A basic guide to the Ken Holt Mystery Stories including title list (US and UK editions), publication formats, and illustrative photos.

The Ken Holt books were authored under the pseudonym Bruce Campbell and published by Grosset and Dunlap (GD) between1949 and1963. Unlike a lot of GD series books which had multiple authors, Samuel and Beryl Epstein wrote the entire series. The Epsteins were talented writers and gave these books consistency and high quality writing. The Holt series is one of the best, only being topped (slightly) by the Rick Brant series.

The books chronicle the adventures of Ken Holt and Sandy Allen. Ken is the son of the famed news reporter Richard Holt, Global News' star correspondent. Ken shares his father's flair for investigative reporting. Meanwhile, Sandy is a whiz photographer. Sandy's family owns the Brentwood Advance, a local weekly paper, for which both boys work.  They often sell stories to Global News as well. Their adventures take place all over the globe, from New Jersey to Europe! While trying to avoid trouble, they always manage to land right in the middle of exciting mysteries and have to use their wits (and some brawn) to get out!

The books debuted in the US in 1949 and new stories came out until 1963. All but the last title were issued first in hardcover editions with dust jackets featuring full color art. The last title was first issued as a picture cover book, also with full color art.

(Picture 1 showing a US edition hardcover dust jacket and picture cover version for comparison.)

There appear to be 2 formats for the dust jacketed editions. The first four volumes were first published in a tan cover (1949-1950), and then the cover switched to a greyish tan tweed material for reprints of 1-4, and first printings of 5-17 (plus reprintings). The books have Ken's logo on the front cover with title on the spine.

(Picture 2 showing US (left) and UK (right) hardcover editions.)

The eighteenth and last story was first issued as a picture cover volume. It seems that only volumes 1-4, 6 and 15 were also re-issued in picture cover format starting around 1962-1963, using their original artwork. (Why the other titles were not re-formatted, I do not know.) The picture covers have the original artwork on the front, and then an orangish-red cover for the spine and rear cover. The spine features a logo with Ken's picture, while the back cover has the title list, a simple line drawing and series blurb. The orange color is very vulnerable to sun fading sadly.

The books have a plain frontis drawing. The eps are either a dark green and white drawing of a cabin in a storm for most volumes, while the last two or three have a black and white line drawing of art from the Hangman's Inn story.  This seems to hold true regardless of whether the book is in hardcover or picture cover format.

(Picture 3 showing the two end pages designs.)

Like most GD series, there are multiple printings of most of the titles. Since GD did not change copyright dates or indicate subsequent printings, you can not determine printing date or first editions by the copyright date. Rather, you have to rely on the story lists, and if the book lists to itself. If it does, then it is probably a first edition. You can compare the binding types as well to try and establish printing dates.

World Distributors in the UK picked up the series and published them for UK distribution, which included areas outside the UK itself. These were under agreement with G&D, and some were reprinted several times.  For some odd reason, the UK editions for the first nine volumes are in a different order than the US ones. The only changes made to the stories are English spelling changes ('colour' for 'color' and 'kerb' for 'curb' for example). This leads to some interesting continuity problems when books refer back to other stories, which had yet to be published in the UK! The artwork does vary a bit with the layout of the dust jackets.  One other thing to note is that these editions are published on much heavier paper stock and often printed in Hungary.

(Picture 4 showing US (top) and UK (bottom) dust jackets of the same story.)

World issued a the stories as hardcovers with with dust jackets. The ones I have seen are all done in a red cover with black lettering. (Picture 2, above.)

In the early 1970s, World Distributors issued reprint picture cover editions under their Redwing Library imprint.  The volumes feature new, but cruder, artwork for the covers, (pictures below) and the same frontis art as the prior editions.  The books were part of the Redwing Library for Boys and Girls, which also included Bobbsey Twins, Kit Hunter and Sally Baxter stories. 

(The Phantom Car in its original Grosset version, World's first edition, and then Redwing edition.)

(Marked Claw and Coiled Cobra Redwing editions.)

(Redwing Library for Boys and Girls book listing from back of The Marked Claw.)

I hope you've found this little guide helpful! A complete listing of the stories for both US and UK editions is below, as well as source information.

Be sure and check out our eBay store (MAs-Garage) for various series books, as well as an eclectic mix of other items!  MAs-Garage eBay Store

Run a search for Ken Holt books currently for sale on eBay.  Ken Holt Book Search

GROSSET and DUNLAP TITLE LIST (US Editions):

Volume Title and Publication Formats (HC  PC)

   1. The Secret of Skeleton Island  (HC-PC)

   2. The Riddle of the Stone Elephant (HC-PC)

   3. The Black Thumb Mystery  (HC-PC)

   4. The Clue of the Marked Claw  (HC-PC)

   5. The Clue of the Coiled Cobra  (HC)

   6. The Secret of Hangman's Inn  (HC-PC)

   7. The Mystery of the Iron Box (HC)

   8. The Clue of the Phantom Car (HC)

   9. The Mystery of the Galloping Horse (HC)

  10. The Mystery of the Green Flame (HC)

  11. The Mystery of the Grinning Tiger  (HC)

  12. The Mystery of the Vanishing Magician (HC)

  13. The Mystery of the Shattered Glass  (HC)

  14. The Mystery of the Invisible Enemy (HC)

  15. The Mystery of Gallows Cliff  (HC-PC)

  16. The Mystery of the Silver Scorpion (HC)

  17. The Mystery of the Plumed Serpent (HC)

  18. The Mystery of the Sultan's Scimitar (PC Only)

WORLD DISTRIBUTORS PUBLICATION LIST

(UK-British Commonwealth Authorized Editions -All issued as Hardcovers with Dust Jackets)

   1. The Clue of the Marked Claw

   2. The Clue of the Coiled Cobra

   3. The Secret of Hangman's Inn

   4. The Mystery of the Galloping Horse

   5. The Clue of the Phantom Car

   6. The Secret of Skeleton Island

   7. The Mystery of the Iron Box

   8. The Black Thumb Mystery

   9. The Riddle of the Stone Elephant

  10. The Mystery of the Green Flame

  11. The Mystery of the Grinning Tiger

  12. The Mystery of the Vanishing Magician

  13. The Mystery of the Shattered Glass

  14. The Mystery of the Invisible Enemy

  15. The Mystery of Gallows Cliff

  16. The Mystery of the Silver Scorpion

  17. The Mystery of the Plumed Serpent

  18. The Mystery of the Sultan's Scimitar

(Note: I am not sure of a complete Redwing edition listing, so they are not included here.)

SOURCES:

My own collection of Holts which is made up of US and UK editions to complete the series, and are the subjects of the photos in this guide!

All About Collecting Boys' Series Books by John Axe, 2002, Hobby House Press, Inc.; Grantsville, MD. I believe the book is now out of print, but highly recommend it, as well as his companion book All About Collecting Girls Series Books, if you can find them.

If I have made an error, I apologize. Obviously, I have not seen every copy ever printed, so there may be variations of which I am not aware. So, if you know of different information, of have information to add, please let me know! I'll update this guide and happily give you credit as a contributor! If you wish to make use of any information contained here, please simply attribute this article. Do not copy and use the photographs elsewhere without asking me first!