Detective Story Magazine Feb. 1927

Updated September 9, 2026

Detective Story Magazine (Street & Smith), February 12, 1927 issue.This is a weekly pulp from the long-running Detective Story Magazine series (launched 1915), one of the earliest all-mystery/detective fiction magazines. Cover price 15¢. The lead/featured story is “The Blind Man’s Prisoner” by Herman Landon. Cover illustration is by John A. Coughlin (signed lower left), depicting a convict in striped prison garb confronting a woman in a yellow dress who is holding a handgun on him in a dimly lit room. The back cover carries a full-page color ad for Congoleum “Gold Seal” Art Rugs from Spiegel, May, Stern Co. of Chicago (the $10.80 three-rug offer with $1 down). 100-year-old pulp paper: heavy edge chipping and tears (especially bottom left and corners), creases, surface scuffing, spine wear/roll, and overall fragility. The cover is still attached but shows clear damage. This places it in the Fair to Good 1927 issues of Detective Story Magazine are collectible as early Street & Smith detective pulps but are not among the rarest or highest-demand titles (later 1930s–1940s issues or those with bigger-name authors/covers often bring more).Nearby 1927 issues in better (Good/VG) condition have been listed or sold in the $100–$130 range.Lower-grade examples (Fair–Good with the kind of cover damage seen here) typically fall in the $40–$80 retail range.

Register & bid on this lot at Bidspirit →

More lots in this auction

• 1937 Buffalo Nickel (Philadelphia Mint – no mint )
• Detective Story Magazine April 1928
• 1942 Mercury Dime (Philadelphia – no mint mark)
• 1976-D Bicentennial Kennedy Half Dollar
• 1914 Barber Dime (Philadelphia Mint – no mint mar)
• 1901 Barber dime possible 1901-S needs Cert
• 1908-O Barber Dime (New Orleans Mint)
• 1942 Mercury dime “Broken nose”

See all lots in Coin, Stamp and Collectables 30 →