An Old Man Dies, George Bellairs — 1st Edition

£74.50

An Old Man Dies, George Bellairs — 1st Edition

Name: An Old Man Dies, George Bellairs — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4078-RM-F-VG-4
Price: 74.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

Write Review

In stock

£74.50

Shipping is calculated at checkout.

Publication: London, John Gifford Ltd., 1980

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [vi], 119, [1].

Condition Report: Near Fine; Very Good dust jacket. The binding remains remarkably tight and perfectly square, bearing sharp corners and no significant shelf-wear to the boards. Internally, the text-block is entirely unblemished, with bright, crisp pages completely devoid of foxing, thumbing, or previous ownership inscriptions. The original dust-jacket, safely housed in a protective sleeve, presents its striking cover art beautifully. It shows only the faintest rubbing and mild edge-wear to the extremities, remaining free from any chips, tears, or significant fading. An exceptionally clean, collector-grade survivor.

Catalogue Note: First edition, first impression. Notably, An Old Man Dies serves as the final, poignant curtain call for Bellairs' beloved creation, Superintendent Thomas Littlejohn. The novel concludes a staggering run of over fifty mysteries that began with Littlejohn on Leave in 1941.

Published late in the author’s life during his retirement on the Isle of Man, this title saw a notably smaller commercial print run compared to his widely circulated post-war classics. Consequently, encountering this final Littlejohn mystery on the open market—especially retaining an unclipped and highly presentable dust-jacket—is increasingly uncommon for collectors of British detective fiction.

In this final, atmospheric case for the venerable Superintendent Littlejohn, a small-town saga unravels into sudden and calculated violence. When a wealthy and deeply influential local patriarch passes away, his decaying legacy and scheming descendants are thrust into the unforgiving spotlight. Greed, long-buried family resentments, and whispered secrets soon culminate in murder, drawing Littlejohn into a tangled web of provincial malice. Infused with George Bellairs' trademark wit, astute psychological observations, and sharp procedural tension, An Old Man Dies serves as a fitting twilight puzzle for one of Scotland Yard's most enduring and quietly brilliant investigators.

ISBN: 0707106273

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: George Bellairs

Book Publisher: John Gifford Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Crime & Mystery

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 119

Book Publication Year: 1980

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Superintendent Littlejohn Series

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.