Detective Fiction
London, Collins, 1923.
First edition. 8vo. Original dark blue cloth blocked in orange. Dust-jacket, priced 3/6 (later issue).
The first edition of the author's first novel, in an early issue jacket (1930s), introducing Superintendent Henry Wilson. Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone.
Detective Fiction
London, Wright & Brown, [1935].
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 3/6.
The first aviation mystery by a master of the [sub]genre.
Detective Fiction
London & Glasgow, Blackie & Son, 1939.
First edition. 8vo. Original dark orange cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
The first edition in book form of a story that was made famous by a successful West End play.
Detective Fiction
London, Herbert Jenkins, 1933.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, second issue priced 2/6.
A superior example of this Secret Service thriller from the pen of the inimitable Corbett, "King of the one-line gaffe" (Rod Collins).
![James Corbett, Gallows Wait, first edition, [1947]](https://lycanthiabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/84584-300x300.jpg)
Detective Fiction
London, Herbert Jenkins, [1947].
First edition. 8vo. Original dark orange cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 8/6.
An attractive first edition by the productive James Corbett, from Jenkins' 'House of the Green Label' series.
Detective Fiction
London, Herbert Jenkins, [1932].
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, with publisher's 3/6 price-sticker on top of original 2/6 price.
A scarce early title by this prolific author, who wrote over forty novels, often with a flair for unusual phrasing that would be lucky to escape the editor's blue pencil these days.
Detective Fiction
London, Herbert Jenkins, 1941.
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
'"The case of the century" was how the Press described the weird mystery that centred around "The Bat" - a ghoul of the air who, in his efforts to perfect an almost incredible invention, swooped down to kill without mercy". (jacket). A very good first edition, uncommon in the jacket.
![James Corbett, The Somerville Case, first edition, [1949]](https://lycanthiabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/84602-300x300.jpg)
Detective Fiction
London, Herbert Jenkins, [1949].
First edition. 8vo. Original orange boards, lettered in black. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Quite a lovely dust-jacket.
Detective Fiction
London, Herbert Jenkins, 1939.
First edition. 8vo. Original dark orange cloth blocked in black. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
Classic whodunnit murder-mystery by an author often better remembered for his spoonerisms and malapropisms, unfairly perhaps.
Detective Fiction
Courtney (John, pseud. John Cournos) Grandmother Martin is Murdered
London, Skeffington, [1930].
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Crime fiction by an intriguing author: born in Russia with Yiddish as his first language, Cournos moved to London in 1912 where he engaged in anti-communist activism, notably via his pamphlet London under the Bolsheviks: A Londoner's Dream on Returning from Petrograd (1919); he also enjoyed some success as an Imagist poet, but garnered more renown for his novels and short stories under the Courtney pseudonym - today he is perhaps best known for his failed relationship with Dorothy L. Sayers, an unhappy experience recounted by both authors (Strong Poison by Sayers (1930) and The Devil Is an English Gentleman by Cournos himself in (1932)).
Detective Fiction
London, John Long, 1947.
First edition. 8vo. Original black cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 6/-.
Dr Palfrey tackles dubious friars, a giant and "the Testament of Evil" in this cruise-ship caper.
Detective Fiction
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1956.
First edition. 8vo. Original red boards. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 10s6d.
A rather topical Dr Palfrey adventure, as floods begin to besiege the world...
Detective Fiction
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1964.
First edition. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket.
A very good first edition of this later Dr Palfrey tales, by one of the most prolific authors in the crime/thriller genre.
Detective Fiction
London, Gollancz, 1945.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6 and with 'The Fanfare Press, London' printed to bottom edge of lower panel.
The author's second novel, continuing the capers of the Oxford professor and amateur detective Gervase Fen. The copyright page includes a printed dedication to the poet Philip Larkin.
Detective Fiction
Crispin (Edmund, pseud. Bruce Montgomery) Obsequies at Oxford
Philadelphia & New York, Lippincott, 1945.
First US edition of The Case of the Gilded Fly. 8vo. Original black cloth stamped in white. Dust-jacket, priced $2.00.
The first US edition of the first Gervase Fen title.
Detective Fiction
London, Gollancz, 1947.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 8/6 and with 'The Fanfare Press, London' printed to bottom edge of lower panel.
First edition of the fourth in Crispin's series featuring the Oxford Don and amateur detective Gervase Fen.
Detective Fiction
Crispin (Edmund, pseud. Bruce Montgomery) The Case of the Gilded Fly
London, Gollancz, 1944.
First edition. 8vo. Original green boards. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6 and with 'The Fanfare Press, London' printed to bottom edge of lower panel.
The first edition of the debut of the pseudonymous Crispin (in reality, composer Bruce Montgomery), whom the New York Times once called the heir to John Dickson Carr. Gervase Fen's first outing.
Detective Fiction
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1957.
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 12/6.
A very good first edition of this later and hard-to-find Freeman Wills Crofts title, featuring series character Chief Superintendent French, "the most human sleuth to be found in detective novels today" (Punch).
Detective Fiction
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1941.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 8/3.
Inspector French investigates a poisoning in this uncommon first edition. The handwritten note to the jacket spine refers to the American edition.
Detective Fiction
being weird episodes from life
London, Jarrold, 1903.
First edition. 8vo. Original brown pictorial cloth.
An excellent copy of this collection of ten short stories about the history of poisons and their use in crime, told from the perspective of a doctor-detective.
Detective Fiction
London, Herbert Jenkins, 1926
First edition. 8vo. 2pp. advertisements. Original dark red cloth blocked in black. Dust-jacket, correctly priced at 3/6.
A great first edition, with enticing jacket artwork. The authors had previously collaborated on the The Forbidden Hour.
Detective Fiction
Cumberland (Gerald, pseud. Charles Frederick Kenyon) The Cypress Chest
London, John Hamilton, 1927.
First edition. 8vo. Origial blue cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
From Hamilton's Sundial Mystery Library series. "An experiment in sensational fiction in which careful and detailed character drawing comes second to an absorbing plot." (jacket blurb)
Detective Fiction
London, Constable, 1935.
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Suitably ominous jacket artwork on this uncommon first edition; one of at least three works by Scottish author Curle, better known today for his friendship with and works about Joseph Conrad.
Detective Fiction
London, Faber & Gwyer, 1926
First edition. 8vo. Original brown cloth boards. Dust-jacket, correctly priced at 7/6 on spine.
In this Hubin-listed murder story, the author shows the placid life of Minden Town disturbed by a mysterious tragedy. The mystery remains a mystery almost to the very end of the book. A rare and early Faber crime title.
Detective Fiction
Dalton (Moray) [pseud. Katherine M. Renoir]. The Belgrave Manor Crime
London, Sampson Low, Marston, [1935].
First edition. 8vo. Original dark pink cloth. Dust-jacket, with worn 5/ price-sticker over original 2/6 price.
A fun blend of murder mystery and the paranormal, with series character Detective-Inspector Hugh Collier teaming up with psychic Cosmo Thor to solve the crime. Striking jacket artwork, this an early issue of the jacket, correctly listing Dalton's The Black Death (1934) as her previous title.
London, Sampson Low, Marston, [1936].
First edition. 8vo. 8pp. advertisements at end. Original black cloth. Dust-jacket, early issue with 2/9 price-sticker on top of original 2/6 price.
A scarce classic of Golden Age detective fiction, in an attractive dust-jacket. The book is accompanied by a letter from publishing bureau Curtis Brown to the author Moray Dalton, date 1947, returning three of her titles due to a lack of take-up for reprint by various publishers.
Detective Fiction
New York, Farrar & Rinehart, 1940.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
An excellent first edition of this the second work by Daly, an often under-appreciated author these days; her serial character Henry Gamadge is a bibliophile and expert on rare books & manuscripts, no less!
Detective Fiction
London, Heinemann, 1939
First UK edition. 8vo. Not original publisher's cloth, some sort of library binding. Photographic dust-jacket correctly priced at 7s 6d on front flap.
Published in US as 'Poor, poor Yorick.' A Hubin-listed title involving the dumping of a corpse off the coast of Connecticut and the apparent suicide by poisoning of a hostess on the eve of divorce.
Frederick Clyde Davis (1902-1977) was an American pulp writer. He was educated at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, and became a professional writer at the age of 22. Davis wrote several novels featuring his series detective, Professor Cy Hatch of which this is one.
Detective Fiction
First edition.
London, Cassell, 1939
The story centres on the murder of Mr Norwitch found stabbed in an antiques shop. The author worked in an antiques store and clearly draws heavily on this experience. According to authoritative website www.classiccrimefiction.com, UK first editions in original jackets are rare especially this title.
Detective Fiction
London, Gerald Swan, [1943].
First UK edition, published for the 'Ace American Thrillers' series. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 5/-.
An uncommon first UK edition, originally published in the US in 1940. The second of three well-regarded murder mysteries by Dean, set amongst the world of antique dealing.
Detective Fiction
London, Thornton Butterworth, 1930.
First edition. 8vo. 1p. advertisements. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced at 7/6.
A tale of espionage, romance and Eastern exoticism, set just before the outbreak of WWI. An excellent copy.
Detective Fiction
Translated from the French by Maverick Terrell. First English edition, London, T. Werner Laurie, 1936. One of the prolific French author's whodunits. Dekobra (real name Maurice Tessier) was one of France's best-known authors during the interwar period, and several of his books were made into films.
Detective Fiction
A Judge Peck Mystery Story
London, George Newnes, [1936]..
First UK edition. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced at 2/6.
A stunning jacket on this first UK edition of Arkham House stalwart Derleth's second Judge Peck mystery, in which not one but three sons-in-law meet an unknown death. First published in the US in 1934. The splendid jacket artwork features a naked man on all fours, of course, holding a smoking gun.
Detective Fiction
London, Macmillan, 1975.
First edition. 8vo. Original brown boards. Dust-jacket.
A distinctly uncommon example of the first edition of the first Inspector Morse novel, notoriously hard to find in such good order, the text-block terribly prone to browning, and the book often turning up after being through the public library system, something this copy has thankfully been spared!
Detective Fiction
London, Macmillan, 1977.
First edition. 8vo. Original black boards. Dust-jacket.
A very good first edition of the scarce third Inspector Morse title.
Detective Fiction
London, John Hamilton, 1928.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
From Hamilton's Sundial Mystery Library series; a departure from Hamilton's more usual aeronautical vibe, and a seemingly scarce first edition in the original dust-jacket. A chance encounter with a sinister Chinese Secret Society sees the protagonist tossed into a world of intrigue, with a dash of romantic peril for good measure.