The Cowled Menace (Signed First Edition)

8vo., 313pp. Beautiful First Edition of this detective story where the victim was shot after they were already. A new plot device at the time. Bound in red cloth with lettering in black on front board and spine. Square, tight and clean throughout with no foxing or toning. A touch of softness to spine ends but trivial. Remarkably well-preserved. As is the stunning, unclipped dust jacket, ($2.00 at the bottom of the front flap), has a faint trace of a rub on the front panel but almost invisible. Fresh and bright with no creases, chipping, tears or toning. Inscribed and signed to a fan on the front end-paper, "To __ __, with the appreciation of the author. Willard E. Hawkins". A simply gorgeous collectable copy and rare with such a high-grade jacket and author's signature.