Detective Fiction
London, Faber & Faber, 1994.
First edition. Signed presentation inscription from the author pasted to front pastedown. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket.
James has inscribed another example of the jacket, which the dedicatee has cut-down and pasted onto the front pastedown; the previous owner has also written a note explaining the process and pasted in a small description of the crime writing course she attended, where she obtained the author's inscription.
A murder mystery set in a London publishing house, investigated by Commander Adam Dalgliesh. The novel explores themes of betrayal, legacy, and moral ambiguity, with James's hallmark psychological depth.
Detective Fiction
London, Stanley Paul, [1934].
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 4/- and stating '3rd impression'.
A holiday-themed detective story with all the charm of the British mystery tradition. Murder and misdirection take place in a snowbound country house. Great jacket artwork.
Detective Fiction
London, Collins, 1929.
First edition, early issue. 8vo. Original blue cloth.
A thrilling tale of deception and intrigue unfolds as a group of young adventurers stumble upon a deadly secret connected to the enigmatic Seven Dials Club.
Detective Fiction
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1936.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A mystery novel set in an English country house, involving social intrigue and secrets beneath a genteel surface — a typical set-up for interwar Golden Age crime fiction.
Detective Fiction
London, Hodder & Stoughton, n.d. [c.1928].
First edition thus. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A thriller involving smuggling and intrigue in the East, featuring Packard's trademark fast-paced plotting and exotic settings.
Weird & Supernatural
seven stories and a play
London, Chatto & Windus, 1935.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original blue cloth lettered in silver. Dust-jacket, price-clipped but with 7/6 price sticker to inside front flap.
A collection of supernatural and eerie tales. Blends historical and Gothic elements, showing Irwin's talent for uncanny atmosphere.
Victorian Literature
London, Trübner, 1888.
Second edition. Signed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original blue cloth lettered and ruled in gilt.
A non-fiction political commentary on British-Zulu relations, written after Haggard's return from South Africa. It defends Zulu rights and critiques colonial policies — surprisingly progressive for the time. Uncommon signed.
Detective Fiction
London, Skeffington, n.d..
?First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6 with price sticker for 2/-.
Attractive Skeffington title, from their popular crime series.
Detective Fiction
Eadie (Arlton, pseud. Leopold Leonard Eadie) The Crimson Query
London, Jarrolds, [1929].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original peach cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
The elusive first edition of this splendidly jacket title. Sometimes subtitled Or How the Squid Got Besuckered, this novel introduces a villain known as the Crimson Query because he leaves, Zorro-like, a sign of his machinations. In this case, a bright red question mark. All in all, this hard-to-find detective story stands alongside the more horrific novels Eadie is known for. Eadie (1871–1938) was a barrister turned writer known for macabre thrillers and crime novels with supernatural elements. His works are now cult favourites among fans of early weird fiction.
Detective Fiction
Lorac (E.C.R., pseud. Edith Caroline Rivett) Case in the Clinic
London, Collins Crime Club, 1941.
First edition. 8vo. Original pictorial wrappers.
Inspector Macdonald investigates a suspicious death in a rural village involving a local doctor. A classic fair-play mystery from one of the most underappreciated Golden Age authors.
Detective Fiction
London, Gollancz, 1947.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
The story follows an office worker named Jones, whose dull life is interrupted when he is accused of murder. Symons blends psychological insight with traditional mystery tropes, offering a critical look at post-war British society.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1919].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original mustard yellow pictorial cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 6/-.
Excellent jacket artwork on this uncommon title, particularly in the jacket.
Detective Fiction
London, Ward, Lock, 1901.
Third edition, reprint. 8vo. Original sage cloth.
The first Sherlock Holmes novel, originally published in 1887. Introduces Holmes & Watson as they investigate a murder linked to past events in Utah.
Detective Fiction
London, Skeffington, n.d..
'Seventh thousand'. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6 with 1/6 price sticker to spine.
Golden-age style mystery, in keeping with Skeffington's crime output — formulaic but atmospheric, and popular.
Detective Fiction
London, Skeffington, n.d..
'Seventh thousand'. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6 with 1/6 price sticker to spine.
A detective novel featuring Anne Austin's recurring sleuth, sometimes Detective Bonaparte.
Detective Fiction
London, Skeffington, n.d..
Early UK printing (stating '7th thousand'). 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6.
Arsène Lupin, a gentleman thief and master of disguise, is in demand once again.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1926].
First UK edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A romance set in the California desert, showcasing Gregory's signature blend of adventure and vivid descriptions of the Western landscape.
Detective Fiction
London, Evans, 1951.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 9/6.
The 14th novel in the Dr. Palfrey series. In this installment, Dr. Stanislaus Alexander Palfrey confronts a formidable adversary whose apocalyptic visions threaten global stability.
Non-Fiction
London, Macmillan, 1932.
First edition, fourth impression. 8vo. Original black cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Keynes' critical examination of the global monetary system in the aftermath of World War I. First published in 1923, John Maynard Keynes discusses the economic turmoil caused by inflation and deflation, advocating for stable currency management and policy interventions to mitigate economic instability.
...entirely new edition
London, Ward, Lock, Bowden & Co., 1892.
8vo. Original green cloth with red sheep spine elaborately gilt-decorated.
An extensive guide to running a household in Victorian Britain, first published in 1861. Compiled by Isabella Beeton, it encompasses over 900 pages covering topics such as cooking, cleaning, childcare and etiquette.
Detective Fiction
London, Collins Crime Club, July, 1950.
First edition, fourth impression. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 5s.
In Cards on the Table, the enigmatic Mr. Shaitana invites eight guests to a dinner party: four detectives—Hercule Poirot, Colonel Race, Superintendent Battle, and mystery writer Ariadne Oliver—and four individuals Shaitana subtly suggests have committed murder undetected.
American Literature
Twain (Mark, pseud. Samuel Langhorne Clemens) Life on the Mississippi
London, Chatto &Windus, 1883.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original red pictorial cloth lettered in gilt.
Life on the Mississippi is a memoir by Mark Twain recounting his experiences as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before the American Civil War. Collectors often seek copies with the advertisements dated March 1883 at the rear, indicating the first impression
London, Faber & Faber, 1957.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 10s6d.
Hughes's inaugural poetry collection, comprising 40 poems that delve into themes of nature's raw power, particularly through vivid depictions of animals such as hawks, foxes, and jaguars. The collection also touches on human experiences, including war and relationships.