Detective Fiction
London, Columbine Publishing Company Ltd, 1939
First edition. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket 5/- overprice although original price of 3/6 is still visible on the spine.
From the publisher's blurb: 'Delia Romney was born to sin and she elected to make that the way of her life. She murdered without remorse. She sold herself without hesitation or contrition.'
A typically risqué and sensationalist story from a small publishing house well known for both its racy plot lines and lurid dust-jackets.
Detective Fiction
London, Constable, 1924.
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6, with publisher's 'file' sticker to spine. Publisher's promotional card loosely inserted.
A tale of mild villainy and opportunism featuring a parasitical couple on the fringes of cosmopolitan society. Attractive jacket artwork by A. Mary Ryland.
Detective Fiction
London, Stanley Paul, 1953.
First edition. 8vo. Original green boards. Dust-jacket, price-clipped with price sticker of 6/-.
An uncommon first edition thriller by an enigmatic author.
![Sapper, Temple Tower, second issue, [1930]](https://lycanthiabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/85396-300x300.jpg)
Detective Fiction
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1930].
8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 3/6 and with announcement for 'Tiny Carteret', so assumed second issue.
An exciting tale of a man in fear for his life and in desperate need of Bulldog Dummond's help in penetrating the ill-omened Temple Tower.
Detective Fiction
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1931.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Great jacket artwork by Hastain on this 'Jim Maitland' novel.
Second Series
London, Gollancz, 1931.
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket.
The second (of three) anthologies of genre stories presided over by Lord Peter Wimsey creator Dorothy L. Sayers. Uncommon in jacket.
Detective Fiction
London & Boston, John Lane; Roberts Bros,, 1895.
First edition. 8vo. Original purple decorative cloth.
One of the most well-known and collectable of Lane's important 'Keynotes' series, this being the seventh in the series, and the first of two appearances therein for the "King of Redonda" (the other being his influential work Shapes in the Fire, number XXIX). Aubrey Beardsley provided the title-page/cover designs and most if not all of the monogram key devices for the series up until vol.XXIII.
Prince Zaleski was Shiel's first published work, drawing inspiration in part from the detective tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and comprising three mysteries: "The Race of Orven", "The Stone of the Edmundsbury Monks", and "The S.S.", each to be solved by the eponymous Zaleski, an eccentric Russian nobleman living in exile in a derelict Welsh abbey.
Detective Fiction
London, A.H. Stockwell, [1936].
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6 on spine.
Weirdly rare and difficult-to-attribute title, set largely in Northumberland but with a sojourn to Morocco; one of two books written under this 'pseudonym'. Pleasingly puzzling and Hubin-listed.
Detective Fiction
London, Skeffington, 1932
8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket priced at 2/6 on spine with '5th Thousand' on spine. Skeffington often used such wording to give the impression of sales success.
UK author, prolific between the Wars, specializing in thrillers (often with Oriental villains) and mysteries. The Sound-Machine is centred around a revolutionary machine that destroys by sound vibration (Blieler p.183).
A stunning example of a book that rarely turns up in a jacket especially one as superb as this.
Detective Fiction
London, Collins Crime Club, 1958.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 10s6d.
An excellent first edition of the second novel by this founder-member of the Crime Writers' Association.
Detective Fiction
London, Hutchinson, [1936].
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 3/6.
Soutar's series character Phineas Spinnet ups the ante in this tale of murder and Egyptology. Jacket scarce in such fine condition.
Detective Fiction
New York, Dutton, 1947.
First edition. 8vo. Original black cloth. Dust-jacket, priced $2.50.
The first edition of Spillane's I, the Jury, introducing the world to Mike Hammer. The book drew on the hard-boiled 'private investigator' tradition pioneered by Black Mask magazine in the 1930s. By 1980, seven of the top 15 all-time bestselling fiction titles in America were written by Spillane.
Detective Fiction
London, Hurst & Blackett, [1927].
First UK edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket correctly priced at 7/6 on spine.
Basis for a 1931 American Oscar winning pre-code film that tells the story of an alcoholic defence attorney in San Francisco who must defend his daughter's ex-boyfriend on a charge of murdering the mobster she had started a relationship with, whom he had previously achieved an acquittal for on a murder charge. Starred Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard, Lionel Barrymore, and Clark Gable
A very rare book into film title especially in such exceptional condition. Adela Nora Rogers St. Johns (1894-1988) was an American journalist, novelist, and screenwriter. She wrote a number of screenplays for silent movies but is best remembered for her groundbreaking exploits as "The World's Greatest Girl Reporter" during the 1920s and 1930s.
Detective Fiction
London, John Gifford Ltd, [1938].
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
A distinctly hard-to-find title by the creator of The Black Pilgrim.
Detective Fiction
Stansbury (Alec, pseud. Alec Stansbury Higgs) Cupid Painted Blind
London, Alston Rivers, 1929.
First edition. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Attractively jacketed 'twenties title; a tale of financial dishonesty and torrid passion that comes good.
Detective Fiction
First edition.
London, 1937
a tale about the seething money markets of the City.
Detective Fiction
London, Herbert Jenkins, 1939.
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth blocked in black. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
Attractive jacket artwork by a prolific jacket artist of the period, Eugene Hastain. A tale of a proposal of marriage as a business deal, that leads to jealousy and hate...
Detective Fiction
Chicago, Covici-McGee, 1924.
First edition, first printing, signed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original blue cloth lettered in gilt. Dust-jacket, correctly priced $2.00.
Inscribed on the front free endpaper, "For Mrs Edward F. Jordan Greeting! Vincent Starr".
"In the whimsically sardonic title given by Mr. Starrett to his collection of short stories, one receives a hint of the curious nature of the tales that make up the volume. Grotesque, fantastic, bizarre..." (jacket blurb)
Detective Fiction
London, Collins Crime Club, 1949.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original dark orange cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Striking jacket artwork on this collection of three Nero Wolfe tales; uncommon.
Detective Fiction
Strange (John Stephen) [Tillett (Dorothy S.)] Picture of the Victim.
First edition.
London. Collins, 1938
Fourth novel to feature photographer and detective Barney Gantt. Gantt finds his most elusive subject, camera-shy millionaire Jesse Jordon, dead and gets mixed up with the most obvious suspect.
Detective Fiction
London, Sampson Low, 1937.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket.
A rather smashing dust-jacket and an uncommon murder-mystery title.
Detective Fiction
London, Rich & Cowan, [1948].
First edition. 8vo. Original blue boards. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Stephen Conway keeps a promise to a dead army buddy to show Alexander Dean, the renowned playwright and mystery writer the manuscript of his play.
Detective Fiction
London, Collins Crime Club, 1945.
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 8s6d.
Stage school murder; an uncommon Collins Crime Club, by a former director of Methuens, no less.
Detective Fiction
A Police Diversion
London, Collins Crime Club, 1950.
First edition. 8vo. Original dark orange cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 8s6d.
A good example of this incredibly versatile writer's detective fiction, featuring his series character Chief Detective Inspector McKay.
Detective Fiction
First edition. London. Wright & Brown, 1935 Set in Burma, the story concerns the British manager of the ruby mines of Mogok has been away, attempting to track down a leopard that had been attacking livestock. He returns to discover his stand-in at the office lying dead on the floor, the safe door open and its contents stolen. Very scarce in jacket.
Detective Fiction
London, Collins, 1961.
First edition. 8vo. Original dark blue boards. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 15s.
The first of two books by Alistair MacLean under the pseudonym Ian Stuart. Important scientists and their partners go missing after responding to a newspaper advertisements.
Detective Fiction
First edition.
London, Herbert Jenkins, 1940.
The second of the novels featuring amateur female detective Jane Carberry.
Rare in jacket. No copies online at time of listing.
Detective Fiction
London, Herbert Jenkins, 1948.
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth.
A very good example of this uncommon cricket-related crime novel, which invites the reader to solve the crime by following the clues.
Detective Fiction
London, Gollancz, 1936. First UK edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced at 7/6. An uncommon Asey Mayo tale and the first time we have encountered it in a jacket.
Detective Fiction
London, Collins Crime Club, 1945.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original dark orange cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
A very good UK first edition of this Asey Mayo novel.
Detective Fiction
London, Stanley Smith, 1936.
First edition. 8vo. Original dark blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 3/6.
Attractive, somewhat menacing dust-jacket artwork graces this tale published under an uncommon imprint.
Detective Fiction
London, Columbine Publishing Co, 1939. The world-renowned detective Grant Rushton takes on his most sinister foe yet, High Priestess of the terrible cult of the Voodoo, Marie Galante.
Detective Fiction
London, Gollancz, [1936].
First UK edition. 8vo. Original black cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A novel is set in Hawaii and telling the story of Baron von Kaz, a German detective who is hired to investigate a series of murders.
"Shivery silent death, entrancing island atmosphere, odd native lore, and a sweet puzzle. Grand!"—The Saturday Review
Detective Fiction
London, Peter Davies, 1952.
First edition. 8vo. Original light brown cloth. Dust-jacket, 10s6d.
The author's last novel, featuring her famous Inspector Alan Grant, published posthumously.
Detective Fiction
London, Hurst & Blackett, [1937].
First UK edition. 8vo. Original black cloth lettered in red. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6 and with Colonial Issue price sticker to spine.
Striking jacket artwork and very good condition make this UK first a compelling copy for collectors of the Peter Clancy novels.
Detective Fiction
London, Hurst & Blackett, [1949].
First UK edition. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
A great first UK edition of this biblio yarn inspired by the notorious literary forger Thomas J. Wise, by a prolific US author.