S. S. Van Dine The Scarab Murder Case 1930 Philo Vance Hardcover Mystery

Produced by Charles Scribner's Sons. Written by S. S. Van Dine, the pen name of art critic Willard Huntington Wright, this 1930 hardcover is the fifth novel in the celebrated Philo Vance series. Vance, a sophisticated and aristocratic amateur detective, is drawn into a baffling case when a wealthy philanthropist is found murdered in the private museum of an Egyptologist. The investigation unfolds against a backdrop of ancient Egyptian artifacts and occult lore, with a rare blue scarab serving as a central clue.

This collectible first edition is a cornerstone of Golden Age detective fiction. The volume features a striking dust jacket with a wraparound band of hieroglyphics, and is accompanied by a detailed fold-out map of the crime scene, enhancing the reader's experience of this intricate whodunit. It is a valuable addition for collectors of vintage mysteries and a classic example of Van Dine's influential style, which helped shape the genre's conventions.