Introducing the Toff, John Creasey — Black Dagger Crime Edition
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Publication: Bath, Chivers Press, 1998
Formatting: 8vo, pp. 192.
Condition Report: Near Fine. The black cloth binding remains tightly bound and square, with bright, unoxidised gilt tooling to the spine. The boards are notably clean, displaying only the most trivial hint of shelf-wear to the extreme lower corners. Internally, the text block is exceptionally crisp; the pages are bright, entirely free from foxing, and bear no previous ownership inscriptions or markings. The original, unclipped dust jacket is vibrant and well-preserved, exhibiting only faint surface rubbing and minuscule edge-wear to the extremities, presenting beautifully overall.
Catalogue Note: This is the 1998 Chivers Press edition of John Creasey’s classic, Introducing the Toff, issued under their celebrated Black Dagger Crime imprint. Originally published in 1938, this title launched one of the most enduring series in British detective fiction, introducing the aristocratic adventurer Richard Rollison. The Black Dagger Crime series, published with the recommendation of the Crime Writers' Association, sought to revive classic, hard-to-find mystery titles in durable, library-quality hardback formats.
While not a true first edition, this specific late-nineties reprint has become distinctly uncommon on the open market, particularly when found in such well-preserved condition with its original dust jacket fully intact.
A little road rage was not unusual even in the 1930s, but the Honourable Richard Rollison, known to the underworld and Scotland Yard alike as 'The Toff,' was not expecting bullets to be a part of the argument when his car blocked the path of an oncoming Daimler in an English country lane. What begins as a disrupted afternoon quickly escalates into a lethal fight against cocaine rings, gangsters, and the criminal empire of The Black Circle. Armed with his wits, a talent for bending the rules, and the help of his ever-loyal manservant Jolly, the Toff must dismantle a sprawling criminal network in a fast-paced thriller that introduces one of crime fiction's most iconic gentlemen adventurers.
Book Condition: Near Fine
Book Authors: John Creasey
Book Publisher: Chivers Press
Book Language: English
Narrative Type: Fiction
Genre: Crime & Mystery
Book edition:
Signed: No
Book Pages: 192
Book Publication Year: 1998
Book Publication Date:
Book Binding: Hardcover
Illustrator: N/A
Book Series: Black Dagger Crime
Country/region of manufacture: Trowbridge, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Book Dimensions:
Book Condition Guide
| 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. |
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