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 stated. W. T. E. dustjacket art. A dramatic mystery thriller linking the theft of a priceless manuscript with the disappearance of a mysterious Chinese green jade hand, clue to a fortune. Very Good, spine modestly sunned, in Very Good dustjacket, general shelf wear, chip at top spine end, edge nicks. Item #35054

First Edition. S. B. dustjacket art. "A romantic pirate story in which the ill-starred novelist heroine is compelled to write by some mysterious force. The four fingered mark of death becomes the symbol of a superhuman agency which is only completely understood in the last amazing page of the novel". Near Fine in Very Good dustjacket, small chips along top spine edge and top front panel edge, small chip at lower mid spine. Item #34849

Third 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 by featuring two reviews at lower front panel, and for having '3rd Printing' slug at spine. Near Fine in a Very Good dustjacket. Item #41721

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

Early Reprint Edition. 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". Very Good but for drip staining to page edges, in nearly Very Good dustjacket chipped at spine ends and flap corners. Item #23395

First Edition. A British armor expert recalls a trip to Chicago, prior to World War One, where he met a bookseller experiencing blackouts who claimed to be from Dover. Very Good, contemporary ownership inscription at front pastedown, pages with mild moisture wave, foxing to page edges, in Good dustjacket, inch chip at top spine end, soiling to panels. Item #40724

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 to Near Fine Dustjacket. Item #16113

Early or First Edition, no statement or colophon. Uncommon Biblio-Novel set in Cornwall England, with one of the four 'chapters' making up the work titled: The Bookshop. A bright Very Good plus copy, in scarce printed dustjacket, with small chips at few flap edges, dime sized chip at top spine end. Item #10876

First Edition, Advance Review Copy in wrappers. Biblio-Mystery concerning a murdered novelist in Vermont. Very scarce title. Very Good, chip at top spine end. Item #41736