Share via:
The Secret of the Wooden Lady is the twenty-seventh volume in the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories series. It was first published in 1950 under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. The actual author was ghostwriter Margaret Scherf.
Summaries (original edition)

Adventure abounds on the Bonny Scot in Boston Harbor as Nancy Drew helps Captain Easterly uncover the mystery of his ghostly visitors. From the moment the clever young detective and her friends, Bess and George, take up residence on the old clipper ship they are confronted with fire, theft, and other dangerous situations.
Nancy faces an additional challenge: to find a clue to the clipper’s missing figurehead. If she is successful, it will help her lawyer father to trace the history of the Bonny Scot and establish a clear title to the ship for Captain Easterly. But strangely there are no records of the Bonny Scot’s past. Why? And why has the prime suspect in the recent robbery at Bess Marvin’s home followed the three girls to Boston?
Nancy Drew #27 The Secret of the Wooden Lady First Edition Book Identification Points
Only the first few printings of the first/second year are included. Printings codes are based on the Farrah Guide, 12th printing. Please refer to the guide for later printings.
Printing | Frontis | Copyright Page | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1950A-1 | Plain | Nancy Drew #1-27, Dana Girls #1-6 | |
1950B-2 | Plain | Nancy Drew #1-27, Dana Girls #1-10 |
Nancy Drew #27 The Secret of the Wooden Lady First Edition Dust Jacket Identification Points
Printing | Price | Front Flap | Rear Panel | Rear Flap | Format |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1950A-1 | 7575 | Nancy Drew #1-27 | Beverly Gray #1-20 | Connie Blair #1-6 | 13 |
1950B-2 | 7575 | Nancy Drew #1-27 | Beverly Gray #1-20 | Connie Blair #1-6 | 13 |
1950C-3 | 7575 | Nancy Drew #1-27 | Judy Bolton #1-21 | Dana Girls #1-10 | 13 |

Reference:
- Wikipedia
- Farah’s Guide to Nancy Drew, 12th printing