PETER CHEYNEY FIRST EDITIONS AT
ASH RARE BOOKS
43 HURON ROAD
LONDON SW17 8RE
UNITED KINGDOM

London : Collins, 1942. First edition. The first and scarcest of Cheyney's "dark" novels of counter-espionage - set in wartime London.
Crown 8vo. (192)pp. Original sand cloth, blocked and lettered in green; a very good and sound copy in the original dust-jacket - a stylish design in black and white - just very slightly worn. Contemporary gift inscription dated Xmas 1942 and small bookseller's label of T. W. Griggs & Co. of Durban.

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London : Collins, 1944. First edition. "The women, of course, dress superbly, move like angels, are as beautiful as diamonds and, with one notable exception, behave abominably". An early Cheyney "dark" novel of counter-espionage.
Crown 8vo. (192)pp. Original sand cloth, lettered across spine in green; a few edge-spots, but a very good and sound copy in the original atmospheric pictorial dust-jacket - ruby-lipped brunette in green stares us down - just very slightly worn and lightly nicked.

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London : Bantam Books (Todd Publishing Group), (1947). First edition. A collection of six short stories, including "The Peacock Fan" and "The Black Mantilla".
Foolscap 8vo. 64pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by Winslade; staples a little rusted; wrappers very slightly rubbed and with some faint creasing, but still a very good copy of a scarce book.

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London : Collins, 1947. First edition. A new private detective in Caryl Wylde O'Hara - and the story of Leonora Ivory, Alexis Ricaud and his heroin-addicted wife, Esmeralda, etc. "A perfect case, probably the most perfect case that Mr. Cheyney, with as good an eye for a pretty plot as for a pretty woman, has ever devised". Set mainly in London, with excursions to Maidenhead, the Sussex coast and Torquay.
Crown 8vo (20cm). (192)pp. Original sand cloth, lettered across spine in green; a very good copy in the original pictorial Winslade dust-jacket - frightened brunette in long white gown and gloves - complete if a little worn, torn and creased, with some taped repairs.

£15

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London : Collins, 1948. First edition. One of Cheyney's "Dark" series, with Everard Peter Quayle, "that poker-faced and most secretive of secret agents", Vincente Callao, fashionable dance-band leader, the lovely Aurora Francis, and the enigmatic Antoinette Brown.
Crown 8vo (20cm). (192)pp. Original yellow cloth, lettered in green; slivers of fading where the jacket is just a little chipped, but a very good copy in a slightly sunned and lightly worn dust-jacket.

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London : Collins, 1948. First edition. A south coast resort, Melquay (presumably Torquay), lovely lady in the hotel lounge - "when a woman is beautiful she is certain to cause trouble - somewhere, some time". Nicholas Gale and a libel in the local rag.
Crown 8vo (20cm). 192pp. Original yellow cloth, lettered across spine in green; a few minor marks, but a very good copy in the dust-jacket - just lightly worn and slightly nicked.

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London : Collins, 1949. First edition. Irish private enquiry agent, Terence O'Day - an afternoon at Plumpton Races - a tip about a horse, and another about a woman - the very beautiful and very dangerous Merys Vanner.
Crown 8vo. (256)pp. Original sand cloth, lettered across spine in green; a very good, bright, clean and sound copy in the orginal pictorial dust-jacket - men appraise blonde at bar - just slightly rubbed.

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London : Collins, 1950. First edition. A late 'dark' novel from Cheyney - with Quayle, Johnny Vallon, Ernest Guelvada, etc. - set in the West Indies.
Crown 8vo. 256pp. Original sand cloth, lettered across spine in green; slivers of fading at top and tail where the jacket is worn, but a very good, bright, clean and sound copy in the original pictorial dust-jacket - cool brunette in pearls and strapless green and silver hoops - just lightly worn, very slightly chipped at foot, and with a couple of very short tears.

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London : Collins, 1950. First edition. Johnny Vallon investigates the demise of a rival detective.
Crown 8vo (20cm). 256pp. Original sand cloth, lettered across spine in green; a few slight marks and spots, but a very good copy in the dust-jacket - lightly worn at extremities.

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London : Collins, 1951. First edition. "She was standing under the awning outside Maxime in the Rue Royale, young, beautiful, English, a woman of extraordinary grace and strange allure ... Kells never saw her again - alive".
Crown 8vo. 252,[iv]pp. Original sand cloth, lettered across spine in green; some spotting of edges and endpapers, but a good, still fresh, and sound copy in the original pictorial dust-jacket - just lightly worn and slightly nicked.

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London : Collins, 1952. First edition. Seven posthumously published short stories, with a memorial tribute by Viola Garvin.
Crown 8vo. (192)pp. Original sand cloth, lettered across spine in dark green; top edge a touch dusty, but otherwise a very good copy in the original colour-printed dust-jacket - cool blonde in pearls - just very lightly used and with a short tear at head of upper panel. Contemporary (1952) ownership inscription of Stephen I. Laszlo on contents page - Stephen Istevan Laszlo (1907-2005). Hubin p.78.

£15

To confirm availability and to purchase this book please note the stock number 27595 and go to the database. Enter the number in the stock/order number box - press the search button - and a shopping basket should appear. Or simply call us or e-mail books@ashrare.com.