Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1911. Adams (1871-1958) was a muckraking journalist as well as a novelist; he also wrote more "risque" works under the pseudonym "Warner Fabian." This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of the First Edition, a Queen's Quorum title (Hubin, p.3). Olive decorative cloth binding, titled and stamped with red and white; white titling on the spine. Clean text; 345 pages. Contemporary (1913) gift inscription on the FFEP. Mildly bumped; some stains/abrasion on the rear cover. No dustjacket; in an archival plastic protector.. First Edition. Decorative Cloth. Very Good (P... View More...
Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1912. Adams (1871-1958) was a muckraking journalist as well as a novelist (he also wrote more "risque" works under the pseudonym "Warner Fabian"). This mystery followed by a year his Queen's Quorum title, "Average Jones." A spectacular copy of the First Edition, as close to Fine as it may ever get. Green, almost umber, cloth binding, with architectural blinstamping on the front cover. Titling in gilt on the spine and front cover. Clean text; 340 pages. Frontis illustration and four others within by Frank E. Schoonover. Tiny ink notation on rear paste-do... View More...
New York & London: Frederick A. Stokes Company Publishers, 1896. A supernatural mystery by the Scottish/Canadian newspaperman Robert Barr (1849-1912), who also wrote under the pseudonym "Luke Sharp." Friends with Conan Doyle, he also wrote two Sherlock Holmes parodies. This is a Very Good (Plus) to Near Fine copy of the First Edition, an uncommon book. Tweedy green cloth binding with silver titling on the spine; titling and decorated (a man with two ghostly companions) in silver on the front cover. Clean text; 210 pages; topstain is also silver. Frontis and two other illustrations by Franklin ... View More...
London: Methuen and Co., 1899. Canadian Robert Barr (1849-1912) emigrated to England in 1881 and established himself as a popular mystery novelist and friend to the lierati of the day (he was chosen to complete Stephen Crane's novel "The O'Ruddy"when Crane died) This is one of his most interesting works, featuring a "woman sleuth" who gets involved with diamonds, government secrets, and a princess. Listed in Hubin, this is an important book in the development of the mystery genre, and with a minor significance in publishing history. Jennie was the second title issued by Methuen as an "interes... View More...
London: Methuen & Co., Ltd., 1919. Canadian Robert Barr (1849-1912) emigrated to England in 1881 and established himself as a popular mystery novelist and friend to the lierati of the day (he was chosen to complete Stephen Crane's novel "The O'Ruddy"when Crane died) This is one of his most interesting works, featuring a "woman sleuth" who gets involved with diamonds, government secrets, and a princess. Listed in Hubin, this is an important book in the development of the mystery genre, and with a minor significance in publishing history. Jennie was the second title issued by Methuen as an "int... View More...
London & Glasgow: Collins Clear Type Press, 1910. Born in Canada, Robert Barr (1850-1912) moved to London in 1881 and established himself as a popular mystery writer. This is a Very Good copy of one of his best works, a Queen's Quorum selection. [Hubin, p.24], with an elegant sleuth intended as an ironic parody of Sherlock Holmes. First published in 1906, the First Edition is scarce, as is this - a part of the "Collins' 7d net Modern Fiction." series. This is probably the first illustrated edition. Very Good condition. Red cloth binding , with the title blind-stamped on the front cover; titlin... View More...
Boston: The Page Company, 1918. One of Barton's mysteries featuring his series character "Bromley Barnes" [Listed Hubin, p. 26] Not a common title. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition [stated "First Impression, January, 1918"]. Blue-gray cloth binding with black blindstamping; tipped with a coloured oval illustration. Titling on the spine and the front cover in red and black. Clean text; 336 pages, with a five-page published catalog in the rear. Coloured frontis illustration, and five other black-and-white illustrations within. Gift inscription on the FFEP. Mild rubbing, spine with... View More...
New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1908. A prolific author known for supernatural melodramas, Edward Frederick Benson (1867-1940) also penned mysteries; his "Mapp & Lucia" series has been revived for television. This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of the First American Edition. Hubin, p. 30. Brick red cloth binding, titled in white on the spine and front cover. Decorated on the front in black and light blue. Clean text; 255 pages. Very mild rubbing and bumping; a few spots on the edges. The binding is very bright, presenting nicely.. First American Edition.. Decorative Cloth. Very Good (Plus)/No... View More...
New York & London: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1915. Although Victor Bridges (the pseudonym of Victor George deFreyne, 1878-1972) had a long and prolific career writing detective fiction, this is an uncommon title. Hubin, p. 49. A Near Fine copy. Dark blue cloth decorative binding, nicely blindstamped in a floral theme; gilt titling on the spine and front cover. Clean text; 354 pages, with a six-page catalogue in the rear. Color frontis illustration by John H. Cassel. Hints of bumping and with a very slight lean; else a Fine copy. Quite an attractive book; in an archival plastic protector.. First Edit... View More...
New York: Robert M. McBride & Company, 1918. These stories set in London's Limehouse District were the first successful work by Burke [1886-1945]. A Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone [Hubin, p. 58] . First published in August 1917; this is a Very Good (Minus) copy of a Later Printing [stated "Sixth Printing, September, 1918"]. Yellow/tan cloth binding with titling in black on the spine and front cover. Clean text; 311 pages. Rubbed at the margins; spine a bit darkened; splash on rear cover.. Later Printing. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. View More...
New York and London: D. Appleton and Company, 1915. Initially an artist/illustrator, Chambers (1865-1933) turned to novels and short stories that ranged from the wierd and supernatural to science fiction, to romances in his later career. This colection of stories "being a few deathless truths concerning several mysteries recently and scientifically unravelled by a modest servant of Science."This is a Near Fine copy of the First Edition.[Oddly, not in Hubin.] Green cloth binding, decoratively stamped, and with a circular illustration of a kneeling damsel tipped on to the front; titling in gilt ... View More...
New York: D.Appleton and Company, 1900. The second book written by the Scottish author Joseph Storer Clouston (1870-1944), a mystery that achieved great popularity. Although called to the bar, Clouston devoted himself to his writing career, and was quite prolific. This is a Very Good copy of the "Authorized Edition" - part of "Appleton's Town and Country Library No. 284." This is the true First American Edition. Although it was reprinted many times by various publishers, first editions are scarce compared to those of the pirates. Marbled paper-covered boards with leather spine and tips; gilt ... View More...
New York: F.M. Buckles & Company, 1905. The second book written by the Scottish author Joseph Storer Clouston (1870-1944), a mystery that achieved great popularity. Clouston abandoned a career at law and devoted himself to his fiction writing. This is a Very Good (Plus) to Near Fine copy of an early printing, with illustrations by Latimer J. Wilson. Tan decorative cloth binding of a gated estate in white,red, and black. White lettering on the spine. Clean text; 312 pages. Mildly bumped and a bit of a loss to the white spine lettering, else a Fine copy. Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Later P... View More...
New York & London: Harper & Bros, 1874. Probably the best-known work by Collins (1824-1889), and often acknowledged as the first detective novel in English. First published in 1868; this is a Very Good (Plus) copy of a Later Printing, from six years after. Green cloth binding with gilt lettering on the spine. Clean text; 491 pages. Light rubbing to the margins; top a bit dusty; tiny Brentano's sticker on the rear paste-down. A very respectable copy of an early reprinting of this famous work. In an archival plastic protector.. Later Printing.. Hard Cover. Very Good Plus/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾... View More...
New York: The H.K. Fly Company Publishers, 1912. This early mystery was made into at least three films (1914, 1916, and 1920). Barton Currie (1878-1962) was a journalist/editor and a bibliophile who specialized in Joseph Conrad; his co-author Augustin McHugh (1877-1928) is credited with adapting the book into a play than was produced by George M. Cohan in 1912. This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of the First Edition. Blue cloth binding, featuring an intimidating image of the officer , with billy, in lighter blue and tan; titling on spine and front cover in white. Clean text; 308 pages, with six p... View More...
New York: Brentano's Publishers, 1901. An early mystery by British author Adolphus Eugene Judge (1856-1931) under his pseudonym of Burford Delannoy. This is a Very Good (Plus) to Near Fine copy of the First Edition. A scarce title. Maroon cloth binding with titling on the front cover and spine in gilt. Clean text; 309 pages. Very bright and clear. Slight bumping, else a Fine copy. No dustjacket; in an archival plastic protector.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. First Edition. View More...
London: Hutchinson & Co. (Publishers) Limited, 1893. Originally a character in his mystery novels, "Dick Donovan" was adopted as the pseudonym of J.E. Preston Muddock (1843-1934) after his Glasgow detective became so popular as to rival Sherlock Holmes. This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of the First Edition, a collectioon of twelve short stories. An uncommon title. Gray decorative cloth binding, stamped in black, silver, and gilt. Clean text; 320 pages. Illustrated by Paul Harvey and others. There is no publication date, but bibliographers seem to agree on 1893. Minor rub at the head and foot of... View More...
New York: George Munro's Sons, Publishers, 1898. This is a Very Good copy of the publisher's "Favorite Series" that was "Issued Daily" and cost ten cents. Rare. Contains three stories by Doyle: "The Man from Archangel." "That Little Square Box," and "John Huxford's Hiatus." Softbound in a light green paper with titling in black on the front cover and spine. Clean text; 171 pages, with a one-page advert detailing the series titles. Rear cover has adverts both obverse and reverse. Light chipping and creasing around the edges. A well-preserved copy of a fragile publication. . First Thus. Soft Cov... View More...
New York: George Munro's Sons, 1893. An early collection of Doyle's stories; "My Friend the Murderer" was published in England in 1889. This is a Good (Plus) copy of a scarce AMERICAN PIRATE EDITION. Nice decorative brown cloth binding, noted as the "Crescent Edition" on the front cover; silver titling on the spine. Clean text; 194 pages. No publication date, but circa 1893-96. Contemporary (1899) signature on the FFEP. While the exterior binding is in nice condition, the cheap paper textblock is tanned and stiff. Please note the condition issue. Quercus offers this book as an artifact to the ... View More...
London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1907. This is Very Good copy of a "New Edition" from the first year Smith, Elder took publicationfrom George Newnes. Issued in a tall format binding of red cloth with gilt titling on the spine and front cover. A rare First Edition Thus, hardly seen. Clean text; 341 pages, with a two-page publisher's advert in the rear. Profusely illustrated by Sidney Paget; frontis and eighteen others within. Very mild rubbing to margins, with the spine only slightly faded (gilt remains perfectly bright). Two insignificant spots on the rear. A solid and attractive copy; in an archiv... View More...
