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During October 2007 the special theme is crime and adventure books.
First Editions:
SOLD JAMES ELLROY My Dark Places TRUE CRIME *RARE UK SIGNED*James Ellroy, My Dark Places, published Century,
SOLD Colin Forbes TARGET FIVE 1st 1973 Ex/Ex
This item is ‘First Published 1973’and part of a consignment from a private collection of crime and adventure books going to auction over the next month. This is an excellent copy, the dust jacket having been protected by a PVC wrapper and therefore minimal rubbing (a little at base of spine, see image) and is not price-clipped. The book has blue cloth covers with gilt titles, no inscriptions and no sunning to speak of -- a lovely bright clean copy (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). The item has real collector value, particularly in its condition, and this starting price is low.
‘...Urgent you penetrate icefield for possible rendezvous. Maximum risk must be accepted. Repeat. Must be accepted.’ In the weird world where huge ice islands rotate round the North Pole, Soviet submarines still prowl beneath the icecap. Top Russian oceanographer Michael Gorov, early believer in world peace, flees from his Soviet base to hand the West secrets which would neutralize the East's potential stranglehold. His escape route is across the grimmest terrain on earth - the empty wastes of the frozen
£12.00 / £3.99 Gavin Lyall MIDNIGHT PLUS ONE 1st Print 1965 Ex/Ex
This item is ‘First Printed 1965’ and part of a consignment from a private collection of crime and adventure books going to auction over the next month. This is an excellent copy, the dust jacket having been protected by a PVC wrapper and therefore minimal rubbing and is price-clipped. The book has blue cloth covers with gilt titles and blue dye to the top page edges with marginal tanning and a discreet book seller price of 10/- inside in red ink, other than which there is no inscription or marking (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). The book is sought after in first edition but rarely available in such great condition. Worth a lot more than the starting price.
Lewis Cane fought with the French Resistance during the Second World War and gained a justified reputation as a tough and resourceful man. So it's no great surprise when one of his ex-Resistance comrades, now a successful lawyer in the early 1960s in
£12.00 / £3.99 Gavin Lyall THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME 1st Ex/VG+
This item is ‘First Published 1964’ [published date 1964] and part of a consignment from a private collection of crime and adventure books going to auction over the next month. This is a very good +/excellent copy, the dust jacket having been protected by a PVC wrapper and therefore minimal rubbing and is not price-clipped. The book has red cloth covers with gilt titles and has some foxing and mino sunning but no inscriptions at all (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). The book is the author’s second book and is sought after; the condition of the cover makes this item particularly valuable in comparison with other seller’s copies and worth a good deal more than the starting price.
Bill Cary flies surveys for mineral companies and pilots hunters around the remote forests of
£12.00 / £3.99 Gavin Lyall SHOOTING SCRIPT 1st Printing 1966 Ex/Ex
This item is ‘First Printed 1966’ and part of a consignment from a private collection of crime and adventure books going to auction over the next month. This is an excellent copy, the dust jacket having been very well protected by a PVC wrapper, even to vulnerable edges, and is not price-clipped. The book has blue cloth covers with gilt titles and has marginal tanning and no inscriptions at all (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). The item is hard to find in this condition and status and is worth considerably more than the starting price.
Carr is flying a film company's plane around the
Vintage HBs
£0.99 / £1.99 Graham Greene THE QUIET AMERICAN vg+
Graham Greene, The Quiet American, World Books, 1957. This item is a reprint in arrangement with William Heinemann and part of a consignment from a private collection of crime and adventure books going to auction over the next month. This is a very good + copy in very good dust jacket which has a little chipping and bumping to spine (see image). The book has red dye to the top page edge, is tight and bright with slight sunning to page edges and no inscriptions at all (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). The item is a reprint, sure, but so much more classy to be seen reading than a regular paperback.
Into the intrigue and violence of Indo-China comes Pyle, a young idealistic American sent to promote democracy through a mysterious 'Third Force'. As his naive optimism starts to cause bloodshed, his friend Fowler, a cynical foreign correspondent, finds it hard to stand aside and watch. But even as he intervenes he wonders why: for the sake of politics, or for love?
Vintage pbs:
£3.50 / £1.99 Mary Collins THE FOG COMES 1st Ed Bantam VINTAGE Ex This item is first Bantam edition, published date [February 1946], is Bantam 23, and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a very good + / excellent copy on stiff laminate boards with some creasing and slight chipping to the spine (as shown) with slight sunning inside (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). The endpapers are of a witty map representation of the crime scene the book covers. All 3 page edges have a crimson dye which kind of matches with the spine artwork. The beautiful Bantam cock is resplendent against the magnificent graphics / artwork. This item is already scarce and this is really a beautiful copy in fantastic condition. Other sellers are offering the Bantam first edition, but I haven’t seen a better copy yet – please look at the pictures and decide for yourself. This is the author's first mystery and is set on the
£0.99 / £1.99 Nicholas Blake MALICE IN WONDERLAND 1st Ed 1946 VINTAGE Penguin
This item is the First Penguin Books Edition [published date May 1946], published in the US, and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a good + copy with wear and rubbing to the spine (as shown) and the beginning of loosening to early few pages (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). There are creases to the laminate cover but these do not detract from the amazing book artwork which really sets the book apart. The graphics are also wonderful, particularly the early mobile penguin, which looks particularly impressive on the title page. The item is collectable, particularly as a companion to the very rare hardback first, and is likely to be of interest to vintage collectors rather than readers -- not that you can’t be both of course. Worth a lot more than this low start suggests.
The strange goings on at Wonderland, an English Summer holiday camp, give sleuth Nigel Strangeways one of the toughest problems of his career. It starts thus: ‘Young Mr. Perry was going to camp. Not a territorial camp, nor a scout camp, nor yet a concentration camp. No, a very different layout indeed …’ Indeed.
This item is the First issued in Fontana books [published date 1956] and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This would be a good copy, with wear and rubbing to the spine, some creasing to the cover, and edges of pages sunned and otherwise bright, but is missing the rear cover page (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). The cover artwork is great -- there is an impression of a stamp, visible in places, as shown. The item is an acceptable reading copy or one for the Meynell collector.
The Poisoned Chocolates Case is a detective-story on an unusual plan. Instead of having one detective and half a dozen suspects, there are half a dozen detectives, and each of them suspects only one person
£0.99 / £1.99 Ellery Queen INSPECTOR QUEENS OWN CASE 1966 Vintage Crime
This item is first Bantam edition [published date 1966] and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a good + / very good copy with some wear, chipping and creasing to the spine and small chips and tears to the bottom edges (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). The item is features typical sixties art and has yellow dye to all 3 page edges. The Bantam was preceded by Simon and Shuster edition but is growing in collectability along with much sixties material.
A mystery for Ellery Queen’s father, New York City Police Inspector Richard Queen, who must search for a baby killer on Nair Island, a playground for millionaires, from the writers Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee (whose co-pseudonym is Ellery Queen).
SOLD John Creasy GIDEONS MONTH J.J. Maric 1st 1965 VINTAGE Crime
This item is first in this edition [published date 1965] and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a very good copy with slight cocking, creases and some wear to edges of spine (see image) and tanning to page edges, but quite a bright and tight copy. No inscriptions (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below).
This item is first Panther edition [published date 1963] and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a good copy with cocking and clear-tape repair to spine and early pages, tanning to pages. Intact with bookseller stamp inside and a pencilled name. Some edges worn (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below).
This item the 2nd printing and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a good copy cocked spine with wear to edges of spine, a little foxing and slight tanning to pages and no inscriptions other than the marks to cover (all as shown -- for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below).
This item is the ‘First NEL Edition June 1970’ and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a good copy with tanning to page edges but quite a tight and bright copy/ The front cover has seen a lot of wear and a pen mark however the spine and reverse are better. There re shop stamps just inside (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below).
£0.99 / £1.99 Elleston Trevor A PLACE FOR THE WICKED 1st NEL Ed 1970 VINTAGE Crime
This item is the ‘First NEL Edition June 1970’ and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a very good copy with bright pages and some tanning to edges. A tight copy although the cover on spine has begun to detach inside (although no loose pages). Cover has some wear, particularly to spine edges. Ship stamps just inside (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below).
£1.99 / £1.99 Clyde Ames GORGONZOLA 1st Lancer 73-607 VINTAGE CULT **vg**
This item is First Lance Printing 1967 {published date 1957} Lancet number 73-607. It is part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a vg copy with mauve page ends, owners name inside, some creasing and chipping to spine -- but book retains its tightness as if unread – and creases to corners. Very clear text, no sunning as such – a nice tight and bright copy (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). The cult item is scarce and collectable as any rare paperback guide will show.
£0.99 / £1.99 Stephen Coulter DEATH IN THE SUN Pan 1970 VINTAGE CULT **g**
This item is first Pan edition {published date 1970] and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a good copy with mild sunning to page edges but nevertheless a bright copy. The spine shows wear and some leaning (as shown) and the pre-title page is becoming loose but the book is otherwise (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). The item is a collectable item, previous publication originally entitled ‘A Stranger Called the Blues’.
£0.99 / £1.99 Agatha Christie TOWARDS ZERO Pocket Book 1967 VINTAGE CULT
This item is the 8th printing [first Pocket Books edition, 1946] and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a good copy with dyed red page ends, wear and tear to spine and corners (as shown) and owner name on title page, but still a tight copy with bright un-sunned pages (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). A lovely item and still collectable despite not being an earlier printing.
Superintendent Battle of Scotland yard seeks a killer through clues: a teenager confesses to a murder she didn’t commit and a would-be suicide returns to the scene of his attempted self destruction.
£1.99 / £1.99 Agatha Christie EVIL UNDER THE SUN Fontana 1967 VINTAGE CULT **Ex**
You are bidding on Agatha Christie, Evil Under the Sun,
£0.99 / £1.99Agatha Christie THEY DO IT WITH MIRRORS 1st 1955 VINTAGE CULT
This item is first issued in Fontana [Published date 1955] and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a poor copy with the cover detached from the book, with taped repair to spine (all as shown), lower half of pre-title page missing and sunning to page ends. The text is clear and readable, however, and the cover could be glued back onto the still very tight and intact pages. The cover has vivid colours and is clean (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below).
Miss Marple solves a conjuring trick.
£0.99 / £1.99 Agatha Christie POIROT INVESTIGATES Pan 1961 VINTAGE CULT **vg**
This item is 7th printing [first Pan printing 1955] and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a vg copy, tanned to page edges with wear to spine and a bookseller pen marks altering the price on the cover (sort of compliments the graphic design, don’t you think?) -- for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below.
A collection of short stories which see Belgian detective Hercule Poirot investigating all manner of crimes, such as a suicide (which is in fact murder), a suspicious death in a locked-gun room, a million dollar bond robbery, the curse of a pharaoh's tomb and the abduction of a prime minister.
Ian Fleming, James Bond, Penguin 2002 reissues of Thunderball, Casino Royale and Dr No. These paperbacks are all first issue in this edition [published date 2002] -- all with run lines of ‘1’; please see below for reproductions of status pages. The books are part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. These are mint copies and as new.
£1.99 / £1.99Ian Fleming JAMES BOND Diamonds are Forever PAN 1962 vintage cult
Ian Fleming, Diamonds are Forever, Great Pan, 1962. This item is the 9th printing of the 1st edition [first printing 1956] and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a very good copy with typical tanning to page edges, clear text, small crease to bottom right of front cover and slightly cocked and chipped on the spine. No annotations.
£0.99 / £1.99 John Gardner JAMES BOND Nobody Lives Forever VINTAGE CULT
John Gardner, James Bond: Nobody Lives Forever, Coronet, 1987. This item is the first in Coronet open market edition [published date 1987] and part of a consignment from a private collection of vintage crime first edition books and paperbacks going to auction over the next month. This is a vg/ex copy with no reading indicated although the spine does have age wrinkles which are easier to feel than see. This is a lovely tight and bright copy with no marks and minimal tanning to page edges only -- text is fully clean.
Eccles / Keating CRIME STORIES FROM THE STRAND Folio EX
Keating / Eccles, Crime Stories from The Strand, London: The Folio Society, 1991. This is a Folio Society edition of nineteen short stories from 'The Strand Magazine' between dates 1891 and 1940, this printing 1995. Bound in full light blue series binding with illustration by David Eccles in black and gilt, titled in gilt on the spine. Top edge dyed dark wine red with matching endpapers, wo slipcase. Written contributions include Arthur Conan Doyle, Sapper, Rudyard Kipling, G.K.Chesterton and Agatha Christie (see contents). Intoduction by H.R.F. Keating and frontispiece plus nineteen full-page and three smaller drawings by David Eccles. This copy is in very good + / excellent condition, a nice tight and bright copy with no tanning and slight marks to cover (as shown).
True Crime
RIPPER Melvin Harris TRUE FACE 1994 Fine/Fine DJ Scarce
The True Face of Jack the Ripper, Michael O’Mara books, 1994. This item is the hardback first published in the
Stewart P. Evans & Keith Skinner, The Ultimate Jack the Ripper Sourcebook – an Illustrated Encyclopedia, Robinson, 2000. This item is the paperback edition, published date 2001, and is in excellent condition and feels unread /as new, with a tight spine and unturned pages, very bright colours and no tanning. There is one crease along the spine, a superficial one since it remains clear that the book as barely been opened (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). The item is rare to find cheaply in this excellent condition, and has been known to sell for £40 in lesser condition, as a check with online booksellers will show. Public interest has never waned in the hunt for the identity of the serial killer known as Jack the Ripper. This volume has been written to help those interested in researching all the documentary evidence pertaining to the case at any level. Providing an overview of the crimes and the police investigation, the two editors have collated all the known official records, supplemented by important contemporary information, to produce an encyclopaedia of Ripper research. It includes Home Office documents offering new leads as to the character and possible identity of "Saucy Jack". 758 pp, index, appendix, 16 pages illustrations
RIPPER John Wilding RIPPER REVEALED 1993 FINE Scarce
John Wilding, Jack the Ripper Revealed, Constable & Co in association with Volcano books, 1993. This item is the softcover, published date 1993. The item is in excellent-fine condition with an unopened feel to it: a solid spine, bright unturned pages, and no marks or inscriptions throughout. The item may have been stored in a closed bookcase since there is no fading of colours or tanning to pages (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). The item is hard to find, and particularly scarce in such a fine condition guide as an independent check with a book-dealer will reveal. The author maintains that there was not one Ripper but two colluding in blood, and that the reason for their deadly spree goes all the way to the top of Victorian society - touching even the Queen herself. He reveals the address of Edward VII’s rented
David Thurlow THE ESSEX TRIANGLE 1990 VIOLENCE *Ex Con*
David Thurlow, The Essex Triangle: Four Decades of Violence and Murder, Robert Hale,
Stephen Michaud THE EVIL THAT MEN DO Sex Predators *Ex*
Stephen G Michaud with Roy Hazelwood, The Evil That Men Do: FBI Profiler Roy Hazlewood’s Journey into the Minds of Sexual Predators,
Norman Lucas THE SEX KILLERS: 30 Cases Illustrated *Ex
Norman Lucas, The Sex Killers: Thirty Fully Documented Cases of Men and Women Whose Aberrant Sexuality Drove them to Kill, Virgin Books, 1997. This item is the paperback reprint, printed 2001. This is in excellent condition with no evidence of having been read with no fading to colours or yellowing of pages, no marks or annotations. There is one crease along the spine but this is clearly superficial because it is obvious that the book has barely been opened (for an explanation on the grading of this book, see below). In this book crime reporter Norman Lucas, with help of forensic psychiatrist Dr Arthur Hyatt Williams, examines the cases of thirty sex killers including Pauline and Juliet, the teenage lesbians whose bizarre fantasies ended in murder, Peter Kuerton, the 'Monster of Dusseldorf', Sylvestre Matuschka, the Hungarian multiple-killer who found sexual satisfaction amidst the carnage of train crashes, Gordon Cummins, the 'Ripper of the Blitz', Neville Heath, the 'Casanova Killer'. Those who kill neither form money nor revenge but out of sexual desire have been objects of unparalleled revulsion, yet their methods and motives fascinate us in a way that ordinary criminals do not. 224 pp, index, 16 pages b/w photos