The Case of the Demure Defendant, Erle Stanley Gardner — 1st Ed

£22.60

The Case of the Demure Defendant, Erle Stanley Gardner — 1st Ed

Name: The Case of the Demure Defendant, Erle Stanley Gardner — 1st Ed
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6670
Price: 22.60 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Heinemann, 1962

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 244.

Condition Report: Very Good. The binding remains remarkably tight and square, providing solid structural integrity without any leaning or looseness at the hinges. The original boards are firm and clean, entirely avoiding the corner bumping often seen in volumes of this age. While the text block exhibits the mild, uniform age-toning customary for mid-century paper stock, the internal leaves remain crisp, highly legible, and entirely free from foxing, moisture damage, or distracting previous ownership inscriptions. The original dust jacket is well-preserved and visually striking; it shows some expected light rubbing to the extremities and minor edge-wear along the top spine panel, alongside slight atmospheric toning to the rear cover, but it retains its vibrant front panel illustration and structural completeness, fully justifying the grade.

Catalogue Note: This volume represents the true first United Kingdom edition, explicitly stated on the copyright page as "First published in Great Britain." Originally issued in the United States, the UK printings of Gardner's work from this era are highly favoured by genre collectors and mid-century design enthusiasts for their distinctive and atmospheric illustrated dust jackets, which present a markedly different visual aesthetic from their American equivalents.

Internally, the book is unillustrated, relying entirely on the strength of the prose, and bears no significant provenance, binders' stamps, bookplates, or formal inscriptions, presenting a clean and authentic text block.

While this specific printing is relatively common on the open market, securing a tightly bound copy with a vibrant, structurally complete dust jacket that has avoided heavy chipping or significant loss remains a highly desirable acquisition for completists of the Perry Mason series.

In this gripping instalment of the legendary Perry Mason series, a routine psychological evaluation takes a perilous turn when Nadine Farr, under the influence of a truth serum, confesses to the cyanide poisoning of her tyrannical uncle. When her psychiatrist ethically feels compelled to hand the recorded confession over to the police, brilliant defence attorney Perry Mason is thrust into a seemingly impossible case.

Facing a mountain of damning evidence and a hostile courtroom, Mason must employ his razor-sharp legal acumen to untangle a complex web of stolen poison, suppressed memories, and hidden motives, ultimately setting out to prove that a drug-induced admission of guilt may merely be a symptom of a much deeper and more calculated deception.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Erle Stanley Gardner

Book Publisher: Heinemann

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Crime & Mystery

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 244

Book Publication Year: 1962

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Perry Mason

Country/region of manufacture: Kingswood, 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.