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Ghost Eater, a novel set in turn of the century Sumatra, by Frederick Higland

masters of detection

Part I :: Part II :: Part III

Masters of Detection is a three part quiz drawn from this unique set of stamps, designed to test the knowledge of mystery fiction aficionados and provide some strictly private eye information along the way.

In 1972, Nicaragua issued an unusual set of airmail stamps depicting famous detectives to celebrate 50 years of the International Police Organization (INTERPOL).

The central design element shows a bookshelf with one book open and facing the reader. The open page reveals a portrait of the detective with the name of the author appearing on the spine of the book directly to the left of the open book. To the left of the author's name a caption in Spanish reads Los Doce Detectives Mas Famosos De La Ficcion (The Twelve Most Famous Fictional Detectives). Interestingly several of the portraits are drawn from American film and television actors who helped to popularize the detectives.

Click on the stamps to reveal the answers.

 

Lord Peter Wimsey  Philip Marlowe Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade

Dorothy Sayers' detective Lord Peter Wimsey was introduced in Whose Body? (1923). The urbane peer and amateur sleuth, whose signature monocle can be seen to the right edge of his portrait, appeared in ten more novels. Along the way he met mystery writer Harriet Vane, whom he eventually marries. Harriet has been called Sayers' alter ego. Besides mystery writing, both Dorothy and Harriet share an important distinction. They were both:

A. Edgar awards nominees

B. Former Catholic nuns

C. Oxford graduates

D. Of noble birth

 Is the portrait of private eye Philip Marlowe on this stamp modeled after Dick Powell or Robert Mitchum? These are just two of the Hollywood stars who played Raymond Chandler's hard-boiled detective. See if you can match the star with the Marlowe role he played:

1. Humphrey Bogart
 

2. Robert Mitchum
 

3. Robert Montgomery
 

4. Dick Powell

a. Farewell, My Lovely

b. Lady in the Lake

c. Murder, My Sweet
 

d. The Big Sleep

Obviously, Bogie is the model for Sam Spade on this stamp. The small bird in the background leaves no doubt that The Maltese Falcon is the Dashiell Hammet novel the stamp designer has in mind. Speaking of the bird, the statuette is coated with lead to conceal a fortune in gems that once belonged to the:

A. Knights Templar

B. Rosicrucians

C. Knights Hospitalers

D. Masonic Order

   

After you are done, continue with Part II
 

Website and All Contents Copyright (c) 1998-2008 Frederick Highland