[Rarebooks] Two Rare Pamphlets / Detective Fiction

[Michael John Thompson]

Offering: Two on Detective Fiction.

  [DETECTIVE FICTION]. QUEEN, Ellery [Usually a 
pseudonym of Frederic Dannay and Manfred Lee, but 
here a pseudonym of Frederic Dannay only]. AN 
EXHIBITION ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF THE 
ELLERY QUEEN COLLECTION, THE RESEARCH CENTER, THE 
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, JANUARY 16, 1959. Austin: 
The University of Texas. 1949. First Edition, 
First Printing. First Edition. Octavo, original 
printed wrappers with an embossed wax seal 
affixed to the upper cover, stamped with a 'Q'. 
27 pp. Issued in an edition of '500' 
hand-numbered copies signed by Dannay as "Ellery 
Queen", this being copy No. 8. Despite the large 
limitation, copies are very infrequently 
encountered, and rarely have the raised wax seal 
intact. Very slight browning to edges of wrappers, a fine copy.
¶ An annotated catalogue of the exhibition held 
in 1959, with a foreword by F. W. Roberts. 
Dannays' collection was exquisite, ranging from 
the first edition of Poe's 'The Murders in the 
Rue Morgue' (Philadelphia, 1843) and the first 
appearance in print of Doyle's 'A Study in 
Scarlet' (Beeton's Christmas Annual, London, 
1887) to a signed first edition of Christie's 
'The Mysterious Affair at Styles' and an 
inscribed first edition of Hammett's 'The Maltese 
falcon' in dust jacket. Classic Detective fiction 
from all periods are well represented, including 
notable manuscript material by Doyle, Twain and others.            $125.00


  [DETECTIVE FICTION]. SANDOE, James. [BOUCHER, 
Anthony - Association Copy]. THE HARD-BOILED 
DICK: A Personal Check-List. By James Sandoe. 
Chicago: Arthur Lovell 1952 First Edition, First 
Printing. Original printed wrappers stapled at 
spine, a pamphlet. 8 + [2] pp. Previously, 
Anthony Boucher's copy, with his ownership stamp 
"Anthony Boucher, 2643 Dana Street, Berkeley 4, 
California" A little age-toning, mild cover 
creases, a very nice copy. Very Good. Pamphlet.
¶ A personal, selective checklist of the very 
best Hard-Boiled Detective novels, chosen by 
Sandoe and with his reviews and annotations. 
Sandoe was a mystery reviewer for The Chicago 
Sun-Times and the New York Herald Tribune; he 
knows his stuff and the checklist is quite 
useful, even today. Anthony Boucher (William 
Anthony Parker White; 1911-1968) was (among a 
great many other things!) the mystery fiction 
book reviewer for the San Francsico Chronicle; he 
wrote detective fiction under the Boucher 
pseudonym (as well as the H.H. Holmes by-line ) 
and is perhaps best remembered for being the 
co-founding editor of THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY AND 
SCIENCE FICTION in 1949. The annual world Mystery 
Convention - The  Bouchercon - bears his name. 
The checklist at hand prints Boucher's full-page 
evaluation of Dashiel Hammett from the New York 
Times of August 10, 1952, reprinted here with his 
permission. A remarkable association copy.               $125.00


Canadian Funds. Take the pair for $200 Cdn postpaid in North America.


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Michael John Thompson, Antiquarian Bookseller
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