The Mystery Box, by Frederick Highland :: History, Mystery, & Stamps

There are 20 illustrated tales of mystery, suspense, and adventure. Each is accompanied by a lively discussion about the story, stamps, or other historical or cultural background. There are also 5 essays the author calls "Enigmas", mysteries of the real world dealing with subjects as diverse as symbols that speak to us from the past and, in the case of the stamps in The Philatelic Hall of Shame, the quixotic process of selecting what goes into the stamp image.

About the Book • About the Author

1	Chain Letter	A tale of revenge through time.
2	Smoked Fish *	Ambition and greed rock the world of 18th century sumo.
3	Never	A poignant story of the power of freedom.
4	Our Man in Boma *	The conquest of Africa along the famed River Congo was not immune to treachery.
5	The Healer's Daughter *	A non-fiction Enigma. A tale of a gentle woman's legacy to the world of medicine.
6	Black Jack *	Andrew "Old Hickory" Jackson, his image that is, may be the clue to whodunit.
7	The Fox *	Revelry and midnight madness join in an wicked Medieval carnavale dance. "What a story, I felt I was there... the end is amazing." from a reader
8	Murder in the Maldives	How is it that Sir Geoffrey Bullock, prominent diplomat and seemingly harmless philatelist, should end up the victim of the profoundest form of crime?
9	The Visitation *	No one is immune to the terror of opening the doors to our most hidden and lurking fears. "A chilling tale", MW Book Review
10	Czech Folk Targets: Hidden Aims *	A non-fiction Enigma Charming folk art images whose mysteries even today remain hidden. This was reprinted in the American Philatelist* Oct 98.*
11	Devil at the Door *	A quiet and moving tale on the eve of one of humanities darkest moments.
12	The Scorpion's Sting	A confounded corpse has ended up on the dead ruler's throne and it is not the dead ruler. And then there are those curious images painted on the walls, the ones that look so much like postage stamps.
13	Grapes of Wrath *	A tribute to a well-known sleuthing duo and their lovable dog.
14	The Fallen Vicar	Cinderella issues are the clues to murder most foul on the Channel Island of Lundy. Also, read the tribute to the late L. Norman Williams, a celebrated Cinderella specialist and "philatelist's philatilist".
15	The Sorrows of Weimar *	A non-fiction Enigma. This essay explores the value of a crust of bread.
16	The Case of the Missing Mogul	"Who ever knocks stamp collecting is a chump" and other wise cracks, straight from the mouth of Nick Diamond, denizen of Van Nuys Boulevard.
17	The Rock *	Raise your glasses in a merry toast of "Farewell" to that scoundrel of San Marino.
18	Catch of the Day *	Legends are woven deeply in the fabric of Venetians, even the saints of Venice, returning in mysterious ways again and again.
19	The Callers *	A shattering portrait of the mysteries of the family in a totalitarian state.
20	The God Who Would Not Die *	A non-fiction Enigma The mystery of modern day transformations of enduring and ancient symbols.
21	Venus of the Mysteries *	What a beautiful face, she is irresistible. But, will Le Nez think so?
22	The Emperor's Tomb *	The silence of the excavation is eerily broken by a haunting voice. Where is it coming from?
23	Bon Appétit *	Food and love, love and food, inseparable! Or are they?
24	Buzz and Ginger in Space Against Time, Episode 7	Will the puzzles of this century be unraveled in the far distant future? Join Buzz and Ginger to find out.
25	The Philatelic Hall Of Shame *	A non-fiction enigma. An affectionate commentary on what might be called the "mystery mutts" of stamps, to which readers are invited to submit their own personal favorites.
26	A Devil's Glossary of Stamp Terms	A few terms guaranteed to singe the gray beards of the staunchest philatelist!
*	Bibliography, Resources, Index	A list of resources to continue your pursuit of mystery, history, and stamps.

credits

1

Chain Letter

2

Smoked Fish *

3

Never

4

Our Man in Boma *

5

The Healer's Daughter *

6

Black Jack *

7

The Fox *

8

Murder in the Maldives

9

The Visitation *

10

Czech Folk Targets: Hidden Aims *

11

Devil at the Door *

12

The Scorpion's Sting

13

Grapes of Wrath *

14

The Fallen Vicar

15

The Sorrows of Weimar *

16

The Case of the Missing Mogul

17

The Rock *

18

Catch of the Day *

19

The Callers *

20

The God Who Would Not Die *

21

Venus of the Mysteries *

22

The Emperor's Tomb *

23

Bon Appétit *

24

Buzz and Ginger in Space Against Time, Episode 7

25

The Philatelic Hall Of Shame *

26

A Devil's Glossary of Stamp Terms

*

Bibliography, Resources, Index

Smoked Fish
*

Our Man in Boma
*

The Healer's Daughter
*

Black Jack
*

The Fox
*

The Visitation
*

Czech Folk Targets: Hidden Aims
*

Devil at the Door
*

Grapes of Wrath
*

The Sorrows of Weimar
*

The Rock
*

Catch of the Day
*

The Callers
*

The God Who Would Not Die
*

Venus of the Mysteries
*

The Emperor's Tomb
*

Bon Appétit
*

The Philatelic Hall Of Shame
*