Sarah Winchester Appraisal

Lady of Mystery (Sarah Winchester) by Ralph Rambo, Pioneer Series No. 1

This item is a vintage softcover booklet or pamphlet titled 'Lady of Mystery (Sarah Winchester)' authored by Ralph Rambo. It is part of the 'Pioneer Series' and is identified as No. 1 in that series. The cover features a distinctive tan or light brown cardstock material with a central rectangular illustration set within a linear frame. The illustration displays a sketch of the Winchester Mystery House and a Winchester repeating rifle, rendered in black ink. The typography for the title 'Lady of Mystery' is stylized in a Gothic-influenced font, while the subtitle and author name appear in a more modern sans-serif and cursive style. In the lower-right corner, there is a logo for the Pioneer Series featuring an hourglass icon. The item shows significant signs of previous ownership and use, most notably a Dewey Decimal library sticker (979.473 Ra) taped to the bottom-left corner, suggesting it was once part of a circulating collection. The edges of the cover show minor shelf wear and darkening, typical of aged paper. The spine appears to be a simple staple or glue binding consistent with mid-20th-century regional historical publications. Ralph Rambo was a well-known chronicler of Santa Clara Valley history, and this piece likely dates from the 1960s or 1970s. The craftsmanship is typical of local historical society printings of that era, prioritizing informational content and nostalgic illustration over high-end binding materials.