The Case of the Purloined Picture, Christopher Bush — 1st Edition

£110.00

The Case of the Purloined Picture, Christopher Bush — 1st Edition

Name: The Case of the Purloined Picture, Christopher Bush — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 6732
Price: 110.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1949

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 224.

Condition Report: Good. The binding remains firm and structurally sound, but the black cloth boards exhibit prominent white mottling and damp-spotting across the front, rear, and spine, justifying a lower grade despite the book's physical integrity. The text block edges are moderately age-toned, with light occasional foxing present, most notably on the preliminary and terminal leaves. The original dust jacket is present and unclipped, retaining the original '8s. 6d. net' price on the front flap. The jacket shows moderate edge-wear, light rubbing to the panels, and minor chipping at the spine ends and corners, but it remains remarkably bright and presents very well for a wrapper of this era.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition, first printing, preceding the United States edition. Christopher Bush's Ludovic Travers mysteries from the late 1940s are highly sought after by 'Golden Age' detective fiction collectors, particularly when retaining their original, unclipped dust jackets.

While the cloth boards show clear signs of historic moisture exposure, the dust jacket has survived in highly respectable condition, indicating it may have been stored separately or protected early in its life. Its vivid, slightly eerie illustration perfectly captures the post-war British mystery aesthetic, significantly elevating the book's desirability on the open market.

In this classic 'Golden Age' mystery, Ludovic Travers finds himself drawn into a complex web of deceit and murder in a distant village. What begins with the appearance of a familiar, sallow young man quickly escalates into a baffling case, bringing the formidable Superintendent George Wharton to the scene. Written in Christopher Bush's quintessential, meticulously plotted style, this vintage whodunit promises a highly rewarding puzzle for armchair detectives.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Christopher Bush

Book Publisher: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Crime & Mystery

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 224

Book Publication Year: 1949

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Ludovic Travers

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.