Mystery

Portishead, Bristol: UK: Scorpion Press, 1991. 1st ed. A fine, unread copy, in clear protective jacket. Very scarce. ONLY 20 LETTERED DELUXE COPIES were produced for private distribution and were SIGNED BY BOTH GASH and H.R.F. KEATING who wrote the appreciation. This is LETTER "K". Features the likeable antiques trader Lovejoy. Cream leather with light pastel green marble paper sides, hubbed spine, green top edge and tan end papers. Laid in is a note on Scorpion Press letterhead describing the De Luxe Specifications : "The de luxe presentation copies are produced in small numbers as they are intended primarily for the use of the author, contributor, editor, publisher and others associated with the authors work. These books are given a letter rather than a number and are especially handsome, bound in goatskin rather than bonded leather with five raised bands. The spine blocking is horizontal because of the raised bands. In addition these books contain the signature of… Read More

Tucson: AZ: Dennis McMillan, 1996. 1st ed. Fine in dustwrapper. Author's second book and first mystery. With a three-page foreword by James Crumley who called this book the best cop novel he had ever read. A small first printing of 1900 copies quickly sold out. SIGNED by Anderson.. the second detective Hanson novel, the protagonist of "Sympathy for the Devil," after his return from Vietnam to his job as a beat cop in Portland, Oregon -- a path the author himself also took.. Signed. First Edition. Cloth. Fine/Fine. Limited Edition.

LONDON: WARD, LOCK, AND CO. LTD. VERY GOOD WITHOUT D.J.. PUB 1902. FIRST EDITION. HARDCOVER. ISBN: PRINGLE WAS KIND OF A GENTLEMAN THIEF. THIS IS THE QUEEN'S QUORUM TITLE (# 30) OF LEGENDARY RARITY WHICHQUEEN HIMSELF OPINES WAS "DESTINED TO BECOME THE RAREST VOLUME OFDETECTIVE-CRIME SHORT STORIES PUBLISHED IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY." IN1951 QUEEN REPORTED: "BIBLIOPHILES AND BOOKSCOUTS HAVE SCOURED ENGLANDAND AMERICA, SEEKING IN THE MOST LIKELY AND UNLIKELY PLACES; YET AFTERNEARLY FIFTY YEARS OF EAGLE-EYED AND EXPERT EXCAVATING, THE RECORDEDCOPIES TOTAL EXACTLY SIX- NO MORE, NO LESS." THE ADRIAN GOLDSTONE COPYWHICH WAS RESOLD AT SOTHEBY'S IN DECEMBER 2000 HAS BLUE CLOTH COVEREDBOARDS. ONE WONDERS IF THERE WERE INDEED SO FEW COPIES WHY MORE THAN ONECOLOR OF CLOTH WAS USED, BUT AFTER ANOTHER 55 YEARS SINCE QUEEN MADE THEABOVE STATEMENT ONLY A FEW OTHERS SEEMED TO HAVE TURNED UP SO HISORIGINAL INFORMAL CENSUS MAY BE SOMETHING OTHER THAN EXAGERATION WHICHWAS HOW IT WAS CHARACTERIZED IN THE 1981 ADRIAN… Read More

First printing of Connelly's first Bosch cold case mystery. This is copy number 16 of 300 Brillanta cloth-covered, numbered copies, signed on the limitation page by Connelly. Fine book and dust jacket in a Fine black slipcase. This copy is still in publisher's shrink-wrap with number indicated. Photos are of similar but higher number copy.

First UK edition 1st printing, Near Fine book with a very small rub near bottom of front board and mild page edge yellowing, in a Fine jacket; her first mystery signed by Laurence on the title page and dated 11.10.91.

Blakeney, Glos: England: Scorpion Press, 1998. 1st ed. A fine, unread copy. With an appreciation by Carol O'Connell. Only 16 LETTERED DELUXE COPIES were produced for private distribution and were SIGNED by both RENDELL and CAROL O'CONNELL. THIS IS LETTER "K". Very fine in green goatskin with five raised bands, with green patterned marble paper sides with green top edge and green end papers in transparent dust wrapper. Laid in is a note typed on Scorpion Press letterhead describing the De Luxe Specifications : "The de luxe presentation copies are produced in small numbers as they are intended primarily for the use of the author, contributor, editor, publisher and others associated with the authors work. These books are given a letter rather than a number and are especially handsome, bound in goatskin rather than bonded leather with five raised bands. The spine blocking is horizontal because of the raised bands. In addition these books contain the signature of the… Read More

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1939., 1939. First edition. First edition. Author's first book. Fine, bright square copy with top edge dark blue and un-faded in dust jacket with a tiny (1/8") closed tear to top edge of rear panel and a tiny (1/8") closed tear and one inch wrinkle to bottom edge of the rear panel. A Haycraft/Queen Cornerstone mystery novel and an exceptional copy. Made into two films of the same name, in 1946 starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, and in 1978 starring Robert Mitchum and Sarah Miles. Housed in a two-tone quarter leather and cloth clam shell case with a leather label on the spine and the titles stamped in gold gilt.

312 pages. Small octavo (7 3/4" x 5 1/4") bound in original publisher's grey cloth with red lettering to spine and cover in original jacket. Inscribed on second front end-paper. First edition in second state jacket.Earl Derr Biggers is remembered primarily for his novels, especially those featuring the fictional Chinese American detective Charlie Chan, from which popular films were made in the United States and China. Derr Biggers was born in Warren, Ohio, and graduated from Harvard University in 1907. He worked as a journalist for The Plain Dealer before turning to fiction. His novel Seven Keys to Baldpate was popular in 1913, and George M. Cohan quickly adapted the novel as a hit Broadway stage play of the same name. Cohan starred in the 1917 film version, one of seven film versions of the play, and a 1935 revival. More than 10 years after Baldpate, Derr Biggers had even greater success with his series of Charlie Chan detective novels. The popularity of Charlie Chan extended even to China, where… Read More

Blakeney, Glos: England: Scorpion Press 1995, 1995. 1st ed. Fine in unprinted acetate dust jacket as issued. Red goatskin with various colors mixed into charcoal patterned marbled paper sides, red top edge and charcoal end papers. LIMITED EDITION, one of 15 LETTERED DE LUXE COPIES, This being LETTER "K". SIGNED BY ALL 28 CONTRIBUTORS which include H.R.F. Keating, Michael Lewin,. Susan Moody, Candace Robb, Reginald Hill, Margaret Yorke, Liza Cody, Lindsey Davis, Charlotte & Aaron Elkins, John Harvey, H.R.F. Keating, Peter Lovesey, Susan Moody, Peter Robinson... Ian Rankin signed some of the books in the manner of "Knots and Crosses" a reference to his first novel and that each one is different. The signature pages are continued at the rear of the book. An unusual and desirable item. From the beginning Scorpion Press decided to include four elements: all books were autographed by the author (or authors); additional material was commissioned about the author; print runs… Read More

BookLine Publishing Co, 1995. Softcover. Very Good. 49 unbroken issue run of David M. Brown's hard-to-find Mystery Collectors' BookLine, February 1995 through Nov./Dec. 1999. BookLine was, primarily, a monthly investment newsletter focusing on modern and hypermodern mystery First Editions, comprising advice on what to buy prior to its getting hot in the marketplace. Content also included upcoming publications likely to go up in value quickly, as well as scheduled book signings, book reviews, First Edition issue points and more. Recommended authors included Cormac McCarthy, John Dunning, Sue Grafton and many others. All 49 issues are inserted into a large 3-ring binder. Most issues are 12 pages in length and measure 11" x 8 1/2". A valuable and scarce resource for booksellers and collectors of modern mystery fiction. All issues tight and complete with very occasional yellow highlighting and notations. Binders in excellent condition. Photographs of or additional information about… Read More

First UK Edition; A Near Fine book in a Near Fine dust jacket. Typed Letter SIGNED by the author on his stationary laid in. This is the very scarce 1st UK edition; although not the true first (the US was published shortly beforehand), the UK is super rare to find in collectible condition, particularly in the ORIGINAL jacket with no restoration or repair; a truly unique item and a must for the 20th century mystery collector! This novel is on the Modern Library list of 100 greatest novels and is the basis for many film and screen adaptations. This copy is in near fine condition with a square, tight binding, clean yellow boards with bold black lettering, and crisp, off-white to white pages; age spotting is present to the exterior text block and free papers and only light shelf wear to the board edges, else fine. Housed in a near fine dust jacket that is remarkably free of any rubbing or chipping but does show minor discoloration and soiling to the back panel, spine, and flap edges (please see scans for… Read More

New York, New York, U.S.A.: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1982. First Edition First Printing . Hardcover. Fine/Fine. The very first book in the author's renowned alphabet series & the one that introduced female private investigator Kinsey Millhone to the world. From the estate of a local mystery collector, this is a FIRST EDITION, First Printing hardcover book with original, unclipped DJ, which has been protected in a mylar cover since purchased Brand New. SIGNED by the AUTHOR in black marker (her name only) on title page. Both book & DJ are in Fine condition (our highest grade): just slightly less crisp than Brand New! Completely clean, binding strong & square, creamy white pages. Absolutely NO writing or underlining or highlighting. NOT ex-lib; NOT bce. The DJ is virtually flawless: bright & colorful NO fading or wear. A beauty! Please see our photos--they show the EXACT book you will receive from us, never "stock" images of books we don't actually have on hand!… Read More

Du Maurier, Daphne: Jamaica Inn Copyright 1936, states 1937 on the title page. Doubleday Doran & Co. QUITE RARE. Used. VERY GOOD CONDITION/ NO DJ INCLUDED. 332 pages. 5 ¾ X 8 ¼. Plot summary: "Shadows moved across the moor. Horses' hoofs rang sharply on the stone pathway. They had come again - the mysterious visitors who arrived at Jamaica Inn under cover of darkness...Here is a story of passion, treachery and death. Of a beautiful woman caught in the web of a dangerous intrigue. And of her compelling love for a scoundrel. Daphne du Maurier tells this strange tale of the suspense and excitement which character-izes her internationally famous novels Rebecca and The Scapegoat". YOUR OFFERS ARE WELCOME HERE!

The Case-book Of Sherlock Holmes. By Arthur Conan Doyle. Publisher: John Murray, 1929 Cheaper Edition. Short story anthology. Detective fiction. Used. Clean and square. Protected in a mylar wrap. Good Condition/Good- ORIGINAL DUST JACKET illustrated by J. Abby. Blue blind-stamped cloth. Toning as is typical of this edition. RARE original, White, blue and red pictorial dust-wrapper. Priced at 2/- net to the bottom right of the front panel. Back panel of the jacket lists "New volumes in Murray's Fiction Library. The 12 Titles listed there are from Beau Geste to The Black Flemings. 320pp. 4 5/8 X 7. A great find. Adventures included here are: The illustrious Client; The Blanched Soldier, The Mazarin Stone, The Three Gables, The Sussex Vampire, The Three Garridebs, The Problem of Thor Bridge, The Creeping Man, The Lion's Mane, The Veiled Lodger, Shoscombe Old Place, The Retired Colourman.

Agatha Christie. Evil Under The Sun (A Hercule Poirot Detective Novel). WITH NEW FAX JACKET. Copyright 1940,1941 by Agatha Christie Mallowan. Dodd, Mead First American Edition. USED. Good-Condition. Light Blue cloth cover. Fabric is split at spine. 260 pages. 5 ½ X 8 Inches. "Synopsis. A quiet holiday at a secluded hotel in Devon is all that Hercule Poirot wants, but among his fellow guests is a beautiful and vain woman who, seemingly oblivious to her own husband, revels in the attention of another woman's husband." YOUR OFFERS ARE WELCOME HERE!