FELL MURDER (True first edition - first impression - in wartime dustwrapper)

E. C. R. Lorac (pseudonym of Edith Carol Rivett who also wrote under the name of Carol Carnac)

Published by Collins Crime Club, London, 1944

About this Item

First impression of the true first edition, published during wartime with associated paper restrictions. This copy is from a circulating library but is very clean, and retains the original dustwrapper. Edith Rivett's twenty-fourth crime novel featuring Chief Inspector MacDonald of Scotland Yard. ***A very good copy in orange cloth-covered boards with black titles to the spine. The boards show some marks and discoloration commensurate with age and handling over the last 80 years, and are slightly rubbed and darkened at the edges. However, there are no tears to the fragile cloth, and no serious bumps or creases - just a couple of light creases to the spine. Page block edges lightly foxed. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally also very good, with two contemporaneous violet ink oval lending library stamps "G. Pollard Newsagent, lending library 19 Union Road, Lincoln" on both front and rear pastedowns. No other library stamps or marks, and the dustwrapper is not library-laminated. The pages are clean with no foxing. No creases or tears. ***In a very good colour illustrated dustwrapper, designed by J. Z. Atkinson. The dustwrapper is largely complete, and has not been price-clipped, retaining the publisher's original printed price of 7s. 6d. net on the front flap. There is some loss to the top and tail of the spine, but not affecting the lettering. Edges of dustwrapper darkened, creased, nicked and rubbed. The spine is darkened with a vertical crease where it has been folded flat in the past. There are some pencil annotations on the back of the dustwrapper, which could easily be erased if so wished. ***160 pages. 192mm x 130mm. ***'The Garths had farmed their fertile acres at Garthmere for generations, and fine land it was, lying in a lovely valley of the River Lune, with the towering hills of the Lake Country on the far horizon. Garthmere Hall itself was old before Flodden Field, and here Robert Garth, still hale and hearty at eighty-two and very much of an old Tartar, ruled his household with a rod of iron. The peaceful dales and fells of the north country provide the setting for this grim story of murder, a setting in fact which is one of the attractive features of an unusual and distinctive tale of evil passions and murderous hate in a small farming community.' (Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper) ***A very scarce first impression of the true first edition, especially hard to find in the original thin wartime dustwrapper (which has a contemporaneous publisher's advert for other authors that Collins have published including, amongst others, Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, Nicholas Blake and Ngaio Marsh on the back panel. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.

Seller Inventory # 2590x

Bibliographic Details

• Title: FELL MURDER (True first edition - first impression - in wartime dustwrapper)
• Publisher: Collins Crime Club, London
• Publication Date: 1944
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition
• Printing: First Impression
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Crime Fiction & True Crime
  • First Editions
  • Wartime & Post War Publishing 1939-1950