{"product_id":"herman-the-fiddler-1930-first-edition-seckatary-hawkins","title":"Herman the Fiddler or The Mystery of the Three-Eyed Ape | 1930 First Edition Seckatary Hawkins Series Book | Cincinnati Publisher Juvenile Mystery Adventure","description":"\u003ch3 data-start=\"1841\" data-end=\"1935\"\u003e1930 juvenile mystery adventure from the unusual and collectible Seckatary Hawkins series.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1937\" data-end=\"2364\"\u003eRare 1930 first edition of \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"1964\" data-end=\"2021\"\u003eHerman the Fiddler or The Mystery of the Three-Eyed Ape\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, the tenth volume in the adventurous Seckatary Hawkins series published by \u003cstrong\u003eRobert F. Schulkers\u003c\/strong\u003e of Cincinnati, Ohio. Written under the series pseudonym “Seckatary Hawkins,” these early American juvenile mysteries blended adventure fiction, secret societies, coded clues, and exotic mystery themes popular during the late 1920s and early 1930s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2366\" data-end=\"2723\"\u003eThis volume follows Herman, a gifted violinist drawn into a suspense-filled mystery involving espionage, hidden dangers, and the strange legend of a “three-eyed ape.” The vivid orange cloth binding, bold black title typography, and distinctive publisher styling give the book exceptional shelf appeal typical of early Depression-era boys’ adventure fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2725\" data-end=\"3241\"\u003eWhat makes this copy especially interesting is its untouched period character. The book retains handwritten ownership inscriptions dated 1930, along with charming child pencil drawings hidden on the front and rear endpapers — small surviving traces of the book’s original young owner and its life during the early twentieth century. Cincinnati-published juvenile fiction from smaller regional publishers is increasingly difficult to locate, particularly complete hardcover examples from the Seckatary Hawkins series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3243\" data-end=\"3768\"\u003eCondition is \u003cstrong\u003egood vintage condition \u003c\/strong\u003efor a nearly 100-year-old children’s hardcover. Orange cloth boards show general surface wear, rubbing, scattered marks, and age-related discoloration. Inner hinge is loose but holding. Interior pages exhibit scattered foxing, staining, and evidence of prior moisture exposure, primarily to endpapers and margins. Pencil ownership inscriptions and juvenile drawings appear on several preliminary pages. Text remains readable and complete. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin: 22px 0 14px 0; padding: 8px 14px 6px 14px; border-left: 3px solid #334FB4; background-color: #f8faff;\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"color: #334fb4; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin: 0 0 6px 0;\"\u003eCollector’s Note\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 6px 0 4px 0;\"\u003eEarly twentieth-century juvenile mystery series have developed a dedicated collector following, particularly titles from smaller regional publishers that never achieved the mass survival rates of larger national series. The\u003cstrong\u003e Seckatary Hawkins \u003c\/strong\u003ebooks occupy a fascinating place between boys’ adventure fiction, mystery serials, and Depression-era popular culture — with their unusual titles, secretive plots, and distinctly Midwestern publishing roots adding to their appeal today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse the\u003cstrong\u003e \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thetownhouseantiques.com\/collections\/vintage-antique-fiction\" title=\"Classic literature, children's books and modern fiction books\" style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003eClassic Literature collection\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e for more classics, children's books, modern fiction and links to other popular printed works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e","brand":"Robert F. Schulkers Publisher","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42095697559619,"sku":null,"price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0114\/3262\/4186\/files\/Herman_the_Fiddler.jpg?v=1779025913","url":"https:\/\/thetownhouseantiques.com\/products\/herman-the-fiddler-1930-first-edition-seckatary-hawkins","provider":"The Townhouse Antiques \u0026 Vintage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}