African literature
London, Heinemann, 1958.
First edition, first impression; 8vo. Original brick-red cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 15s.
The first edition of Nigerian author Achebe's first novel, one of the BBC's '100 Novels That Shaped Our World'. Things Fall Apart is the first part of the author's 'African Trilogy', a compelling story of one man's battle to protect his community against the forces of change, seen as the archetypal modern African novel in English, and one of the first to receive global critical acclaim. It is a literary staple of schools throughout Africa and is widely read and studied in English-speaking countries around the world. Scarce.
Detective Fiction
London, Skeffington, [c.1924].
First UK edition. 8vo. Original pale green/grey cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
Distinctly uncommon title and edition of this wonderfully jacketed crime fiction novel, by American pianist, religious apologist and author Harvey Wickham, an author whose renown dipped somewhat following his pro-Mussolini stance and his denigration of the works of D.H. Lawrence.
Detective Fiction
London &c., Harrap, 1924.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original dark orange cloth. Dust-jacket.
The second of the American author's 'Pennington Wise' titles, scarce in the jacket.
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Hutchinson, 1940.
First edition. Signed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original black cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Inscribed by the author on the title-page, "For J.W. Hughes With very best wishes from his friend Dennis Wheatley".
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Hutchinson, 1937.
First edition. Signed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Publisher's advertisements. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Inscribed by the author on the title-page, "To Mr W. Green with the best of good wishes from Dennis Wheatley".
Modern Literature
London, Robert Hayes, 1921.
First edition. 8vo. Original green boards. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6.
First edition of the book born from the original play of the same name. Rare in the jacket.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1928].
First UK edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Colver was a prolific author, best remembered today perhaps for her Joan Foster series.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1931.
First edition. Publisher's file copy. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Evocative jacket artwork on this tale about a young man using his fists and heart to navigate his wanderlust around Canada & Alaska.
Detective Fiction
London, Ward, Lock, [c.1901].
Early edition. 8vo. Original cloth-backed pictorial boards.
An attractive illustrated edition of this account of the ongoing adventures of investigator Martin Hewitt, first introduced to readers in 1894. Morrison is best known today for his novel A Child of the Jago (1896).
Victorian Literature
Bristol & London, Arrowsmith/Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, [1894].
First edition, second issue with the verso of the title page reset and eighteen titles including the present work listed in the publisher's ad at the rear. 8vo. Original russet red cloth, state with the "f" on the spine uncrossed.
Hope's most famous book, memorably adapted for stage, screen and radio on several occasions.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
London, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1930.
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth-backed marbled boards. Dust-jacket, priced 8/6.
The first edition of this science fiction author's reflections on the ways in which the world might in fact end.
Detective Fiction
London, Collins Crime Club, 1968.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original red boards. Dust-jacket, priced 21s.
The first UK edition of the author's third "cat" murder-mysteries.
Non-Fiction
Aberdeen, Impulse Books, 1971.
First edition. 8vo. Original red boards. Dust-jacket, priced £2.00.
Uncommon account of the early days of pirate radio.
Children's Books
London, Newnes, 1946.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 6/-.
A nice first edition of this collection of stories featuring the naughty doll Amelia Jane.
Detective Fiction
London, Cassell, 1906.
First edition. 8vo. Patterned endpapers, publisher's catalogue at end. Original green pictorial cloth.
A very good first edition of this mystery novel by the author of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab.
Detective Fiction
Wentworth (Patricia, pseud. Dora Amy Turnbull) Vanishing Point
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1955.
First edition. 8vo. Original red boards. Dust-jacket, priced 10s6d.
A nice first edition of one of the later 'Miss Silver' titles by Wentworth.
Detective Fiction
London, Newnes, [1937].
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth.
The first edition in book form (preceded by appearance in The Thriller magazine the same year) of this more grown-up tale by the creator of Biggles, featuring former First World War pilot turned crime-fighter Deeley Montfort Delaroy (aka "Steeley").
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Hutchinson, 1933.
First edition. 8vo. Publisher's advertisements dated 'Autumn 1933' at end. Original black cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Following the misfortunes of an aristocratic German family after the first World War. Uncommon.
Detective Fiction
Gunn (Victor, pseud. Edwy Searles Brooks) Ironsides Sees Red
London, Collins, 1943.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
One of several 'Ironsides' titles written by Brooks under the pseudonym Victor Gunn. He also famously wrote under the pen name of Berkeley Gray.
Detective Fiction
London, Methuen, 1922.
First edition. 8vo. Publisher's advertisements at rear. Original green cloth lettered and decorated in gilt to spine.
Rare detective fiction first edition by 'Christopher Robin' creator A.A. Milne, one of three such crime titles he wrote (others being The Fourth Wall (1928) and the play The Perfect Alibi (1928)). A Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone.
"And an excellent story it is! Anthony Gillingham light-heartedly unravels the mystery, standing at the head of a long, and soon extending queue of humorous sleuths who gave a new and refreshing slant to the business of fictional crime. 'What fun! Here's a body!' sums up the style; yet this fantasy, with its brilliant dialogue, finely-drawn scenes from the night-life of the 'twenties and credible characters, hold the reader until the final page is turned." (Quayle, The Collector's Book of Detective Fiction, pp.107-108).