Book Fair News and Mysteries: Selections from stock-November 5, 2021

This week we are highlighting a selection from our mystery holdings (great books, great covers!).

There is much good news on the Book Fair fronts.  First, the Boston Antiquarian Book Fair is taking place virtually, November 18-20. I will have be offering a selection of science fiction and fantasy books that are new to my stock.    

Second, the major news in the book world is that the California International Book Fair will now take place in person February 11-13, 2022, in Oakland at the Oakland Marriot City Center.

And finally, April 21-24, 2022, the New York International Book Fair returns in person to the Park Avenue Armory. So if all goes well we are on the way back to great in person book fairs.  Many of you have been able to visit smaller shows around the country and we hope to see you at the ABAA fairs.

Shipping news: USPS is currently not shipping to Australia

THE TALL DOLORES. Avallone, Michael. New York: Henry Holt and Company, [1953]. Octavo, boards. First edition. Signed inscription by Avallone; "For--/all the best,/ all ways/ Michael Avallone." Author's first book and first Ed Noon mystery... (#7658) Price: $250.00

THE DEAD RINGER. Brown, Fredric. New York: E. P. Dutton & Company, Inc., 1948. Octavo, boards. First edition. The second Am and Ed Hunter mystery novel. (#7602) Price: $375.00

THE TASTE OF ASHES. Browne, Howard. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1957. Octavo, cloth backed boards. First edition. Signed inscription by Browne to a mystery bookseller; "For--- / whom I tolerate only because / he's a.... (#9841) Price: $750.00

LOVE'S LOVELY COUNTERFEIT. Cain, James M. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1942. Octavo, [1-8] [1-2] 3-218 [219-220: blank], original red cloth, front, spine and rear stamped in black, top edge stained red. First edition. The novel... (#10202) Price: $450.00 save 20% $360.00

THE INNOCENCE OF FATHER BROWN. Chesterton, G[ilbert] K[eith]. London: Cassell and Company, Ltd., 1911. Octavo, pp. [1-8] 1-335 [336], original red cloth, front panel stamped in gold and blind, spine panel stamped in gold. First edition. "A cornerstone... (#6697) Price: $500.00

MR. PARKER PYNE DETECTIVE. Christie, Agatha. New York: Dodd Mead & Company, 1934. Octavo, cloth. First U.S. edition. Collection of twelve short stories first published in England by Collins in 1934 as Parker Pyne Investigates. "On... (#9801) Price: $1,350.00

THE RIVER PIRATE. Coe, Charles Francis. New York, London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1928. Octavo, cloth. First edition. River piracy set in New York. Source for a silent film (1928). (#6317) Price: $250.00

DEEP LAY THE DEAD. Davis, Frederick C. Garden City: Published For The Crime Club, Inc. by Doubleday, Doran & Co., Inc., 1942. Octavo, cloth. First edition. Mystery novel. "A memorable non-series book...fashioned around the classic mystery situation... (#7684) Price: $350.00

LADY TO KILL. Dent, Lester. Garden City, New York: Published For The Crime Club by Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1946. Octavo, cloth. First edition. The second Chance Malloy novel. A hardboiled. "Dent's later mystery novels... (#7604) Price: $475.00

THE SPIDER LILY. Fischer, Bruno. Philadelphia: David McKay Company, [1946]. Octavo, cloth. First edition. Signed inscription by Fischer, a presentation copy signed in the year of publication. (#9514) Price: $750.00

NIGHTFALL. Goodis, David. New York: Julian Messner, Inc., [1947]. Octavo, cloth. First edition. The author's third novel, a hard-boiled mystery story. Source for the film noir "Nightfall," directed by Jacques Tourneur, screenplay by... (#17180) Price: $1,250.00

DEADLIER THAN THE MALE. Gunn, James. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, [1942]. Octavo, cloth. First edition. Author's first book. Basis for the film noir Born to Kill (1947) directed by Robert Wise starring Claire Trevor... (#9131) Price: $650.00

THE MALTESE FALCON. Hammett, Dashiell. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1930. Octavo, pp. [1-12] [1-2] 3-267 [268: colophon] [269-272: blank] [note: first two and last two leaves are blanks], title page printed in blue-gray and... (#15527) Price: $65,000.00

DIVIDEND ON DEATH. Halliday, Brett (pseudonym of Davis Dresser). New York: Henry Holt and Company, [1939]. Octavo, pp. [1-8] 1-252, original black cloth, front and spine stamped in white, top edge stained blue-green. First edition. The first Mike Shayne... (#7601) Price: $850.00

THE CROSS-EYED BEAR. Hughes, Dorothy B. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1940. Octavo, cloth. First edition. Author's second mystery novel. (#7596) Price: $250.00

DEAD MAN BLUES. Woolrich, Cornell, writing as "William Irish" Philadelphia and New York: J. B. Lippincott and Co., 1948. Octavo, boards. First edition. Story collection. The story "Fire Escape" was filmed as The Window in 1949 and The Boy... (#8539) Price: $450.00

THE BRASS CUPCAKE. MacDonald, John D. New York: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1950. Small octavo, pictorial wrappers. First edition. Gold Medal #124. Paperback original. The author's first book, with a signed inscription by MacDonald. A hardboiled mystery... (#7506) Price: $1,250.00

THE DEEP BLUE GOOD-BY. MacDonald, John D. Philadelphia and New York: J.B. Lippincott Company. [1975]. Octavo, cloth backed boards. First U.S. hardcover edition. The first Travis McGee novel. (#7537) Price: $450.00

THE EXECUTIONERS. MacDonald, John D. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1958. Octavo, cloth backed boards. First edition. Basis for the two films titled "Cape Fear." (#10995) Price: $850.00

THE GALTON CASE. Millar, Kenneth, writing as "Ross Macdonald." New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1959. Octavo, boards. First edition. Signed by Millar. A Lew Archer novel. "Cumulatively exciting, beautifully plotted and written with taste, perception and compassion." - Anthony... (#8537) Price: $2,500.00

BUT DEATH RUNS FASTER. McGivern, William P. New York: Dodd Mead, 1948. Octavo, boards. First edition. Author's first mystery. Writing of William P. McGivern, Anthony Boucher said, "Someday McGivern will, like [Graham] Greene, be recognized as a.... (#5110) Price: $350.00

THE FOOTPRINTS ON THE CEILING. Rawson, Clayton. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1939. Octavo, original light green cloth, front and spine stamped in black. First edition. Inscribed and signed by Rawson, dated in the year of... (#9832) Price: $1,750.00

TRIAL BY FURY. Rice, Craig (pseudonym of Georgiana Ann Randolph). New York: Simon and Schuster, 1941. Octavo, boards. First edition. A John J. Malone novel. A Haycraft-Queen cornerstone volume. (#7567) Price: $1,250.00

THE LINE-UP. Reilly, Helen. Garden City, New York: Published For The Crime Club, Inc. by Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc., 1934. Octavo, cloth. First edition. An Inpector McKee mystery. (#7606) Price: $275.00

THE SEERSUCKER WHIPSAW. Thomas, Ross. New York: William Morrow & Company, Inc., 1967. Octavo, cloth backed boards. First edition. Author's second mystery novel. Political thriller set in Africa concerning an election, each candidate backed by... (#4826) Price: $450.00

NOTHING MORE THAN MURDER. Thompson, Jim. New York: Harper & Brothers, [1949]. Octavo, cloth. First edition. The author's third novel and first mystery. (#8270) Price: $2,000.00

PICK-UP. Willeford, Charles. [New York: Beacon Publications Corp. 1955]. Small octavo, pictorial wrappers. First edition. Beacon #109. Paperback original. (#8490) Price: $375.00

THE DARK SIDE OF LOVE: TALES OF LOVE AND DEATH. Woolrich, Cornell. New York: Walker and Company, [1965]. Octavo, boards. First edition. Signed inscription by Woolrich on the front end paper: "To Ethel & Karl Paley / Sincerely, / Cornell Woolrich." As... (#9678) Price: $3,500.00

Susan and I would like to thank you for your continued support. Stay well, wherever you may be.

Fine books bought and sold, please contact us if you have material to sell-single items or collections.

Thank you for looking.

John W. Knott & Susan B. Knott
301-512-1300 - email: [email protected]