Argosy: November 1964 (Vol. XXV, No. 11), Various Contributors — 1st Ed

Publication: London, Fleetway Publications Ltd, 1964

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 168.

Condition Report: Very Good. The paper spine remains sound and largely intact, exhibiting light rubbing, minor creasing, and slight chipping to the head and tail, alongside a vertical reading crease typical of digest magazines of this era. The pictorial card covers remain bright and securely attached, showing a modicum of edge wear and a gentle curl to the lower front corner. Internally, the text block displays the uniform age-toning inherently associated with the cheaper woodpulp paper stock used for mid-century periodicals; however, the pages remain supple, remarkably clean, and devoid of foxing. The binding holds tight, presenting a highly respectable and collectible example of this fragile, ephemeral format.

Catalogue Note: First edition thus, presenting the complete November 1964 issue (Volume XXV, Number 11) of the celebrated British digest magazine, Argosy. This issue features an impressive roster of literary heavyweights, containing twelve short stories including contributions from Agatha Christie, William Saroyan, and Alberto Moravia, accompanied by a striking Cold War-era cover illustration by Hants.

Of paramount significance is the inclusion of the short story "Casual Acquaintance" by the prominent English 'Angry Young Man' novelist, Stan Barstow. This specific copy holds notable provenance, having been boldly signed in black ink by Stan Barstow directly upon the title page of his contribution (page 37), firmly positioned beneath his printed name.

While standard mid-century issues of Argosy occasionally surface on the open market, signed contributions by leading twentieth-century British authors within these fragile periodical formats are genuinely scarce. The magazine boasts further vintage charm through its period advertisements, including a vibrant full-colour Player's Navy Cut cigarette promotion on the rear wrapper, alongside internal illustrations by noted artists such as Fred Reynolds, Louis Glanzman, and Miles Chance.

A captivating issue of the long-running British fiction magazine Argosy, this November 1964 edition offers a superb cross-section of mid-twentieth-century literary talent. Readers are treated to an eclectic mix of mystery, drama, and contemporary realism, anchored by Agatha Christie's classic Hercule Poirot tale, "The Case of the Missing Will," and Stan Barstow's slice of gritty Northern realism in "Casual Acquaintance." Profusely illustrated throughout, this digest serves as a wonderful time capsule of 1960s popular fiction, offering both a nostalgic reading experience and a highly collectible piece of British literary ephemera.