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John Rhode
细节
A.S.F. The Story of a Great Conspiracy
John Rhode
RHODE, John (1884-1964; pseudonym for Cecil Street). A.S.F. The Story of a Great Conspiracy. London: Geoffrey Bles, 1924.
Very rare first edition of the author’s first book in the dust-jacket: a presentation copy inscribed by the publisher Geoffrey Bles to his wife: ‘To my Darling Evie The first copy of the first book published by Geoffrey Bles’. We are unable to trace any presentation copy or any copy in the dust-jacket in auction records.
‘As its less subtle American title, The White Menace, suggests, A.S.F. concerns illicit cocaine trafficking in twenties England. In classic Edgar Wallace thriller tradition, a nefarious "master brain" is behind the whole deadly business, which has spread its tentacles into the highest reaches of English society' (Evans). This was both the first of Rhode’s works to be published and the first book issued by the publisher. Geoffrey Bles would go on to have a successful publishing career, including issuing the first five books of the Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. Curtis Evans, Masters of the "Humdrum" Mystery (2014).
Octavo. (A few faint spots, a few short fore-edge closed tears.) Original red cloth, spine and upper cover lettered in black, front endpaper reproducing front and rear dust-jacket panels (spine gently rolled); original pictorial dust-jacket (some small marks, repairs to short closed tears along edges). Provenance: Evelyn [Evie] Constance Bles (1887-1983; presentation inscription from her husband, the publisher, on front free endpaper).
John Rhode
RHODE, John (1884-1964; pseudonym for Cecil Street). A.S.F. The Story of a Great Conspiracy. London: Geoffrey Bles, 1924.
Very rare first edition of the author’s first book in the dust-jacket: a presentation copy inscribed by the publisher Geoffrey Bles to his wife: ‘To my Darling Evie The first copy of the first book published by Geoffrey Bles’. We are unable to trace any presentation copy or any copy in the dust-jacket in auction records.
‘As its less subtle American title, The White Menace, suggests, A.S.F. concerns illicit cocaine trafficking in twenties England. In classic Edgar Wallace thriller tradition, a nefarious "master brain" is behind the whole deadly business, which has spread its tentacles into the highest reaches of English society' (Evans). This was both the first of Rhode’s works to be published and the first book issued by the publisher. Geoffrey Bles would go on to have a successful publishing career, including issuing the first five books of the Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. Curtis Evans, Masters of the "Humdrum" Mystery (2014).
Octavo. (A few faint spots, a few short fore-edge closed tears.) Original red cloth, spine and upper cover lettered in black, front endpaper reproducing front and rear dust-jacket panels (spine gently rolled); original pictorial dust-jacket (some small marks, repairs to short closed tears along edges). Provenance: Evelyn [Evie] Constance Bles (1887-1983; presentation inscription from her husband, the publisher, on front free endpaper).
