Colonel by Grant, Signed (1 results)

First Edition. [Intrigue] FIRST EDITION, first Printing. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.viii; 297; [1], blank; [2], ads. Illustrated throughout. Publisher's dark green cloth, pictorially blocked in gilt to upper, gilt titles to spine, top edge gilt, plain endpapers. With SIGNED autograph letter tucked in, pp.2., addressed 'Dear Les' (presumably a publisher/editor) discussing a book for serial magazine publication and enclosing the manuscript of 'eight equal instalments' (ms. not present). The body of the text is dictated/secretarial, but is signed by Allen himself. Contents clean, inside paper joints parted, neat owner name to pastedown, covers lightly rubbed and handled. Very good indeed. Letter folded once else fine. First edition in book form, having been published in The Strand Magazine (1896-7). An acclaimed series of crime adventures featuring the anti-hero Colonel Clay, a swindler, thief and master of disguise. Widely regarded as the first book to feature a leading criminal protagonist, Clay is the original gentleman rogue, a path notably followed by characters such as Raffles, Arsene Lupin, The Saint and, at the darker end of the genre, Tom Ripley. Significant thus, and duly selected as part of Queen's Quorum of mysteries. Howard Haycraft/Ellery Queen. See also Cooper & Pike; Detective Fiction. Signed.