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Robbie Emily Dunn Collection of American Detective Fiction

The Robbie Emily Dunn Collection of American Detective Fiction was begun in 1981 with the initial intention that only women writers would be included. The collection has grown to approximately 3000 volumes representing nearly 200 authors, 85 percent of whom are women.

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A chain of evidence [binding]
Deep reddish-brown fine vertical rib cloth; lettering within decorative twisted line frame, lettered below, all in cream; signed "H" (unidentified); decoration and lettering on spine in cream. H: 19.3 cm.; W: 13 cm.; D: 3.6 cm.
A difficult problem : the staircase at the Heart's Delight and other stories [binding]
Very deep red (C14) very fine diagonal rib cloth; door within double ruled panel, lettered at head and foot with floret at head, illuminated lettered with floral bush below at head all in gilt, black, yellow and white; signed "W.F." (unidentified); two florets, lettering and rule on spine in gilt. H: 18.9 cm.; W:13 cm.; D: 3 cm.
A mountain mystery, or, The outlaws of the Rockies [binding]
Dark reddish-orange very fine diagonal rib cloth; man holding dagger holding onto light pole looking behind at building on corner across the street, vignette of weapons, handcuffs on lettering, lettered banner, leaf and berries around lettering at head, gated passageway at head, rules, all in black; motif repeated on spine in gilt and black. Floral patterned endpapers in light green. H: 19.2 cm.; W:13.7 cm.; D: 5.1 cm.
A strange disappearance [binding]
Grayish-yellow paper cover; lettered panels, decorations, circles with floral and dot patterns, decorative borders, house with weather vane, all in red and light blue; advertisement on back cover in red; motif repeated on spine in red and light blue. Advertisement on outer back endpaper in black. H: 17.4 cm.; W:12.9 cm.; D: 2.5 cm.
Agatha Webb [binding]
Dark greenish-blue calico-texture cloth; central vignette of iris and dagger in circular line, lettered above and below, all in cream, gilt, black and reserved dark greenish-blue; rectangle and lettering on spine in white. H: 18.1 cm.; W:12.6 cm.; D: 2.3 cm.
An alabaster box [binding]
Moderate green calico-texture cloth; lettering on decorative panel with gilt background, lettered in reserved moderate green, single blind stamped outer rule border; spine lettered in gilt. H: 19.2 cm.; W:12.8 cm.; D: 3.3 cm.
Anybody but Anne [binding]
Dark blue (C183) calico-texture cloth; two "panels" within decorative lines, lower panel has decorative pendent, upper panel lettered, all in white; signed "H" probably Edward Stratton Holloway; decorative lines and lettering on spine in white H: 19.6 cm.; W:13.1 cm.; D: 3.4 cm.
At the sign of the Sphinx [binding]
Strong yellow calico-texture cloth; Sphinx head, art nouveau flowers with triangles at foot, lettered, all within single rule outer border, all in black; hieroglyphics, flowers, triangles, rules and lettering on spine in black; untrimmed. H: 17.6 cm.; W:11.4 cm.; D: 1.6 cm.
Counsel for the defense [binding]
Grayish-blue calico-texture cloth; alternating blind stamped checkboard pattern along left side, axes, sheet on poles and wood design within heart shape, lettered at head and foot along right side, all in gilt; spine lettered in gilt. In color illustrated dust jacket with pointing woman standing over seated man with desk, books and people in background, lettered; continued on spine; advertisement on back cover and flaps in black. H: 19.5 cm.; W:13.6 cm.; D: 3.2 cm.
Cynthia Wakeham's money [binding]
Grayish-yellow paper cover; ruled and lettered in blue; advertisements on back cover in blue; spine lettered and ruled in blue; advertisements in blue on outer endpapers. In original glassine wrapper. H: 17.1 cm.; W:12.6 cm.; D: 1.8 cm.
Dangerous days [binding]
Light grayish-olive calico-texture cloth; vase with floral design around lettering, lettering and rule, all at head, all in black and red; front cover repeated on back cover; lettering within decorative panels with red backgrounds, lettered in black. In dust color illustrated dust jacked with house, stairs, plants and fountain, lettered at head, advertisements on back cover and flaps in blue; spine lettered, upper lettering on decorative panel. H: 19.6 cm.; W:13.3 cm.; D: 3.7 cm.
Doctor Izard [binding]
Yellowish-reddish-gray calico-texture cloth; fire with decorative flames, lettered, all in red and black; spine lettered in black. H: 17.6 cm.; W:13.2 cm.; D: 2.3 cm.
Hand and ring [binding]
Dark green (C146) very fine diagonal rib cloth; floret, grandfather cloth, decorative border, rules and lettering, all in black; lettering and rule on spine in gilt. H: 19.3 cm.; W:13.8 cm.; D: 4.1 cm.
Initials only [binding]
Vivid red very fine diagonal rib cloth; blind stamped "X" with initials "OB" embossed in center of x, lettered at head and foot in white, all within thick rule blind stamped outer border; curved "x" in panel and lettering on spine in white. In color illustrated dust jacket with frontispiece reproduced, lettered at head and foot in black; advertisements on back cover and flaps in black; spine lettered and ruled in black. H: 19 cm.; W:13.5 cm.; D: 3.3 cm.
Isn't that just like a man! [binding]
Illustrated light tan paper over boards, bound in te?te-be?che style; front cover has silhouette of Mary Roberts Rinehart in black with black lettering and background of daggers in outline; inverted cover on back has silhouette of Irvin Cobb seated and smoking cigar in black, with black lettering and background of hammers in outline; both outline shapes continue on spine with black lettering. In cream dust jacket with photograph of Rinehart in oval frame flanked by two florets with lettering on green background, framed by about 20 slowly thickening red rule frames; inverted cover with the same design and drawing of Cobb in frame; spine lettered in green; advertisements on both flaps. H: 19 cm.; W: 12.6 cm.; D: 1.3 cm.
Madeline Payne, the expert's daughter [binding]
Dark green calico-texture cloth; moon, stars, floret, three diagonal rules and lettering, all within outer rule border, all in white on black background, all within thick black outer rule; vines, lettering and stars on spine in white. Dark brown coated endpapers. H: 19.7 cm.; W:13.5 cm.; D: 4.2 cm.
Marked "personal" [binding]
Grayish-yellow paper cover; package, lettering and two vine designs in red and black; advertisement on back cover in black; spine ruled and lettered in black and red. Advertisements on outer endpapers in black. H: 17.1 cm.; W:12.9 cm.; D: 2.3 cm.
Miss Frances Baird, detective : a passage from her memoirs [binding]
Pale blue calico-texture cloth; woman wearing mask holding lantern, light shining on chest, lettered and ruled at head and foot, all in dark blue, black, and yellow; floret, lettering and rule on spine in blue and yellow; untrimmed. H: 19.6 cm.; W:13.5 cm.; D: 3.4 cm.
Miss Madelyn Mack, detective [binding]
Purplish-gray (C233) vertical rib cloth; three panels ruled in blind, central panel has paper onlay of frontispiece reproduced, within single rule outer border in gilt, upper and lower panels lettered and has ornaments, all in gilt, all panels within single rule outer blind stamped border; rules and lettering on spine in gilt; untrimmed. H: 19.6 cm.; W:13.7 cm.; D: 4 cm.
Mrs. Raffles : being the adventures of an amateur crackswoman [binding]
Medium gray fine vertical rib cloth; two panels ruled in black, left panel has woman in trench coat and hat and mask holding two guns, right panel has man holding hands above head, lettered above and below panels, all within single rule outer border, all in black and yellow; spine lettered in gilt. H: 17.3 cm.; W:11.4 cm.; D: 2.5 cm.

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