First Edition or First of Type

Doctor Fischer of Geneva or The Bomb Party – Graham Greene – First Edition 1980

A first edition published by The Bodley Head 1980. Octavo, 140 pages, complete dust jacket, a very good copy.

Seriously hilarious – a shorter tale [Greene would call it an “Entertainment”] about greedy people – Dr Fischer was a naughty man – Greene sees it all!

The unusual double “choice” title makes sense once read.

Greene- Bomb’s Going off in Geneva

$30.00

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SO (Ten Romances) – John Crombie and The Kickshaws Private Press – Limited to 175 copies – Unusual Permutational Book.

A first and only limited edition by the talented writer and book designer John Crombie. Published by his Kickshaws Press in Paris in 1988.

This is a unique example of a what can be referred to as a permutational book. The book is bound on the left hand edge but the text runs like a maze left to right continuously around the book until each of ten romances is complete. At the end of each section the reader is presented with options on new lines as to how to proceed and must make a choice. There are also vertical groups of connecting words that rhyme or free-associate with the ones above and below. The text is worthy, funny and at times a little naughty. Once you have completed the ”maze” the stories can be read in a different order [we challenge you to remember which way you went the first time] giving them a whole new meaning.

Unpaginated, 20cm by 25cm, the book narrative is printed and bound separately from the fuchsia three-fold heavy paper wrap around, the latter containing an introduction that describes in more words than ours the recommended method of reading

A really super item … challenging, enlightening and entertaining. Would make a special gift.

Crombie’s “SO” a most unusual book from the Paris Kickshaws Press.

$120.00

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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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Doctor at Large – Richard Gordon – 1950′s

Published by Michael Joseph for the Quality Book Club, London 1953 a first of type. Octavo and 248 pages of hilarity, top edge stained maroon as required. A very good copy.

A young Doctor Gordon finds himself in the usual spot as anew entrant .. competition for promotion does not go his way and he is shuttled off to the Midlands. An experienced practitioner suggests that getting to know fellow doctors wives is a good tactic. Not sure the advisor had in mind Gordan’s interpretation … all good clean fun viz the period.

Doctors Gordon Larger than Life

$30.00

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Doctor Fischer of Geneva or The Bomb Party – Graham Greene – First Edition 1980

SO (Ten Romances) – John Crombie and The Kickshaws Private Press – Limited to 175 copies – Unusual Permutational Book.

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.

Doctor at Large – Richard Gordon – 1950′s

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