Nero Wolfe Mystery Magazine, Vol. 1 by Stout, Rex

Chicago; (January, 1954): Hillman Periodicals. First Edition. Small Octavo. 144 pages. In 1954, Rex Stout decided to publish a small magazine with both classic and original detective stories. The opening page addresses the public as to why he hopes this magazine will entertain them. This copy is the first issue (January), Vol. 1, no. 1 and included his long shot novel "Before I Die" which dealt with a strike in 1946 that prevented meat getting to the market. As a large man who was both a gourmand as well as obsessed, he decided to contact the underworld so he could acquire enough quality beef to keep Fritz busy. Other stories by Mary Robert Rinehart; Ellery Queen, Edmund Crispin, Dorothy Says, Wilbur Daniel Steele and Agatha Christie. There is an amazing crossword puzzle by Margarite Petherbridge Farrar who was puzzle editor of the New York Times from 1942 to 1967. She claims it was created by the famous crossword detective Moa Webster (a clever play on words since Noah Webster was the author of American's first great dictionary). A very scarce issue of one of the best (but short-lived detective magazines in the post-World War II era). OCLC shows only six copies (the magazine's history ended after only four issues). Bound in pictorial color wraps slightly rubbed and a bit toned.