Detective Fiction
London, Collins Crime Club, 1945.
First edition, third impression. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 4s6
Mrs Warrander uncovers the truth behind a murder during an undergraduates' dance.
Modern Literature
London, Herbert Jenkins, 1938.
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth, lettered in black. Dust-jacket, priced 3/6.
Excellent atmospheric jacket artwork and a scarce dust-jacket. A tale of blackmail & murder, from the grandfather of Fay Weldon.
Modern Literature
London, Hutchinson, [1925].
First edition. 8vo. Original light purple cloth blocked in black. Dust-jacket, priced 7s6d.
Some of this Devonshire author's best short stories, distinctly scarce in the original dust-jacket.
Modern Literature
and his dead Palm-Wine Tapster in the Deads' Town
London, Faber & Faber, 1952.
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 10s6d.
"This astonishing story…was written in English by a West African, and is in part the product of African folk-lore, stimulated by European inventions." (jacket).
A very good copy of this debut novel by Nigerian author Amos Tutuola, the first African novel published in English outside of Africa, praised by Dylan Thomas as "brief, thronged, grisly and bewitching". Tutuola's works, often drawing upon Yoruba traditions & folklore, were well received in the UK & US (far more than they were originally in his home country), drawing international acclaim and helping open up African writing to a wider audience.
Given the recent prices achieved by this and other similar works by African authors at auction it seems probable that we are experiencing something of a, possibly overdue, reappraisal & resurgence of interest in these writers.
The jacket is designed by the well-known artist & illustrator Barnett Freedman.
Modern Literature
London, Hurst & Blackett, [1905].
First edition thus. 8vo. Original green cloth decorated in gilt.
Contains three separate supernatural/fantasy novelettes, "The Seventh Dream," "The Doctor's Secret," and "The Turkish Baths."
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1959.
First edition. 8vo. Original green boards lettered in gilt. Dust-jacket, priced 12s6d
A very nice first edition of this sinister sci-fi novel, by ex Merchant Seaman Frank Crisp.
Detective Fiction
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1935.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A very good first edition of one the of later, stand-alone titles by this crime writer.
Modern Literature
London, Chatto & Windus, 1929.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original green cloth lettered in gilt. Dust-jacket, priced 7s6d, with the original Choice of the Book Society wraparound band.
The distinctive first UK edition of Hughes' High Wind in Jamaica, a genre redefining work set largely on the high seas - with pirates! Uncommon in the original wraparound.
Weird & Supernatural
London, Selwyn & Blount, [1920].
First edition, [one of 500 copies]. 8vo. Original boards with printed paper spine label. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6.
A rather remarkable copy of Hope Hodgson's first published verse collection, scarce in such condition and the original dust-jacket: "...most of what [Hodgson] wrote in this kind is here published for the first time. And in his poems, as in his prose, it is the mystery, the strength, the cruelty, the grimness and sadness of the sea the most potently appeal to him... For him the voices of the sea are the sighing or calling of its multitudinous dead, and there are lines in which he hints that one day he, too, will be called down to them..." A. St John Adcock's introduction. The attraction of Davy Jones' locker was not the author's demise ultimately however, instead he died in action during the First World War.
Modern Literature
London, John Day, 1967.
First US edition. 8vo. Original purple cloth lettered in gilt. Dust-jacket, priced $5.50.
In this moving story Chinua Achebe catches perfectly the atmosphere of African village life, the beautiful proverb-laden language of the Ibo and their touching, strangely formal customs of worship and hospitality. (jacket)
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
London, Faber, 1963.
First edition. Signed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original orange cloth lettered in gilt. Dust-jacket, priced 18s.
Science fiction short stories by a leading British light of the genre, inscribed to his 'Aunt Bodger'.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
A Story between Jest and Earnest
London, Methuen, 1935.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped and with wartime price sticker '3/-' to inside front flap.
Stapledon's famous take on the Übermensch idea, in the even more famous "odd" dust-jacket. Rare in such condition.
Weird & Supernatural
London, Ward Lock, 1934.
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth lettered in black. Dust-jacket, priced 3/6.
The first book by the author of The Golden Fluid, contains fantastic elements, including a gem with occult powers. Excellent semi-abstract jacket artwork.
![Alternative view of Williams (Miss [R. Omosunlola]) Miss Williams' Cookery Book](https://lycanthiabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/84508_2-300x400.jpeg)
Sports & Pastimes
London, Longmans, 1957.
First edition. 8vo. Original green boards. Dust-jacket, price sticker of 15/- to inside flap.
A very good first edition of this uncommon cookery book, "not merely a collection of recipes, but a compendium of useful information on every aspect of cookery. No Nigerian home should be without it." (jacket). The pink here is fresh and bright in the main.
Detective Fiction
London, Collins Crime Club, 1943.
First edition. 8vo. Original dark orange cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
A murder mystery, set in a thermal spa in the author's home country New Zealand.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
London, Gollancz, 1964.
First UK edition. Ex-library. 8vo. Original red boards. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
The first UK edition of Simak's sci-fi classic, about a lonely immortal farmer who man & maintains a way station for aliens in Wisconsin, winner of the Hugo prize for that year.
Modern Literature
London, Faber & Faber, 1954.
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 12s.6d
The tale of a small boy who wanders into the heart of a fantastical African forest, the dwelling place of innumerable wild, grotesque and terrifying beings. A key work of modern African literature, a companion-piece to Tutuola's first book The Palm-Wine Drinkard (1952).
London, Collins Crime Club, 1946.
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
A fascinating mystery set against a backdrop of the beautiful Fell country of Lunesdale in Lancashire.
Modern Literature
Edinburgh, Polygon, 1986.
First edition, preferred hardback issue. Flat-signed by the author. 8vo. Original red boards. Dust-jacket.
The preferred hardback issue of the book that introduced Ian Rankin to the literary scene, before he would go on to achieve global fame for his Inspector Rebus books.
![Alternative view of Thayer ([Emma Redington] Lee) Murder Stalks the Circle](https://lycanthiabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/84477_2-300x400.jpg)
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.
Detective Fiction
Rhode (John, pseud. Cecil John Charles Street) Dead Man at the Folly
London, Collins Crime Club, 1935.
Sixth impression. 8vo. Original black cloth lettered in red. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 2/6.
Classic Dr Priestley territory here courtesy of genre master Rhode.
Detective Fiction
Holt (Gavin, pseud. Percival Charles Rodda) Murder at Marble Arch
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1931.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 3/6.
An very good first edition of one of Holt's best books.
Detective Fiction
Holt (Gavin, pseud. Percival Charles Rodda) Drums Beat at Night
London, Hodder & Sttoughton, 1932.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced at 3/6.
Drums beat at night...and Professor Bastion hears the echo on Hampstead Heath (jacket)
Detective Fiction
London, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1947.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced at 9/-.
A superior example of the courtroom drama subgenre.
Detective Fiction
London, Philip Macdonald, 1956.
First edition. 8vo. Original black cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 8/6.
A very good first edition, featuring the author's second major series character, Roger Bennion.
Weird & Supernatural
London, Robert Holden, 1926.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
A second collection of weird tales by the author of The Street of Queer Houses. Uncommon, especially in the original dust-jacket.
Horror & Gothic
London, Hamish Hamilton, 1983.
First edition. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced £7.95.
The famous ghost story that inspired film, television, stage and audio adaptations. Scary stuff.
Detective Fiction
London, Herbert Jenkins, [1946].
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 8/6.
A plot of diabolic ingenuity taxes Chief Inspector Stephen Rant of the Yard. Attractive jacket artwork.
Detective Fiction
London, Constable, 1931.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Tales of Chinatown and Limehouse: "horrible, ironical, whimsically aloof"
Horror & Gothic
London, Faber, 1945.
First edition. 8vo. Original black cloth. dust-jacket, 9s6d.
An uncommon anthology of ghost tales published by Faber, including authors such as Wilkie Collins and Rudyard Kipling.
Detective Fiction
London, Peter Davies, 1960.
First edition. 8vo. Original green boards. Dust-jacket, priced 13s6d.
Ace private detective Carolus Deene is on the case in the village of Gladhurst.
Food & Drink
from Breakfast to Supper
London, Routledge, 1923.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue boards. Dust-jacket, priced 2s6d.
A practical cookery book aimed at the smaller household, uncommon in the original jacket.
Modern Literature
London, Philip Allan, 1924.
First edition. 8vo. Device to title. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 3/6.
A strange and occasionally beautiful book...rather a dangerous study in the emotion of sex... (The Referee). Rare, especially in the jacket.
Detective Fiction
London, Philip Allan, 1936.
'Popular Edition'. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6.
An attractive edition of this tale by the creator of Raffles.
Modern Literature
London, Cassell, 1926.First edition. Inscribed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original brown cloth.Tales of Indian life. Uncommon, especially thus inscribed.
Modern Literature
A story of love in the desert
London, Eveleigh Nash & Grayson, 1922.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6.
A very good first edition of this Egyptian tale by travel writer Douglas Sladen.
Modern Literature
Being the second part of 'The Realists'
London, Thornton Butterworth, 1927.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
An attractive Abbey jacket graces this work by prolific author McKenna, following the political career of Ambrose Sheridan.
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
New York, Appleton-Century, 1932.
First edition. 8vo. Original yellow pictorial cloth. Dust-jacket, priced $2.00.
One of the few Mundy titles to be serialised after publication in book-form. A Criminal Investigation Division of India caper, featuring Chullunder Ghose, and a Thuggee sect.
Talbot Mundy was an English writer of adventure fiction. Based for most of his life in the United States, he also wrote under the pseudonym of Walter Galt. Best known as the author of King of the Khyber Rifles and the 'Jimgrim' series, much of his work was published in pulp magazines.
Weird & Supernatural
New York, Appleton-Century, 1935.
First edition. 8vo. Original yellow pictorial cloth. Dust-jacket.
"Perhaps the most intensely mythic and symbolic of all Mundy's work." (Taves, Philosophy Into Popular Fiction: Talbot Mundy and The Theosophical Society)
Talbot Mundy was an English writer of adventure fiction. Based for most of his life in the United States, he also wrote under the pseudonym of Walter Galt. Best known as the author of King of the Khyber Rifles and the 'Jimgrim' series, much of his work was published in pulp magazines.
Children's Books
London, John Shaw, n.d. [c.1930]..First edition. 8vo. original cloth-backed pictorial boards. Dust-jacket.An uncommon title, with charming illustrative artwork by the author & artist Gladys Peto, distinctly rare in the dust-jacket.