"If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all. "
— Oscar Wilde
Crime & Thrillers
![Rogue Male [aka Man Hunt]. Geoffrey HOUSEHOLD](/pictures/thumb/52310.jpg?v=1552663321)
Rogue Male [aka Man Hunt].
London: Chatto and Windus, 1939. [Classic man-hunt adventure] FIRST EDITION, with later state/printing of the jacket. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.[viii]; 271; [1], imprint. Publisher's purple cloth lettered in white to spine, 'sniper' design dust-wrapper priced at 4/6 (earliest jackets were priced 7/6). Page edges are age-toned, fugitive-coloured cloth has..... More
V For Vengeance.
London: Hutchinson, no date [1942]. [Wartime spy thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.248. Publisher's black cloth with gilt titles, endpaper maps of Paris illustrated dust-jacket priced at 10/6 'Including extra War costs'. Edges spotted, boards a little marked, discreet ink name and date, jacket slightly chipped with a...... More
Poirot Loses a Client.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead and Company. 1937. [Murder Mystery] FIRST U.S. EDITION. Octavo (20 x 15cm) pp.[viii]; 302; [2], sample pages reprinted from 'Dead Man's Mirror'. Publisher's orange cloth pictorially blocked in black, top edge orange, others untrimmed, patterned endpapers, illustrated dust-wrapper priced at $2.00. A lovely fine copy..... More
![The Island of Sheep. [A Richard Hannay Novel]. John BUCHAN](/pictures/thumb/52494.jpg?v=1584533229)
The Island of Sheep. [A Richard Hannay Novel].
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1936. [Spy Thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.318; [2]. Publisher's green cloth with gilt titles to spine and gilt 'JB' monogram to upper board, map printed to front endpapers, pictorial jacket priced at 7/6. No toning, no spotting. An immaculate copy of the book..... More
Mr Parker Pyne Detective.
New York, NY: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1934. [Murder Mystery cases] FIRST U.S. EDITION. Octavo (20 x 15cm) pp.[vi]; 245; [1], advertisement; [4], blank. Publisher's bright orange cloth heavily blocked in black, top edge orange, foreedge untrimmed, patterned endpapers, illustrated dust-wrapper priced at $2.00. Minor edgewear, foot of spine a...... More
Let It Bleed. An Inspector Rebus Novel.
London: Orion, 1995. [Crime Thriller] SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.[6] 278 [4]. SIGNED by the author in black ink to title page. Publisher's grey cloth with silver titles to spine. With the photographic dust-jacket priced at £15.99. A fine, as-new copy. The eighth Inspector Rebus book... More
Ask For Ronald Standish.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1936. [Crime stories] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.310; [8], advertisements; [2], blank. In publisher's navy blue cloth with yellow label to spine, striking illustrated dust-wrapper priced at 7/6. A superb, fine copy of the book in a clean, fresh-looking example of the jacket which..... More
The Crime of the Crystal.
London: Digby, Long and Co. 1901. First Edition. Octavo, pp. 1 of adverts, 396, 16 of adverts. Yellow cloth with vivid design to spine and upper board. Bookseller's stamp to front pastedown, small close tear to front two pages, neat ownership inscription to the half title page, some occasional marking..... More
Funeral in Berlin. Secret File No.3.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1964. [Cold War thriller] UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY in oversized PROOF-ONLY dust-wrapper designed by Raymond Hawkey, priced at 18s. Octavo (20 x 13cm), pp.320. Publisher's lime-green softcovers in jacket with bold 'PROOF ONLY' text to rear flap with provisional publication date printed below. Shows some expected handling, unsupported..... More
Farewell, My Lovely.
New York, NY: Alfred Knopf, 1940. [Crime novel] FIRST EDITION. Small Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[viii]; 275; [1], blank; [1], 'Note'. Publisher's russet cloth blocked in blue, dark blue top edge. A clean copy of the book with no inscriptions, very faint scuff to pastedown, tiny bookplate to rear pastedown..... More
Eleven.
London: Heinemann, 1970. [Crime fiction] FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO HER PUBLISHER. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.194. Publisher's maroon cloth in typographic dust-jacket. Author's inscription reads "For Otto Penzler | with thanks for the | party twenty-second | of October 1981 | Pat Highsmith". Internally clean. Binding is..... More
Huntingtower.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1922. REGULAR FIRST EDITION and VARIANT FIRST EDITION in publisher's TRIAL BINDING. 2 volumes. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.318; [2], blank. The regular binding in pale blue cloth titled and ruled in dark blue, the advance binding in mid blue cloth more heavily blocked in black..... More
Rogue Justice.
London: Michael Joseph, 1982. [Spy Thriller] INSCRIBED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.174 [2]. INSCRIBED by the author 'For Jean Hills | with love from | Geoffrey | 20.X.92' in black ink to fly-leaf. Publisher's black cloth with silver titles to spine. With the dust-jacket designed by Chris Yates..... More
The Vivero Letter.
London: Collins, 1968. [Lost Treasure Thriller] FIRST EDITION with SIGNED LETTER and INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH. Octavo (21 x 15cm), pp.317 [3]. Publisher's green cloth with gilt titles to spine. With the dust-jacket illustrated by D'Achille, priced at 25s. With a typed letter SIGNED by the author to Eileen M. Cond, discussing..... More
Funeral in Berlin. Secret File No.3.
London: Jonathan Cape, 1963. [Cold-war spy thriller] FIRST EDITION, SIGNED BY HAWKEY. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.320. Publisher's hardcover, printed black endpapers, dust-wrapper designed by Raymond Hawkey, priced at 18s. Very light wear to crown of spine else a clean, fine copy which appears unread. Autographed in blue ink by..... More
Bid for Fortune.
Edinburgh: The Moray Press, 1934. [Crime Thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.278 [6]. Publisher's blue cloth with darker blue titles to spine. With the colour-illustrated dust-jacket designed by 'VCB,' priced at 7/6. Light browning and spotting to top edge. Very light offsetting to endpapers. Light wear to board..... More
![The Third Man [and The Fallen Idol]. Graham GREENE](/pictures/thumb/51321.jpg?v=1528553829)
The Third Man [and The Fallen Idol].
London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1950. [Spy novel and short story] FIRST EDITION. Small Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.188. Publisher's black cloth with silver titles to spine, pictorial dust jacket in monochrome, red and white titles. Discreet bookplate to pastedown, jacket lightly used, gently age-toned to spine, some loss to ends..... More
![The Embassy Case [Publisher's retained copy]. Headon HILL](/pictures/thumb/54119.jpg?v=1583755556)
The Embassy Case [Publisher's retained copy].
London: Ward, Lock and Co., Limited, 1915. [Crime Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Crown Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.304; [1], advertisements. Frontispiece illustration by Gilbert, with tissue guard. Original black cloth decorated in red and gilt, illustrated dust-jacket. A near fine copy of the book in price-clipped wrapper, lightly chipped and rubbed..... More
![A Scandal in Bohemia [and] The Passing of Conan Doyle [and] Best Seller [and] Big Money [and] My...](/pictures/thumb/58999.jpg?v=1612201523)
A Scandal in Bohemia [and] The Passing of Conan Doyle [and] Best Seller [and] Big Money [and] My Gentle Readers [and] The Parish Magazine [and] The End of Devil Hawker [and] The Last Resource [and] Clemenceau - the Man and the Tiger [and] The Truth about the Ex-Kaiser [and] The Creaking Door [in] The Strand Magazine. Volume 80.
London: George Newnes, July to December 1930. [Literary Magazine] THE PASSING OF CONAN DOYLE. Octavo (24 x 17cm), pp.viii; 700. With frequent black and white, and occasional dichromatic, illustrations. Publisher's cyan cloth with gilt titles to spines and black titles and decoration to uppers. All edges lightly tinted blue. A...... More
Black & Blue. An Inspector Rebus Novel.
London: Orion, 1997. [Crime Thriller] SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.[6] 394. SIGNED by the author in black ink to title page, with a 'noughts and crosses' doodle. Publisher's navy cloth with silver titles to spine. With the photographic dust-jacket, priced at £16.99. Text block a little toned..... More
Ian Fleming's James Bond Novels, as published by MJF Books. Comprising: Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds Are Forever, From Russia With Love, Dr. No, Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only (short stories inc. From A View To A Kill, Quantum of Solace), Thunderball, The Spy Who Loved Me, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, You Only Live Twice,
New York, NY: MJF Books, 1994. [James Bond] COMPLETE MJF BOOKS EDITIONS. 12 volumes, octavo (21 x 14 x 29cm). Publisher's hardbacks in illustrated dust-wrappers. A fine/as new set, housed in a custom-made felt-lined cloth slipcase with ribbon pull. A handsome collection. The entire run as published in America by..... More
The Mystery Queen.
New York, G.W. Dillingham. [1913]. US First Edition. 8vo. Fine in publisher's red cloth titled and decorated in gilt to spine and front board. Fresh, bright and crisp. In a fine dustwrapper, illustrated by J. Hodson Redman, possibly supplied from an institutional copy or somesuch, as the jacket is a...... More
The Break in the Line.
London: Collins, 1970. [Spy Thriller] INSCRIBED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.254 [2]. With a sketch-map to preliminaries. INSCRIBED by the author in blue ink to Eileen M. Cond's distinctive bookplate to fly-leaf: 'To another "sucker | for mountains" with the author's | thanks and good | wishes |..... More
With Extreme Prejudice.
London: Collins, 1975. [Spy Thriller] INSCRIBED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.[4] 246 [4]. INSCRIBED by the author in blue ink to distinctive bookplate on verso of flyleaf: 'Miss Eileen Cond | — my most faithful | fan | Berkely Mather | 19 November 1975 | Brede Sussex.' Publisher's..... More
Murder in Bermuda.
London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1935. [Crime Fiction] FIRST EDITION, COLONIAL ISSUE. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.280. Publisher's light blue cloth with black titles to spine. With the rare dust-jacket, illustrated in colour to the front cover, no price. Jacket and front pastedown stamped 'Overseas Edition'. Corners lightly bumped. Spine toned..... More