UNITED KINGDOM

 

The Harold Hill books were produced between 1954-1955 and featured original artwork that was only available in the UK. The first six titles in the Nancy Drew series were released by Harold Hill, and a gallery of these covers is displayed below. They are all signed "Varty" on either the bottom right hand or left hand corner. This is believed to be the work of artist Frank Varty. Although the front flaps of the Harold Hill dust jackets list 30 titles, up to Velvet Mask, only the 6 below were produced by Hill before Sampson Low & Company took over the series (unlike the Hardy Boys, for which Hill produced many more titles and covers).

The Varty covers are among some of my favorites as they portray Nancy and her chums in a very idealised, innocent manner which is very consistent with my perception of the Drew world. Also, I really like the way the clock is drawn on #1 - that is exactly how I pictured it the first time I read this story, many moons ago.

© 1954 Harold Hill & Son Limited, Newcastle Upon Tyne		© 1954 Harold Hill & Son Limited, Newcastle Upon Tyne
© 1954 Harold Hill & Son Limited, Newcastle Upon Tyne		© 1954 Harold Hill & Son Limited, Newcastle Upon Tyne
© 1955 Harold Hill & Son Limited, Newcastle Upon Tyne		© 1954 Harold Hill & Son Limited, Newcastle Upon Tyne

All the Hill dust jackets have the same blue spine with slightly revised Nancy Drew spine symbol and Harold Hill's HH logo.		© 1960 Sampson Low & Company, London I have included a scan this cover here because it is another one that appeared only in the UK, although on a Sampson Low edition rather than a Harold Hill. There is speculation that this may have been the "lost" wrap spine DJ cover for Larkspur Lane - presumably rejected by the editors at Grosset & Dunlap because Nancy is showing a little too much thigh. Click here to see some reasons that may or not may support this theory.