The Old Dark House

From Author Wars - https://authorwars.com/publications/the-old-dark-house-591599.html

Overview:

Title: The Old Dark House
Author: J. B. Priestley
Year: 1928
Publisher: Harper & Brothers
Price: $2.00
Pages: 269
Binding: Hardcover
Type: Novel
Title Reference: The Old Dark House
Notes: First US edition of Benighted (1927) OCLC record refers to it part of the Armed Services editions, id 665. This is incorrect as the Armed Service editions were published during World War II. Publ date inferred from listing NY Herald Tribune 1928-02-05 pJ20 "Books of the Week" and two reviews same date, as $2: • by Will Cuppy NYHT 02-05 pJ12 (brief, positive); "The publishers promise your money back if you can resist the sealed last part containing the atrocities--and grand ones, too." • NY Times 02-05 p6,14 (full, very positive) "... an unusual publicity stunt. When the reader reaches page 158 he finds that the rest of the book is enclosed in a yellow sheath bearing on its face a statement to the effect that any one reading so far and not desiring to finish the book may return it with the seal unbroken and receive his money back."

Some later newspaper articles mention the marketing device ("A New Idea" per Chi. Tribune 02-25). Sometimes advertised as "The Sealed Mystery Story". Reported #10 best-seller in New York during March (The China Press 04-29). "First Printing January, 1928" on copyright page of February, 1928 seventh printing seen on amazon.ca.