Crime of the Fictional Variety

Playback – Raymond Chandler – First Edition 1958

A first edition of Raymond Chandlers last novel published by Hamish Hamilton, London in 1958. Chandler died the following year.

Octavo, 207 pages, unclipped dust jacket designed by Patricia Davey, chip to lower spine, a better than good copy of a desirable first edition.

Private detective Marlowe appears for his final hurrah. His first appearance since “The Long Good-Bye”. Chadler’s classic writing personified by the first sentence of the second … “There was nothing to it. The Super Chief was on time, as it always is, and the subject was as easy to spot as a kangaroo in a dinner jacket” … PS read in your head with the voice of Humphrey Bogart.

Playback …. Marlowe’s final … sadly.

$60.00

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The Blue Dahlia – A Screenplay – Raymond Chandler – First Edition 1976

Published by Elm Tree Books – Hamish Hamilton, London in 1976 a first edition. Produced from the only then existing copy of the screenplay used in the movie production kept in the University of California collection.

Large form octavo, v, ix, xxiii, 129 pages (the screenplay) plus 11 page appendix. Complete dust jacket … a near fine copy.

A well put together book with a lengthy Memoir “Lost Fortnight” by John Houseman and neat Editorial Note re anomalies in the script. After the screenplay, which is illustrated from movie promotional stills, an Appendix … Chandler on Hollywood; Movies made from Chandler’s Plays and Screenplays written by Chandler (almost as prolific as Graham Greene .. but not quite).

Many think Chandler the greatest crime writer of the 20th Century. Hollywood needed a script in a hurry for Alan Ladd to continue his rise. Chandler had a half finished book … the Blue Dahlia .. he was commissioned to adapt what he had complete the plot etc. He immediately hit a bout of writers block … his remedy was to write whilst blind drunk for a fortnight … hence the title to the memoir. He finished … it was a hit … he got sober.

Chandlers Dahlia wrapped up for Hollywood.

$60.00

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The Duke of York’s Steps – Henry Wade – First Edition 1929.

A super scarce first edition of Henry Wade’s early novel. From the “Golden Age of Detective Fiction”.

Published by Constable, London in 1929. Octavo, 317 pages. Green cloth covered boards with embossed titles in black and spine in rather full form. Unclipped dust jacket with a few chips around the spine ends … generally all in very good condition. Jacket design by Morton Sale.

This was the first in a series of seven novels featuring Chief Inspector Poole. The steps referred to connect the Duke of York Column with the Mall in London. A German Jewish banker seeks revenge for his mistreatment by murdering a fellow banker… Sir Garth Fratten. At the time the book was highly praised.

Henry Wade was the pen name of Sir Henry Lancelot Aubrey-Fletcher (1887-1969) Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire. He had a distinguished military a career in both World Wars and played cricket for his county. He was very successful as a writer and a founding member of the Detection Club.

Scarce First Edition of a very worthwhile detection novel.

$120.00

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Kidnapped – Robert Louis Stevenson – 1950′s Dakers Edition

Published by Adam Dakers, London in the 1950’s, part of their Hamlyn Classic Series.

Octavo, 204 pages, with vibrant coloured frontispiece and our favourite Kidnapped dust jacket. The book is in good condition albeit evenly toned throughout probably due to a post war experiment in having this series printed in Czechoslovakia.

Vies with Treasure Island as RLS’s most important book … in Scotland no doubt their favourite.

Kidnapped everyone should have one

$30.00

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Vendetta for The Saint – Leslie Charteris – First of Type 1965

Simon Templar (aka The Saint) is relaxing in Naples, eating his “Lobster alla Vesuvio” when he is interrupted by an unsightly brawl … it all turns very “Saintly’ after that.

A Book Club first of type published in 1965 with permission from Hodder. Octavo, 192 pages, a very good copy in a super dust jacket designed by Critchard.

The Saint disturbed from his Lobster – Watch for the Sign of the Saint! … He will be back!

$30.00

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The Makeover Murders – Jennifer Rowe

First edition published by Allen & Unwin, Sydney 1992. Octavo, 258 pages in fine condition. Plan of “Deepdene” the Makeover Mansion to assist in the various goings on.

The author, Jennifer Rowe, Australia’s very own Agatha Christie. Women pay thousands to experience the delights of the make-over … but all is not what it seems to be …

Murder and make-over at the Mansion.

$25.00

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Playback – Raymond Chandler – First Edition 1958

The Blue Dahlia – A Screenplay – Raymond Chandler – First Edition 1976

The Duke of York’s Steps – Henry Wade – First Edition 1929.

Kidnapped – Robert Louis Stevenson – 1950′s Dakers Edition

Vendetta for The Saint – Leslie Charteris – First of Type 1965

The Makeover Murders – Jennifer Rowe

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