The Mystery of the Ivory Charm
Encyclopedia
The Mystery of the Ivory Charm is the thirteenth volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories
series. It was first published in 1936 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene
. The actual author was ghostwriter Mildred Wirt Benson.
This is one of the few Nancy Drew books where an acknowledgement has been made to Mildred Wirt Benson. The acknowledgement from the 1974 edition reads as follows:
"Acknowledgement is made to Mildred Wirt Benson, who under the pen name Carolyn Keene, wrote the original NANCY DREW books."
. The boy, Coya, works for a traveling circus, and is treated poorly by his guardian, Rai, who is in charge of the circus, who is also a native of India. Coya runs away from his abusive guardian and seeks asylum at the Drew home in River Heights. Soon after his arrival, the girls begin investigating property owned by the unusual Mrs. Anita Allison. They encounter a house "with no insides," and a hidden tunnel. The property mysteriously catches fire, revealing a hidden cache of jewels. Nancy traces Coya's parentage and uncovers a sinister kidnapping plot involving both Mrs. Anita Allison and Rai. The climax also reveals a secret about the ivory charm, and its mysterious powers.
completed the revisions.
, and for a few printings, four glossy illustrations by him. Tandy updated his frontispiece to a plain pen and ink drawing for printings after 1943. Rudy Nappi illustrated new cover art for the volume's picture cover binding in 1962, and again for the 1974 revision. An uncredited illustrator completed interior illustrations for the revision.
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories
The Nancy Drew Mystery Stories was the long-running "main" Nancy Drew series, published between 1930 and 2003. Initially, titles were published by Grosset & Dunlap, but with #57 publication switched to Simon & Schuster. Most people consider these first 56 to be the original series and consider the...
series. It was first published in 1936 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene
Carolyn Keene
Carolyn Keene is the pseudonym of the authors of the Nancy Drew mystery stories and The Dana Girls mystery stories, both produced by the Stratemeyer Syndicate...
. The actual author was ghostwriter Mildred Wirt Benson.
This is one of the few Nancy Drew books where an acknowledgement has been made to Mildred Wirt Benson. The acknowledgement from the 1974 edition reads as follows:
"Acknowledgement is made to Mildred Wirt Benson, who under the pen name Carolyn Keene, wrote the original NANCY DREW books."
Plot summary - 1936 edition
The plot finds Nancy, Bess, and George investigating a mysterious boy from IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The boy, Coya, works for a traveling circus, and is treated poorly by his guardian, Rai, who is in charge of the circus, who is also a native of India. Coya runs away from his abusive guardian and seeks asylum at the Drew home in River Heights. Soon after his arrival, the girls begin investigating property owned by the unusual Mrs. Anita Allison. They encounter a house "with no insides," and a hidden tunnel. The property mysteriously catches fire, revealing a hidden cache of jewels. Nancy traces Coya's parentage and uncovers a sinister kidnapping plot involving both Mrs. Anita Allison and Rai. The climax also reveals a secret about the ivory charm, and its mysterious powers.
1974 revision
This version is very similar to the original text. Some character names are updated or altered (for instance Coya was renamed Rishi), but the plot is largely a condensed, modernized version of the previous edition. Harriet Stratemeyer Adams and her employees at the Stratemeyer SyndicateStratemeyer Syndicate
The Stratemeyer Syndicate was the producer of a number of mystery series for children, including Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, the various Tom Swift series, the Bobbsey Twins, the Rover Boys, and others.- History :...
completed the revisions.
Artwork
The 1936 edition featured cover art by Russell H. TandyRussell H. Tandy
Russell H. Tandy was an American illustrator, best known for his cover art for early editions of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series.Tandy was a friend of Edward Stratemeyer, whose syndicate created several series of books for young readers...
, and for a few printings, four glossy illustrations by him. Tandy updated his frontispiece to a plain pen and ink drawing for printings after 1943. Rudy Nappi illustrated new cover art for the volume's picture cover binding in 1962, and again for the 1974 revision. An uncredited illustrator completed interior illustrations for the revision.