long story, but they are not the same novels.
Paul Collins recently brought the Riddle of the Traveling Skull back into print—the first Keeler novel published in America in fifty years. That's a good place to start with Keeler, and if you understand the ending, let us know. In true Keeler fashion, the solution to the mystery is even more confusing than the mystery itself.
What follows are two checklists of Keeler first editions. One lists the first edition and its U.S. and/or U.K. equivalents. The second list sorts Keeler books by date of publication. We've attempted to identify the first printing—U.K. or U.S., in most cases—and supply the date of publication along with a footnote of our sources.
For purposes of this bibliography, the first edition of a book is defined as the first printing of a particular text in any place or language. Harry Stephen Keeler's books have a rather complicated publication history and determining the first edition of each is sometimes difficult. He had first editions of novels published in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal, usually with varying titles. Several novels appeared in only one of those countries, and many novels were revised, expanded, or abridged to such an extent for publication in another country that they hardly count as the same book.
For consistency, we use the title of the first published edition for the main entry. If the title was changed for the first publication in another country, that new title is given following the publication information.
For example:
The Washington Square Enigma
New York: E. P. Dutton, 193322 (May 1)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 193323 (ca. December 15, as Under Twelve Stars)
indicates that The Washington Square Enigma was first published by Dutton on May 1, 1933. The British edition, by Ward, Lock appeared about December 15, 1933, with the title Under Twelve Stars. The footnotes refer to the sources of the information.
Ramble House has reissued about eighty Keeler novels, including all his published work (both U.S. and U.K. editions, where they differed), some unpublished manuscripts, and the English-language originals of the books only published in Spanish and Portuguese. The books are printed on-demand, so technically only the first copy is a first printing. Many books were printed and bound by the publisher. These paperbacks have dust wrappers. Ramble House later switched to a print-on-demand company that issues trade paperbacks. The total numbers printed are small, generally under 100 copies so far (July 2006). These books are not included here, but a list can be found on the Ramble House web site.
Hutchinson & Co.: Later printings are indicated on the copyright page. All first-printing Keeler dust jackets carry a 7/6 price (seven shillings, six pence).
Ward, Lock, & Co.: Most books state "First published in" followed by the year. Later printings are usually indicated. In some cases, though, first printings don't state "First published…" and are identified by no indication of later printings on the copyright page. However, the publisher's ads and the list of other Keeler books must be carefully examined to ensure that no later books are listed. Dusty's Books in Wales notes that the printer (typically identified at the bottom of the copyright page) can establish the date of printing. This has not been confirmed, and no list of printers and dates of printing has been compiled. All first-edition Keeler books through 1942 were priced at 7/6 on the dust jacket. From 1943 to 1945, they were priced at 8/6. I have not determined the prices thereafter. Books with prices like 1/-, 2/-, and 3/6 are reprints. It has been reported (but not confirmed) that a number on the spine of the jacket indicates a reprint. In some cases, the reprints have different jackets than the original printings. Jacket designs with two eyes above the word mystery are reprint jackets.
E. P. Dutton: Keeler's main American publisher used a variety of methods to indicate first printings. Typically, later printings were noted on the copyright page, and the date on the title page should match the date on the copyright page. The dust jackets carried prices of $2.00 or $2.50, depending on the book.
A. L. Burt: These are low-cost reprint editions, typically carrying the same date as the original Dutton edition. The jacket art is usually the same or very similar, except for the publisher's name.
Triangle Books: Another inexpensive reprint company. These books typically indicate the date of printing. Jacket art is similar to original Dutton editions except for the publisher's name.
Phoenix Books: First printings state "First Printing" or have no indication of later printings on the copyright page. It is possible that none of Keeler's books were reprinted by Phoenix and that they are all first printings. The dust jackets carry a price of $2.00, usually at the bottom of the front flap.
Instituto Editorial Reus: Later editions are indicated and carry a different date than the first editions. All of Keeler's first editions in Spanish listed below appeared in hardcover with a dust jacket.
Editorial Século: Only one Keeler book appeared first in Portugal. The book was a paperback original and was not reprinted.
The Voice of the Seven Sparrows
London: Hutchinson & Co., 1924 [1] (ca. August)
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1928 [2] (ca. April)
Find the Clock: A Detective Mystery of Newspaper Life
London: Hutchinson & Co., 1925 [3] (ca. June).
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1927 [4] (ca. June)
The Spectacles of Mr. Cagliostro
London: Hutchinson & Co., 1926 [5] (ca. March) (republished by Ward, Lock & Co. in 1931 as The Blue Spectacles)
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1929 [6] (January)
Sing Sing Nights
London: Hutchinson & Co., 1927
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1928 (August 1)[7]
The Amazing Web
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1929 [8] (April)
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1930 [9] (late January)
Thieves' Nights: The Chronicles of Delancey, King of Thieves
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1929 [10] (ca. September 7)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1930 [11] (March)
The Fourth King
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1929 [12] (October)
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1930 [13] (May 15)
The Green Jade Hand
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1930 [14] (ca. August 3)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1930 [15] (September)
The Riddle of the Yellow Zuri
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1930 [16] (November 18)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1931 [17] (April, as The Tiger Snake)
The Matilda Hunter Murder
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1931 [18] (ca. October 1)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1931 [19] (October, as The Black Satchel)
Note: The true first edition has not been determined.
The Box from Japan
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1932 [20] (December 1)
London, Ward, Lock & Co., 1933 [21] (February)
The Washington Square Enigma
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1933 [22] (May 1)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1933 [23] (ca. December 15, as Under Twelve Stars)
The Crilly Court Mystery
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1933 [24] (July)
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1933 [25] (ca. November 5, as The Face of the Man from Saturn)
Behind That Mask
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1933 [26] (September)
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1938 [27] (June 9)
The Fiddling Cracksman
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1934 [28] (February)
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1934 [29] (ca. March 18, as The Mystery of the Fiddling Cracksman)
The Riddle of the Traveling Skull
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1934 [30] (September 1)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1934 (as The Travelling Skull)
Note: The true first edition has not been determined.
Ten Hours
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1934 [31] (November)
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1935 (as The Skull of the Waltzing Clown, though an expanded version)
The Five Silver Buddhas
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1935 [32] (ca. February 17)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1935 [33] (April)
The Marceau Case
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1936 [34] (late February)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1936 [35] (April)
X. Jones of Scotland Yard
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1936 [36] (ca. May 31)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1936 [37] (September, as X. Jones)
The Wonderful Scheme of Christopher Thorne
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1937 [38] (late November 1936?)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1937 [39] (January, as The Wonderful Scheme)
Note: The true first edition is probably the U.S. edition
The Defrauded Yeggman
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1937 [40] (April 8)
The Mysterious Mr. I
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1937 [41] (September)
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1938 [42] (ca. November 6)
10 Hours
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1937 [43] (ca. October 31)
While related to the U.K. book Ten Hours, this is actually a different book
When Thief Meets Thief
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1938 [44] (January)
Finger! Finger!
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1938 [45] (ca. February)
Cheung, Detective
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1938 [46] (August)
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1939 [47] (ca. June 1, as Y. Cheung, Business Detective)
The Chameleon
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1939 [48] (ca. early February)
Find Actor Hart
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1939 [49] (April)
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1940 [50] (ca. February, as The Portrait of Jirjohn Cobb)
The Man with the Magic Eardrums
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1939 [51] (November 1)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1939 [52] (November, as The Magic Eardrums)
The Crimson Box
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1940 [53] (January)
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1940 [54] (early July, as The Man with the Crimson Box)
Cleopatra's Tears
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1940 [55] (September)
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1940 [56] (November 1)
The Wooden Spectacles
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1941 [57] (early January)
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1941 [58] (ca. September 7, as The Man with the Wooden Spectacles)
The Peacock Fan
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1941 [59] (February 3)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1942 [60] (March)
The Sharkskin Book
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1941 [61] (ca. June 1)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1948 (as By Third Degree)
The Vanishing Gold Truck
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1941 [62] (ca. November 30)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1942 [63] (October)
The Lavender Gripsack
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1941
New York: Phoenix Press, 1944 [64] (ca. March 5, as The Case of the Lavender Gripsack)
The Bottle with the Green Wax Seal
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1942 [65] (ca. March 8)
The Book with the Orange Leaves
New York: E. P. Dutton, 1942 [66] (July 1)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1943 [67] (February, as The Book with Orange Leaves)
The Case of the Two Strange Ladies
New York: Phoenix Press, 1943 [68] (August 10)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1945 (as Two Strange Ladies)
The Search for X-Y-Z
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1943 [69] (September)
New York: Phoenix Press, 1945 [70] (February 24, as The Case of the Ivory Arrow)
The Iron Ring
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1944 [71] (June)
New York: Phoenix Press, 1945 [72] (ca. late August, as The Case of the Mysterious Moll)
The Case of the 16 Beans
New York: Phoenix Press, 1944 [73] (September 9)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1945 (as The 16 Beans)
The Case of the Canny Killer
New York: Phoenix Press, 1946
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1946 (as Murder in the Mills, with rather different content)
The Monocled Monster
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1947
Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus, 1955 (as El caso Jaarvik, an expanded version, by Hazel Goodwin and Harry Stephen Keeler)
El caso del reloj ladrador: Mezcla de novela policiaca y narración misteriosa [The case of the barking clock: Part police procedural, part mystery novel] (This novel was broken into two parts, revised, and published in English as The Case of the Barking Clock and The Case of the Transposed Legs).
Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus, 1947 [74] (probably late 1947)
The Case of the Barking Clock
New York: Phoenix Press, 1947 [75] (June 13)
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1951 (as The Barking Clock by Harry Stephen and Hazel Goodwin Keeler)
The Case of the Transposed Legs
New York: Phoenix Press, 1948, by Harry Stephen Keeler and Hazel Goodwin
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1951, by Harry Stephen and Hazel Goodwin Keeler
The Case of the Jeweled Ragpicker
New York: Phoenix Press, 1948
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1948 [76] (as The Ace-of-Spades Murder)
The Murdered Mathematician
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1949
The Strange Will by Harry Stephen and Hazel Goodwin Keeler
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1949 [77] (ca. August)
The Steeltown Strangler
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1950
Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus, 1958 [78] (ca. October, as 28 sospechosos, an expanded version)
The Murder of London Lew
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1952
Stand By—London Calling! By Harry Stephen and Hazel Goodwin Keeler
London: Ward, Lock & Co., 1953
Noches de verdugo [Hangman's nights]
Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus, 1957 [79] (ca. September)
O caso do cadáver endiabrado [The case of the crazy corpse]
Lisbon: Editorial Século, 1958 [80] (ca. February)
Ladrones de circos [The circus stealers] by Harry Stephen Keeler and Hazel Goodwin de Keeler
Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus, 1958
El cubo carmesí [The crimson cube]
Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus, 1959 [81]
Una versión del Beowulf: Novela de aventuras y romance de amor del circo [A copy of Beowulf: A circus novel of romance and adventure] by Harry Stephen and Hazel Goodwin Keeler
Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus, 1960
La misteriosa bola de marfil de Wong Shing Li [The mysterious ivory ball of Wong Shing Li]
Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus, 1961
El caso de la mujer transparente [The case of the transparent woman] by Harry Stephen and Hazel Goodwin Keeler
Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus, 1963
Yo maté a Lincoln a las 10:13 [I killed Lincoln at 10:13]
Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus, 1964
El círculo blanco [The white circle]
Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus, 1965
La calle de los mil ojos [The street of a thousand eyes] by Harry Stephen and Hazel Goodwin Keeler
Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus, 1966
El hombre que cambió de piel [The man who changed his skin]
Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus, 1967 [82]
Keeler Books in Chronological Order
1924
August. The Voice of the Seven Sparrows. London: Hutchinson
1925
June. Find the Clock. London: Hutchinson
1926
March. The Spectacles of Mr. Cagliostro. London: Hutchinson
1927
June. Find the Clock.
New York: E. P. Dutton
TBD. Sing Sing Nights. London: Hutchinson
1928
April. The Voice of the Seven Sparrows.
New York: E. P. Dutton
August 1. Sing Sing Nights. New
York: E. P. Dutton
1929
January. The Spectacles of Mr. Cagliostro.
New York: E. P. Dutton
April. The Amazing Web. London:
Ward, Lock
September 7. Thieves' Nights. New
York: E. P. Dutton October. The Fourth King.
London: Ward, Lock
1930
February 1. The Amazing Web.
New York: E. P. Dutton
March. Thieves' Nights. London:
Ward, Lock
May 15. The Fourth King. New York:
E. P. Dutton
August 3. The Green Jade Hand. New
York: E. P. Dutton
September. The Green Jade Hand.
London: Ward, Lock
November 18. The Riddle of the Yellow Zuri.
New York: E. P. Dutton
1931
April. The Tiger Snake (The
Riddle of the Yellow Zuri). London:
Ward, Lock
October 1. The Matilda Hunter Murder.
New York: E. P. Dutton
October. The Black Satchel (The
Matilda Hunter Murders). London: Ward,
Lock
TBD. The Blue Spectacles. (The
Spectacles of Mr. Cagliostro). London:
Ward, Lock
1932
December 1. The Box from Japan. New York: E. P. Dutton
1933
February. The Box from Japan.
London, Ward, Lock
May 1. The Washington Square Enigma.
New York: E. P. Dutton
July. The Crilly Court Mystery.
London: Ward, Lock
September. Behind That Mask. London:
Ward, Lock
November 5. The Face of the Man from Saturn (The
Crilly Court Mystery). New York: E.
P. Dutton
December 15. Under Twelve Stars (The
Washington Square Enigma). London:
Ward, Lock
1934
February. The Fiddling Cracksman. London: Ward,
Lock
March 18. The Mystery of the Fiddling Cracksman.
New York: E. P. Dutton
September 1. The Riddle of the Traveling Skull.
New York: E. P. Dutton
November. Ten Hours. London: Ward,
Lock
TBD. The Travelling Skull. London:
Ward, Lock
1935
February 17. The Five Silver Buddhas.
New York: E. P. Dutton
April. The Five Silver Buddhas.
London: Ward, Lock
TBD. The Skull of the Waltzing Clown.
New York: E. P. Dutton
1936
February. The Marceau Case.
New York: E. P. Dutton
April. The Marceau Case. London:
Ward, Lock
May 31. X. Jones of Scotland Yard.
New York: E. P. Dutton
September. X. Jones. London: Ward,
Lock
1937
Early January. The Wonderful Scheme of Christopher
Thorne. New York: E. P. Dutton
January. The Wonderful Scheme. London: Ward, Lock
April 8. The Defrauded Yeggman. New York: E. P. Dutton
September. The Mysterious Mr. I.
London: Ward, Lock
October 31. 10 Hours. New York:
E. P. Dutton
1938
January. When Thief Meets Thief.
London: Ward, Lock
February. Finger! Finger! New York:
E. P. Dutton
June 9. Behind That Mask. New York:
E. P. Dutton
August. Cheung, Detective. London:
Ward, Lock
November 6. The Mysterious Mr. I.
New York: E. P. Dutton
1939
February. The Chameleon.
New York: E. P. Dutton
April. Find Actor Hart. London:
Ward, Lock
June 1. Y. Cheung, Business Detective.
New York: E. P. Dutton
November. The Man with the Magic Eardrums. New
York: E. P. Dutton
November. The Magic Eardrums. London:
Ward, Lock
1940
January. The Crimson Box. London: Ward, Lock
February. The Portrait of Jirjohn Cobb (Find
Actor Hart). New York: E. P. Dutton
July. The Man with the Crimson Box.
New York: E. P. Dutton
September. Cleopatra's Tears. London:
Ward, Lock
November 1. Cleopatra's Tears. New
York: E. P. Dutton
1941
January. The Wooden Spectacles.
London: Ward, Lock
February 3. The Peacock Fan. New
York: E. P. Dutton
June 1. The Sharkskin Book. New
York: E. P. Dutton
September 7. The Man with the Wooden Spectacles.
New York: E. P. Dutton
November 30. The Vanishing Gold Truck.
New York: E. P. Dutton
TBD. The Lavender Gripsack. London:
Ward, Lock
1942
March. The Peacock Fan.
London: Ward, Lock
March 8. The Bottle with the Green Wax Seal.
New York: E. P. Dutton
July 1. The Book with the Orange Leaves.
New York: E. P. Dutton
October. The Vanishing Gold Truck.
London: Ward, Lock
1943
February. The Book with Orange Leaves.
London: Ward, Lock
August 10. The Case of the Two Strange Ladies.
New York: Phoenix Press
September. The Search for X-Y-Z.
London: Ward, Lock
1944
March 5. The Case of the Lavender Gripsack.
New York: Phoenix Press
June. The Iron Ring. London: Ward,
Lock
September 9. The Case of the 16 Beans.
New York: Phoenix Press
1945
February 24. The Case of the Ivory Arrow (The
Search for X-Y-Z). New York: Phoenix
Press
August. The Case of the Mysterious Moll (The
Iron Ring). New York: Phoenix Press
TBD. Two Strange Ladies. London:
Ward, Lock & Co., 1945
TBD. The 16 Beans. London: Ward,
Lock
1946
TBD. The Case of the Canny Killer.
New York: Phoenix Press
TBD. Murder in the Mills (The Case of the Canny Killer). London: Ward, Lock
1947
June 13. The Case of the Barking Clock.
New York: Phoenix Press
TBD. The Monocled Monster. London:
Ward, Lock
1948
TBD. By Third Degree (The
Sharkskin Book). London: Ward, Lock & Co
TBD. The Case of the Transposed Legs. New
York: Phoenix Press
TBD. The Case of the Jeweled Ragpicker.
New York: Phoenix Press
TBD. The Ace-of-Spades Murder (The
Case of the Jeweled Ragpicker). London:
Ward, Lock
1949
TBD. The Murdered Mathematician.
London: Ward, Lock
TBD. The Strange Will. London: Ward,
Lock & Co., 1949
1950
TBD. The Steeltown Strangler. London: Ward, Lock
1951
TBD. The Barking Clock.
London: Ward, Lock
TBD. The Case of the Transposed Legs.
London: Ward, Lock.
1952
TBD. The Murder of London Lew. London: Ward, Lock
1953
TBD. Stand By—London Calling! London: Ward, Lock
1955
TBD. El caso Jaarvik [The Jaarvik case]. Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus
1957
September. Noches de verdugo [Hangman's nights]. Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus
1958
February. O caso do cadáver endiabrado [The
case of the crazy corpse]. Lisbon: Editorial Século
October. 28 sospechosos (an expanded
version of The Steeltown Strangler).
Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus
TBD. Ladrones de circos [The circus
stealers]. Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus
1959
TBD. El cubo carmesí [The crimson cube]. Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus
1960
TBD. Una versión del Beowulf. Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus
1961
TBD. La misteriosa bola de marfil de Wong Shing Li [The mysterious ivory ball of Wong Shing Li]. Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus
1963
TBD. El caso de la mujer transparente [The case of the transparent woman]. Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus
1964
TBD. Yo maté a Lincoln a las 10:13 [I killed Lincoln at 10:13]. Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus
1965
TBD. El círculo blanco [The white circle]. Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus
1966
TBD. La calle de los mil ojos [The street of a thousand eyes]. Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus
1967
El hombre que cambió de piel [The man who changed his skin]. Madrid: Instituto Editorial Reus
[1] Advertised in the Times of London on August 8, 1924
[2] Ad on the back cover of the May 1928 issue of 10 Story Book says that this book is now in its fourth printing, "Three large editions exhausted first week of publication." In Keeler News, no. 33.
[3] Advertised in the Times of London on June 23, 1925. Price 7/6 net.
[4] Keeler News, no. 47, reports an ad for this book appeared in the fall 1927 issue of America's Humor, which went on sale on June 15, 1927.
[5] Advertised as "ready Friday" in the Times of London on Friday, March 5, 1926
[6] Letter to Keeler from publisher, dated January 23, 1929, said the book was selling well. Quoted in Keeler News, no. 52.
[7] July 29, 1928 ad in the New York Times
[8] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[9] Keeler sent telegram to his publisher on January 23, 1930, complaining about the dust jacket ("I am in receipt of the jacket and am staggered…" Quoted in Keeler News, no. 54.) Ironically, the cover is now a classic of art-deco design. Issued with a wrap-around band announcing it as the Dutton Prize Novel for February. Advertised in the Chicago Tribune on February 12, 1930
[10] Advertised in the Chicago Tribune on September 7, 1929
[11] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[12] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[13] Advertised in Publishers Weekly on May 10, 1930, as "To be published May 15." Advertised in the Chicago Tribune on May 17, 1930. Advertised in the New York Times on May 18. Described as in its fourth printing on June 15, 1930 in the New York Times.
[14] Advertised in the New York Times on August 3, 1930. On April 30, 2006, Royal Books offered a copy inscribed on August 22, 1930.
[15] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[16] Advertised on November 8, 1930, in Publishers Weekly as "published on November 18." Advertised in the Chicago Tribune on November 22, 1930, as the "E. P. Dutton Prize Clue Mystery for December). On April 28, 2006, Michael J. Toth listed a 5th printing on Abebooks, writing, "Even though it is stated fifth printing—it was printed in the same month (November) as the first edition."
[17] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[18] Mentioned in the Washington Post on August 30, 1931, as the planned "E. P. Dutton Clue Mystery" for October. Advertised in Publishers Weekly on May 10, 1930, as "Coming October 2nd [1930]." On November 8, 1930, PW announced The Riddle of the Yellow Zuri instead.
[19] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[20] Notice in New York Times on November 23, 1932, giving publication date as December 1.
[21] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[22] Advertised as the Dutton Clue Mystery for May in the November 8, 1930, issue of Publishers Weekly. Mentioned in the New York Times as published "yesterday" on May 2, 1933
[23] Advertised under the heading "New Novels" on the Times of London, on December 15, 1933
[24] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[25] Reviewed in the New York Times on November 5, 1933
[26] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[27] Listed as "Published Today" in the New York Times on June 9, 1938
[28] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[29] Reviewed in the New York Times on March 19, 1934
[30] Listed as "Published Today" in the New York Times on September 1, 1934
[31] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm; reviewed by Charles Williams in the January 23, 1935, issue of Murder and Mystery (U.K.)
[32] Reviewed in the New York Times on February 17, 1935
[33] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[34] The Library of Congress record is for a third printing, described as "First printing, February, 1936…third printing, February, 1936." However, the book is listed as "Published Today" in the New York Times on March 23, 1936. An ad in the March 28 Chicago Tribune refers to a Walter Winchell column (not yet located) mentioning the book on March 18.
[35] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[36] Reviewed in the New York Times on May 31, 1936. Listed on the back of the dust jacket of The Marceau Case as "Coming June 1st."
[37] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[38] Summarized as the "New Keeler Mystery" in the Los Angeles Times on November 22, 1936, suggesting that the book was out in late 1936. Reviewed in the Washington Post on January 13, 1937
[39] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[40] Listed as "Published Today" in the New York Times on April 8, 1937
[41] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[42] Reviewed in the New York Times on November 6, 1938
[43] Listed in "Lastest Books" in the New York Times on October 31, 1937
[44] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[45] Reviewed in the Los Angeles Times on March 6, 1938. The LA Times typically lagged a few weeks from publication so the book likely appeared in early February. Apparently originally announced for May 1931. In a Publishers Weekly ad dated November 8, 1930, was the following announcement in a notice for The Washington Square Enigma, "NOTE TO BOOKSELLERS: This book has been substituted for 'Finger! Finger!' which was sold to you by our travellers." On one of Keeler's form letters for reviewers, this title is annotated as "coming(?) Feb 1, 1938." Keeler News, no. 15.
[46] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[47] Listed as forthcoming in June in the New York Times on May 21, 1939
[48] Reviewed in the New York Times on February 5, 1939
[49] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[50] Listed in "Latest Books Received" in the New York Times on February 4, 1940
[51] Listed as "Published Today" in the New York Times on November 1, 1939
[52] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[53] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[54] Advertised in the Chicago Tribune as "just out" on July 17, 1940
[55] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[56] Listed as "Published Today" in the New York Times on November 1, 1940
[57] Advertised in a list of "new novels" in the Times of London on January 18, 1941
[58] Listed in "Latest Books Received" in the New York Times on September 7, 1941
[59] Listed as "Published Today" in the New York Times on February 3, 1941 (as Peacock Farm). Advertised in the Chicago Tribune on February 5, 1941
[60] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[61] Listed in "Latest Books Received" in the New York Times on June 1, 1941
[62] Listed in "Latest Books Received" in the New York Times on November 30, 1941
[63] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[64] Reviewed in the New York Times on March 5, 1944
[65] Reviewed in the New York Times on March 8, 1942
[66] Listed as "Published Today" in the New York Times on July 1, 1942
[67] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[68] Listed as "Published Today" in the New York Times on August 10, 1943
[69] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[70] Listed as "Published Today" in the New York Times on February 24, 1945
[71] Month of publication from http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/harrystephen-keeler.htm
[72] Mentioned in Vincent Starrett's column in the Chicago Tribune on August 26, 1945: Keeler "shortly will publish his 56th novel, 'The Case of the Mysterious Moll'; it may be on the stands by the time this paragraph appears…Altho 56 novels in the precise count of Mr. Keeler's mystery productions, they appear in only 46 volumes…"
[73] Listed as "Published Today" in the New York Times on September 9, 1944
[74] Keeler presented a copy to his wife, Hazel, dated Feb 14/48." Five other books from Reus, also published in 1947, were inscribed at different dates in 1947. For this reason, it seems likely that this book was published late in the year and perhaps arrived in the mail near Valentine's Day. See Keeler News, no. 36.
[75] Listed as "Published Today" in the New York Times on June 13, 1947. El caso del reloj ladrador, the Spanish language version, published (apparently) later in 1947, incorporates parts of The Case of the Barking Clock and The Case of the Transposed Legs. There is no direct English-language equivalent. Keeler's copy of El caso is inscribed to his wife in early 1948, per Keeler News.
[76] Per British Library catalog record
[77] Chinaman's Legacy…is about due for publication in England" according to "Among the Authors" by Frederic Babcock, in the Chicago Daily Tribune, July 24, 1949. This almost certainly refers to The Strange Will.
[78] The copy Keeler inscribed to his wife, Hazel, is dated Nov 12/1958. See Keeler News, no. 36.
[79] The copy Keeler inscribed to his wife, Hazel, is dated Sept 28/1957. See Keeler News, no. 36.
[80] The copy Keeler inscribed to his wife, Hazel, is dated 3/1/58. See Keeler News, no. 36.
[81] Based on listing in the National Library of Spain
[82] Based on listing in the National Library of Spain