First Canadian Edition (in correct Knopf issued First American Edition dustjacket). M. dustjacket art. Very scarce Fletcher title and biblio-mystery. "Would anyone commit violent murder for one musty old book? A famous American book collector, his body a mass of battered flesh, was found at the bottom of Harlesden Scar on the lonely Yorkshire moors." As the novel progresses, it becomes clear that Dr. Essenheim was murdered shortly after having purchased a first edition of Pilgrim's Progress and a medieval book of hours, both of which were missing when the body was found. In one of his Saturday Evening Post articles, Dr. Abraham Simon Wolf Rosenbach claimed that Essenheim was based on him, an homage which the mystery-loving Dr. Rosenbach enjoyed. Almost Near Fine, hint of a splash stain to spine, very mild cocking in nearly Very Good dustjacket, dime sized chip at lower spine end and lower front panel, some tiny edge chips, couple square inch sized light stain at mid rear panel, split along rear spine edge (mended at verso with archival tape). Item #29146

First Edition. Biblio-mystery of sorts of a brilliant writer of detective stories who is never suspected of being a crook. Near Fine but rear endpaper partly torn away, in Very Good dustjacket with shallow edge chips. Item #600843

Third Printing, same month as First Edition, and in First Issue dustjacket. A cryptic book of Chinese aphorisms bound in sharkskin has a curious influence on people. 'The colorful characters involved are: Erlys Craith, dancer, Joe Long-Buffalo, North American Indian, Swig Mullarky, Chicago gangster, Daola Vendale, nurse and Dr. Byxbee Adair, kidnapped society surgeon.' Uncommon title. Almost Near Fine in nearly Very Good dustjacket, chipping at spine ends and flap corners, clear tape applied to exterior of spine ends and along long closed tear at front spine edge (at verso as well). Item #40723

Early Reprint Edition. 'A young writer, whose study of crime enabled him to write clever super crook stories puts his knowledge of scientific crime to practical use, and so became the most famous master thief in the land'. An uncommon title. Very Good, some nicking to cheap spine gutter cloth, in Very Good dustjacket, chipped at spine ends, small chip at lower front flap corner. Item #39665

Sixteenth Printing (as designated at spine of dustjacket, no printing statement at copyright page). An early printing of this popular biblio-mystery and prolific author's first book. The scarce dustjacket differs from the first printing. Near Fine, previous owner signature at front endpaper, in a Very Good dustjacket, some thin strips of tape at spine ends and flap corners. Item #601387

First Edition. Very scarce biblio mystery missed by Hubin (and lost civilization fantasy missed by Bleiler). "The remarkable adventures of an English boy, kidnapped at the beginning of the War, and taken to an islet in the Greek Archipelago. His story centers round the discovery of a Quarto Edition of Shakespeare's Tempest, the most interesting literary find of the century - within which are concealed the clues to a hidden treasure. Contrary to all the accepted traditions, Shakespeare's uninhabited island turns out to be in the Mediterranean, and to be still in the possession of descendants of the original Prospero, served like their ancestor by a Caliban. It falls to the Boy-hero to assist in unraveling the cipher, and in delivering the island and its owners from the domination of the enemy". Near Fine in Very Good dustjacket. Item #29022

First Edition. Walter Frame dustjacket art. Scarce Detective Potter title set near New London, Connecticut. Murder among the Gaunt family, whose ancestors ran opium. A mysterious book holds an important clue. Near Fine in Very Good dustjacket, some fading at spine, small chip at top front panel. Item #601799

First Edition in dustjacket with the 'Mastermind tells how the Crime Club operates!' variant format to rear panel and rear flap. Early Crime Club title of a murdered mystery writer. 'Van Dusen Ormsberry, a great but very human detective, is called to take charge of the case. He has a hunch that this murder is connected with the unsolved murder the year before of the millionaire, John Fortescue'. Author's first book. Very Good, spine with mild crease and some sunning, in very attractive appearing dustjacket, Near Fine but for square-inch sized abrasions at both front and rear flaps. Item #39988

First Edition. Illustrations by Reginald Birch. Novel of a New York City bookshop "The Shop of Dreams", where a romance buds from behind the shelves. Near Fine in Very Good plus dustjacket, few tiny chips at top spine end. Item #17293

First Edition. 'New York bibliophile visits the back room of Sewell's Bookstore one evening and death strikes him down. The police arrive and discover that there is a book worth $100,000 missing.' Uncommon bibliomystery. Near Fine, couple of whitish spots to red stained top page edge, in Very Good plus dustjacket, modest darkening to panels, few tiny closed tears. Item #37841