This April 16, 1927 cover painting for Detective Story Magazine by John A. Coughlin is titled on verso “Hoodooed.” The well rendered oil on canvas, signed lower left, depicts a train robbery heist scene, that from the title appears to fit into a larger intrigue of voodoo and mystery. Hoodoo, an infrequently seen term today, was a colloquial way of referring to practitioners of voodoo, and more generally anyone would could bring bad luck down upon you (and bad luck is surely about to befall the masked robber depicted here). This rare Street and Smith commissioned cover painting has been relined and stretched on new pine stretchers and is ready to frame and enjoy.

Above: Notations on verso (prior to relining)

Above: Print notations for cover usage