Appleby Plays Chicken, Michael Innes — 1st Edition

£55.00

Appleby Plays Chicken, Michael Innes — 1st Edition

Name: Appleby Plays Chicken, Michael Innes — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5516
Price: 55.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Victor Gollancz Ltd, 1956

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 221.

Condition Report: Near Fine. The original red cloth boards are exceptionally sharp and tightly bound, with unbumped corners and brilliant gilt lettering to the spine that shows virtually no signs of shelf-wear. Internally, the text block remains exceedingly bright and clean, free from the foxing or heavy toning often found in mid-century paper stock, ensuring a crisp reading experience. The iconic yellow typographic dust jacket is a standout feature; it is vibrant, unchipped, and entirely unsunned, a notable rarity for Gollancz’s notoriously fade-prone wrappers, with only the most negligible trace of softening at the extreme spine ends, now beautifully preserved in a clear protective sleeve.

Catalogue Note: This true first edition, first impression is immediately identifiable by the absence of any subsequent printing history on the copyright page. Issued unillustrated in the publisher's signature yellow and magenta typographic dust jacket, it remains a quintessential example of mid-twentieth-century Gollancz house style.

While standard reading copies of this title occasionally surface, encountering a first printing with a dust jacket in such stunning, vibrant condition is uncommon on the open market today, making it a highly desirable acquisition for collectors of Golden Age detective fiction.

During an Oxford reading party on the bleak, atmospheric expanse of Dartmoor, an undergraduate stumbles upon a corpse—only to find himself plunged into a dangerous game of espionage and pursuit. As the young men navigate treacherous tors and shadowy assailants, it falls to the redoubtable Sir John Appleby to take charge. Armed with a shooting-stick and his formidable intellect, Appleby unravels a convoluted conspiracy in a thrilling mystery that seamlessly blends gripping suspense with Innes’s trademark scholarly wit.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Michael Innes

Book Publisher: Victor Gollancz Ltd

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Crime & Mystery

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 221

Book Publication Year: 1956

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Inspector Appleby

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.