Three for the Chair is a collection of Nero Wolfe mystery novellas by Rex Stout, published by the Viking Press in 1957, and by Bantam Books in various paperback printings beginning in 1958. The book contains three stories:
"A Window for Death", first published in The American Magazine (May 1956) as "Nero Wolfe and the Vanishing Clue"
"Immune to Murder", first published in The American Magazine (November 1955)
"Too Many Detectives", first published September 14, 1956, in Collier's
Stout's work sometimes occasioned conflicting viewpoints among the critics. Three for the Chair drew praise from Anthony Boucher in The New York Times and dispraise from Julian Symons in The Sunday Times (London).
1957, New York: The Viking Press, May 3, 1957, hardcover
In his limited-edition pamphlet,
Collecting Mystery Fiction #10, Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe Part II, Otto Penzler describes the first edition of
Three for the Chair: "Yellow cloth, front cover printed with black and blue lettering and design; spine printed with black lettering; rear cover blank. Issued in a mainly light orange dust wrapper."
In April 2006,
Firsts: The Book Collector's Magazine estimated that the first edition of
Three for the Chair had a value of between $200 and $350. The estimate is for a copy in very good to fine condition in a like dustjacket.
1957, Toronto: Macmillan, 1957, hardcover
1957, New York: Viking (Mystery Guild), August 1957, hardcover
The far less valuable Viking book club edition may be distinguished from the first edition in three ways:
1958, London: Collins Crime Club, April 21, 1958, hardcover
1958, New York: Bantam #A-1796, July 1958, paperback
1994, New York: Bantam Crimeline ISBN 0-553-24813-8 August 1, 1994, paperback
1997, Newport Beach, California: Books on Tape, Inc. ISBN 0-7366-3750-8 July 21, 1997, audio cassette (unabridged, read by Michael Prichard)
2010, New York: Bantam Crimeline ISBN 978-0-307-75624-4 May 26, 2010, e-book
