The Case of the Careless Cupid, Erle Stanley Gardner — 1st Edition

£39.80

The Case of the Careless Cupid, Erle Stanley Gardner — 1st Edition

Name: The Case of the Careless Cupid, Erle Stanley Gardner — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6658
Price: 39.80 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£39.80

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Publication: New York, William Morrow and Company, 1968.

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 224.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original red cloth binding remains tight and structurally sound, with bright and unrubbed black lettering to the spine and front board. The corners are sharp, and the boards exhibit minimal shelf-wear, retaining a crisp appearance. The text block edges show some light, age-typical tanning and very faint spotting, but the internal pages remain exceptionally clean, bright, and free from any previous ownership markings or foxing. The original, unclipped dust jacket (retaining the original price) is in similarly attractive condition, presenting vibrantly with only minor edge-wear and faint rubbing to the extremities, making this a highly presentable copy.

Catalogue Note: This is a true First Edition of Erle Stanley Gardner's late-career Perry Mason mystery. In accordance with the publisher's established practices for Gardner's titles during this era, the copyright page displays only the initial copyright year without a subsequent printing history. However, the presence of the original printed price on the dust jacket's front flap, coupled with the absence of a book club blind-stamp on the rear board, firmly establishes this as the true first trade printing.

While later printings and book club editions of Gardner’s prolific output are ubiquitous, true first editions retaining their original dust jackets in such well-preserved condition are uncommon and remain highly desirable to collectors of Golden Age detective fiction.

The striking dust jacket, featuring a photographic and target motif emblematic of late-1960s mystery publishing, adds significant display value to this copy.

In The Case of the Careless Cupid, legendary defence attorney Perry Mason is drawn into a tangled web of deceit, greed, and murder. When a wealthy widow's attentive new suitor falls under suspicion, Mason's clients, the widow's overly protective nieces and nephews, seek his help. What begins as a straightforward consultation regarding a mysterious 'shadow' quickly escalates into a challenging murder investigation, complete with a double indemnity insurance policy, complex legal exclusion clauses, and an apparent suicide. Mason, along with his loyal secretary Della Street and investigator Paul Drake, must unravel the clues and navigate a labyrinth of suspects in this classic, fast-paced courtroom drama

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Erle Stanley Gardner

Book Publisher: William Morrow and Company

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Crime & Mystery

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 224

Book Publication Year: 1968

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Perry Mason

Country/region of manufacture: New York, United States

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.