The Hog's Back Mystery, Freeman Wills Crofts — 1st Edition / Printing

£35.95

The Hog's Back Mystery, Freeman Wills Crofts — 1st Edition / Printing

Name: The Hog's Back Mystery, Freeman Wills Crofts — 1st Edition / Printing
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4214
Price: 35.95 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£35.95

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Publication: London, Hodder and Stoughton Limited, 1933 Formatting: 8vo, pp. 334.

Condition Report: Very Good. Publisher's original blue cloth binding remains secure and generally square, though the boards display mild dulling, minor rub-wear, and light bumping to the extremities and spine ends. The spine retains its black typography and the publisher's interlocking logo, albeit slightly faded, alongside matching title lettering cleanly stamped on the front board. The text block edges are prominently age-toned and mildly foxed, with the top edge showing darkening typical of shelf wear. Internally, the pages present occasional, light spotting, most notable on the map frontispiece and the title page, yet the leaves are otherwise intact, highly legible, and unmarred by any prominent previous ownership inscriptions. The hinges remain tight, and while the book exhibits the expected, honest shelf-wear of a 1930s volume, it stands as a sturdy and presentable survivor.

Catalogue Note: A genuine first edition, first printing, confirming its publication priority with the unambiguous "First published 1933" statement. Included opposite the title page is an integral frontispiece map titled "The Setting of the Story," mapping the geographic Surrey landscape where the mystery unfolds, stretching outward from Guildford along the A31 bypass and the titular Hog's Back chalk ridge.

Early Golden Age detective fiction, particularly the influential Inspector French procedural series by Freeman Wills Crofts, has seen a robust resurgence in collector interest. First editions from this era, especially those retaining their original blue cloth without major institutional defacement or distracting library markings, have become increasingly scarce on the open market. This specific copy is wonderfully unencumbered by prominent binders' stamps or obtrusive bookplates, offering a highly authentic and unembellished piece of 1930s crime publishing history.

The Hog's Back Mystery follows the meticulous Inspector Joseph French of Scotland Yard as he is drawn into a highly perplexing case in the tranquil Surrey countryside. When the respectable Dr. Earle inexplicably vanishes in his slippers from his home near the Hog's Back—a prominent local geographic ridge—what initially appears to be a simple, eccentric disappearance soon unravels into a dark web of further vanishings and suspected foul play. Celebrated for its air-tight plotting, complex alibis, and authoritative focus on the gritty realities of police procedure, Crofts's 1933 classic remains a quintessential and gripping staple of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Freeman Wills Crofts

Book Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Crime & Mystery

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 334

Book Publication Year: 1933

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: N/A (Contains frontispiece map)

Book Series: Inspector French

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.