Detective Fiction
London, Cassell, 1957.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original black boards lettered in silver. Dust-jacket, priced 12/6.
Hardboiled noir fiction by the author of Dead Calm.
Detective Fiction
London, Hammond, Hammond, 1953.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth stamped in gilt to spine. Dust-jacket, priced 9s6d.
A superb UK edition of an elusive title, featuring series character Elisha Macomber, a chairman of the Board of Selectmen and an amateur detective on Penberthy Island (reminiscent of Martha's Vineyard). The plot involves a murder during a fishing competition called the Bass Derby.
Detective Fiction
London, Melrose, 1937.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Uncommon edition of this murder-mystery about a string of rubies - the famous 'Blood of Buddha'.
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Alston Rivers, [1905].
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth with red zigzag line down upper cover and lettered in gilt.
Military fiction by Brigadier-General Arthur Frank Umfreville Green CMG DSO, a senior British Army officer in World War I and author of several publications.
Modern Literature
London, Hutchinson, 1952.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue boards. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Satirical farce by prolific journalist, socialite and novelist, Nancy Spain.
Detective Fiction
London, Arthur Gray, [1934].
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 3/6.
Great jacket artwork on this rare, Hubin-listed title.
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Herbert Jenkins, 1939.
First edition. 8vo. Original dark orange cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 3/6.
Interesting, and uncommon example of alt-history fiction relating to Hitler and WW2, but in this case actually written and published coeval to the time of the events. Rare in jacket.
Modern Literature
London, MacGibbon & Kee, 1959.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth lettered in gilt to spine. Dust-jacket, priced 15s.
Classic coming-of-age novel set in 1950s London, following the journey of a young photographer and the "absolute beginners" generation. Adapted for film in 1986, featuring Bowie's song inspired by the book.
Modern Literature
seven addresses given for love of the star
Adyar, Madras, India, Theosophical Publishing House, 1917.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth.
An important work by a key figure in early 20th century spiritualism, and in Theosophy in particular; discoverer of Krishnamurti, no less.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
London, Sidgwick & Jackson, 1972.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original blue board lettered in silver. Dust-jacket, priced £1.60.
Classic weird science fiction from Clifford D. Simak, featuring telepathic robots and a familiarly named Friar.
African literature
London, Hutchinson, 1961.
First edition. 8vo. Original black boards. Dust-jacket, priced 16s.
The first novel by Nigerian author Onoura Nzekwu, later republished by Heinemann as part of the important African Writers Series. The novel has been compared to Achebe's No Longer at Ease.
Detective Fiction
London, T.V. Boardman, 1958.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original orange boards. Dust-jacket, priced 10s6d.
Three more capers for Peter Chambers, Kane's most prolific character. Kane also wrote the movie adaptations for Ed McBain's 87th Precinct's Cop Hater and The Mugger.
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Latimer House, [1953].
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
"Here are tales for all moods, blending adventure with sentiment and revealing once again that Captain Johns knows how to cater for the older reader as well as for boys and girls." (jacket blurb)
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, Sampson Low, 1937.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket.
A rather smashing dust-jacket and an uncommon murder-mystery title.