The Empty Flat [Uncorrected Book Proof Copy with International Agency Stamping, Handwritten Revisions, & Dual 1957/1959 Royalty Documents]

THE AUTHOR'S/AGENCY'S PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS MASTER PROOF—MARKED FOR EUROPEAN RIGHTS DISTRIBUTION WITH COMPREHENSIVE ASSOCIATED EPHEMERA, HAND-PENCILED INTERNAL TEXT CORRECTIONS, AND DUAL 1957 & 1959 ROBERT HALE PUBLISHING DOCUMENTS.Octavo. A unique pre-publication working proof copy of Frank King’s 1957 Clive Conrad "Dormouse" mystery thriller The Empty Flat, printed prior to the commercial first edition run by the Bristol Typesetting Company.INTERNATIONAL PROVENANCE & MOHRBOOKS ARCHIVE:This copy served as a vital master document for managing the author's international literary footprint. Pasted directly onto the inside front wrapper is a unique, pre-publication typed layout draft of the book’s dust jacket synopsis flap. Crucially, this blurb is boldly stamped by the legendary European rights firm: "MOHRBOOKS / Literary Agency Rainer Heumann / Aschbach-Zürich", establishing this volume as the exact scouting copy used to negotiate mid-century continental translation rights. The front wrapper bears the neat matching archival inventory number "D1113".HANDWRITTEN EDITORIAL MARKINGS & BIBLIOGRAPHY REVISIONS:This proof contains active pre-publication corrections, including critical bibliographic and multi-chapter interior textual modifications:The Bibliography: The internal facing bibliography leaf features deliberate, active handwritten ink checkmarks (\(\checkmark \)) and elimination marks (X) next to listed titles in King's famous Doctor Frank King Investigations and Dormouse Books series, utilized to audit the author's active backlist inventory for international publishing contracts.The Interior Text: Sequential, granular proofreading marks appear deep within the text block. Pages 48 and 49 (Chapter VI) display hand-penciled paragraph indicators (¶) and layout brackets. Pages 60 and 61 (Chapter VII: "Sandy Topham") feature further active editorial interventions, including distinctive vertical pencil brackets and marginal tracking marks isolating critical lines of narrative dialogue.COMPLETE ARCHIVAL DUAL-DOCUMENTATION PROVENANCE:Preserved alongside the proof copy are two original, authentic typed publisher's statements tracing the entire financial history of the work:1957 Statement of Sales: Dated 1st January, 1958, tracking the initial launch period for the six months ended 31st December, 1957. Addressed via Pearn Pollinger & Higham Ltd, it explicitly notes the exact publication date as 13th February, 1957, the retail price of 10/6, and precise initial inventory carry-forwards (389 copies in stock).1959 Royalty Statement: Issued for the six-month period ending 31st December, 1959. Addressed via David Higham Associates Ltd, mapping the late-stage commercial tail and charting the mid-century transition of the author's agency representation.CONDITION REPORT:The Proof Copy: Very Good. Bound in its original light blue printed paper proof wrappers. The spine is uncreased, tight, and completely intact. The binding remains square and solid. Interior pages show minor, completely natural uniform age-toning but are exceptionally crisp and clean.The Ephemera Documents: Near Fine. Both single-page publisher's sheets are exceptionally clean and crisp with original folding lines, remaining entirely bold and flawlessly legible throughout.An extraordinary, irreplaceable crossover archive of mid-century detective fiction and post-war international publishing history.…