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London : Modern Fiction, [1946]. First edition. Simple but handsome farmworker led astray by forward hussies – well written and in places almost erotic, which is more than can be said for most of the Modern Fiction output. Buxton was the author of “Broken Liebestraum” (1944), “No Gentle Lady” (1948), etc.
Crown 8vo (19cm). (64)pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – combative and diaphanous woman in a design by H. W. Perl; rather worn, torn and frayed; cup mark on upper wrapper, tape repair to lower; staples rusting; some internal tears to gutter; an indifferent copy of a scarce title. The British Library has what is apparently a later edition with more pages, but no copies of this edition have been located in any major library worldwide.

£25

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London : Modern Fiction, [1948]. First edition. A “Postman Always Rings Twice” type of tale, the lovely Carol married to ghastly filling-station proprietor Lem Spelter, passing-by Peter Willmore taking a job with them to pay his way. The book featured in a legal dispute between the publisher Edwin Turvey and his author Frank Dubrez Fawcett over who held the rights to the “Ben Sarto” pseudonym. Turvey’s case was that he had invented the name and could use it on any book he wished, Fawcett’s that he had written all the original Sarto titles and the name was clearly his. It was evidently Turvey s original intention to publish this as by “Ben Sarto”, a name given in larger letters on the cover than Buxton’s. The court case revealed that Buxton’s real name was Marsh, that the book had actually been written some years earlier, and that the foreword by “Ben Sarto” was initially written by Turvey and then cleaned up by Buxton/Marsh.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a redhead by H. W. Perl; a little rubbing and light wear; wrappers somewhat creased; staples rusting, but still a good copy of a scarce title. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£75

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [ca.1951]. First edition. Gangster client of ruthless defence attorney Stab Kelly is shot dead through his office window – two beautiful but wholly contrasting women are immediately involved. “Spike Gordon” was one of the new set of fictitious authors introduced by Edwin and Irene Turvey at the height of their success as Moderrn Fiction (London) – it is believed to mask the identity of John Russell Fearn.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 126,[ii]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – elegant redhead looks concerned about the dead man; a little rubbed, nicked, creased and very slightly chipped; staples rusted; text a little brittle and tanned, with a few chips; one leaf torn and slightly defective, with the loss of a handful of letters, but overall a good copy of a rare title. No copy traced in any major library worldwide.

£100

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [1949]. First edition. “Here, in a tale of romance in the underworld of New York, famous American ace crime reporter ‘Griff’ makes his début to British readers and tears aside the veil that cloaks the activities of the callous racketeers who batten on human frailties”. McKeag launches the highly successful “Griff” pseudonym, later used by a variety of other authors beside himself. Reporter Bill Truscott knows at once that the sight of high-stepper Susette Delaine sitting alone at the Regency Bar of the Ritz-Deauville can only mean trouble.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – H. W. Perl – Hyman Woolf Perlzweig (1897-1952) – and an enigmatic blonde; spine slightly worn and darkened; a little worn, creased, marked, nicked and chipped; ink markings to front wrapper; staples rusted; a few small internal flaws, but a reasonable copy of major introduction to the genre – the first of the “Griff” novels. Just a single copy (British Library) traced in major libraries worldwide.

£40

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London : Modern Fiction, [1949]. First edition. “When Jinx Engels got a glim of the blonde in the mink coat in the foyer of the Blue Orchid he stopped dead on the sidewalk and took another gander through the plate-glass swing doors. It was Marilou all right. Then his grey matter side-stepped and took an eight-year flash-back. He remembered her when last he had seen her ...”. McKeag with a lively early title in the “Griff” series.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 159,[i]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a design by John Pollack; some light wear; a few nicks; some inked marking to front wrapper; rear wrapper a little nicked and frayed, but still overall a very good copy. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£75

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [1950]. First edition. Bullets, business and be-pop – better dead than dope-crazed – the “Griff” byline was first used by Ernest McKeag (1896-1974) in 1948, but became the most successful of the Modern Fiction pulp brand-names under various later authors. Lightning pace, crisp dialogue, casual violence, and seedy and salacious faux American settings are the common denominators. By 1950 most of the “Griff” titles, of which this is perhaps the most celebrated, were being written by the journalist, compiler of reference works and occasional Dickens scholar, Frank Dubrez Fawcett (1891-1968) and this is almost certainly his work.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 112pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – redhead takes an injection in her thigh from corrupt brunette – a pair of man’s shoes suggestively by the couch; mild wear to tips; repaired splits to lower joint and spine; small initial on upper cover; crease to lower wrapper; staples a touch rusted; text a little tanned, but the wrappers and artwork unusually clean and fresh. Only the British Library copy located in major libraries worldwide.

SOLD

London : Modern Fiction (London), [1951]. First edition. “I’m surprised you didn’t join the police force,” she said. I’d squatted on that springy, tubular metal chair she’d indicated. “I was always bottom of my class. But that ain’t low enough for the I.Q. the dicks insist on. And I couldn’t match up to their high standard of dishonesty and corruption”. Rich private eye for kicks Don Danby takes on an insurance case.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers; some light wear and slight creasing; a few marks to rear wrapper; staples rusted, but generally a very good copy of a scarce title. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£50

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [1952]. First edition. “If a guy is a private eye, which is the other word for private detective or inquiry agent, he oughta keep his hands off his lady clients, if any. Tonio Folari didn’t do that” – and Maria Speratta is quick to teach him a lesson. “You just can’t leave off, once you start. You go hurrying, thirsty. You lose sleep. You miss your love-date. But you get forgiven when you say: ‘I’ve been reading Crooked Coffins’. Yes, folks – this book does that to you – and everybody”.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a stylish design by Leonard Potts; spine chipped in places; wrappers rubbed, nicked and creased; rear wrapper and final few leaves a little torn, without loss; staples rusted; some light spotting and browning, but a serviceable copy of an uncommon title. An enthusiastic “yes” inscribed on half-title. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£50

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [1952]. First edition. “They say that the Devil was in cahoots with Uncle Sam at the time when Pittsburg got built. I’d not know, but I’m not denying that the gory, upleaping flames of the great blast furnaces, and writhing, unearthly-yellow glows of the steel ovens look mighty like it”. Well-off private eye Don Danby has a body fall on him soon after he arrives.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a striking design of green-eyed redhead above a shoot-out; spine a little chipped; wrappers rubbed and a little creased; but a good and serviceable copy of an uncommon title. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£40

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [1952]. First edition. “If a guy is a private eye, which is the other word for private detective or inquiry agent, he oughta keep his hands off his lady clients, if any. Tonio Folari didn’t do that” – and Maria Speratta is quick to teach him a lesson. “You just can’t leave off, once you start. You go hurrying, thirsty. You lose sleep. You miss your love-date. But you get forgiven when you say: ‘I’ve been reading Crooked Coffins’. Yes, folks – this book does that to you – and everybody”.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a stylish design by Leonard Potts; spine chipped in places; wrappers rubbed, nicked and creased; rear wrapper and final few leaves a little torn, without loss; staples rusted; some light spotting and browning, but a serviceable copy of an uncommon title. An enthusiastic “yes” inscribed on half-title. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£50

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [1952]. First edition. Man hits an abandoned parked car on his way to Chicago – it’s riddled with bullets and a dead blonde falls out. Then a spray gun is planted in his car.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 110,[ii]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a typical Leonard Potts design; slightly chipped; wrappers a little worn and frayed; a few minor internal flaws, but a good and serviceable copy. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£40

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [1953]. First edition. “Master-spies, gunhawks, mobsters, hoods, all the unsavoury characters of the underworld ... A young scientist is kidnapped. He carries badly wanted secrets in his brain ... the secrets of that most despicable of all forms of death ... germ warfare!”. Mark Freeman of the FBI is on the case. The “Griff” house name here being used by David Boyce.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 127,[i]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by Leonard Potts (1902-1978) – redhead dragged into gunfight; a little worn and chipped; price inked on upper wrapper; staples rusted; text tanned; a few slight marks; a reasonable copy of an elusive and fragile title. Only the British Library copy located in any of the major libraries worldwide.

£40

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [1953]. First edition. Con-men, pimps, gamblers, gun-men and their women gather in a bar in San Francisco and talk of an escape from Alcatraz. The “Griff” house-name was used by at least half a dozen authors, but the present title is attributed to William Simpson Newton.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 126,[ii]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a design by Leonard Potts – redhead, fat man, man in a hat starts shooting; some minor wear; front wrapper creased; with some slight creasing elsewhere; text a little tanned in places, but otherwise a nice copy. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£50

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [1953]. First edition. “The chronicle of three days of terror in the life of the District Attorney’s Chief Investigator, Shaun O’Riordan. Murder gone mad aptly describes that searing melodrama of the law-and-order brigade’s fight against one of the most indecent corruptions that ever polluted a fair city ... In the process he met some people of very curious characteristics, including several very lovely ladies”.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 126,[ii]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers; some light wear; colour touched up at foot; staples rusted; a few leaves printed a little faintly, but otherwise a very good copy. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£40

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [1952]. First edition. “Abruptly he stopped dictating. His dark eyes were suddenly amused. He said: “Will you have dinner with me tonight, Jennifer?” She nearly dropped her pencil and pad in amazement. Even her chin sagged, and then she snapped her mouth shut as she quickly recovered ...”.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 127,[i]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – brunette and redhead come to grips – a design by Leonard Potts (1902-1978); chipped at foot; a few nicks and short tears; some chipping, creasing and wear; one leaf poorly trimmed; a reasonable copy of a scarce and fragile item. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

SOLD

London : Modern Fiction (London), [ca.1952]. First edition. A novel set in the ruins of post-war Hamburg, as Ilsa decides to smoke her last cigarette – and wants a man to light it.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 96pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – young woman in green examines a puppet on her knee – a design, probably by H. W. Perl, previously used on an earlier Modern Fiction title (“Lost Love” by Henri Duprès) and here crudely adapted; wrappers used, worn, scuffed, creased and a little marked, with some chipping; some minor internal browning and discolouration, but a serviceable copy of an uncommon title. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£25

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [1951]. First edition. Diane repents of her hasty marriage in a wartime suburb – the chapters tell the tale: loveless marriage, on the verge, marriageless love, bitter parting, out of her past, unwilling wife, silken sin, the goad of loneliness, the way of transgression, conquest, gathering clouds, betrayed, the choice – aftermath. “Translated from the French” claims the cover – a statement even less accurate than the mis-spelling of McKeag’s nom-de-plume as Rene Larouche on the title-page.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 136pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a stylish design by the reliable John Pollack (1918-1985) – woman vamping a car-driver in a stock French setting; some wear to extremities; minor creasing and marking; price faintly over-stamped on upper wrapper; a few internal nicks, creases and a chip; one leaf a little proud, but overall a not unappealing copy. Only the British Library copy located in any of the major UK libraries.

SOLD

London : Modern Fiction (London), [ca.1954]. First edition. Provincial innkeeper raises a beautiful and headstrong daughter – an English painter comes to stay.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 126,[ii]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a stylish design by “F. T.”; some creasing and minor chipping; a few slight marks; staples slightly rusted; text lightly tanned, but a good copy. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

SOLD

London : Modern Fiction (London), [1952]. First edition. “Almost out-Zolas Zola” – “Girls disappear from their Paris homes; in many cases they are never traced ... enticed, on one pretext or another, by glib promises of a film, dance-hall, or cabaret career” – Ben Sarto with an “on-the-spot study” of a typical victim of the white slave trade.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 126,[ii]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a design by Leonard Potts (1902-1978); a little worn and creased; some short nicks and tiny chips; a few slight marks, but a good copy of a scarce and fragile production. Just a single copy (British Library) traced in major libraries worldwide.

SOLD

London : Modern Fiction, [ca.1943]. First edition : the variant with the plain lower wrapper. The United Ladies’ Club of Chicago – Dynamite Doll, Slappy Sal (not to mention her husband Jelly the Fish), Velvet Vi, Reno Doreena – but Anna Toplitski craves the “sharp, puncturing kiss” of the hypodermic syringe. It has become apparent from the details of the May 1949 “passing off” High Court hearing before Mr Justice Romer, in which Fawcett and his publisher, Edwin Turvey, sued each other over the rights in the “Ben Sarto” name, that many of the Sarto titles were first published considerably earlier than has previously been supposed. Evidence produced at the trial over the surrender of rights in reprints suggests that the present title must have been in print prior at some time prior to the summer of 1944.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a typical H. W. Perl design of a blonde in clinging green; some very minor wear and creasing; a couple of short tears; the predominantly white wrappers lightly marked, with some faint splashing to lower wrapper; staples a little rusted, but overall a very good copy of a fragile production.

£50

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London : Modern Fiction, [ca.1943]. First edition : the variant with the plain lower wrapper. The United Ladies’ Club of Chicago – Dynamite Doll, Slappy Sal (not to mention her husband Jelly the Fish), Velvet Vi, Reno Doreena – but Anna Toplitski craves the “sharp, puncturing kiss” of the hypodermic syringe. It has become apparent from the details of the May 1949 “passing off” High Court hearing before Mr Justice Romer, in which Fawcett and his publisher, Edwin Turvey, sued each other over the rights in the “Ben Sarto” name, that many of the Sarto titles were first published considerably earlier than has previously been supposed. Evidence produced at the trial over the surrender of rights in reprints suggests that the present title must have been in print prior at some time prior to the summer of 1944.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a typical H. W. Perl design of a blonde in clinging green; a little worn, marked, and slightly creased; a couple of short tears; the predominantly white wrappers a little soiled; staples rusting; title-page creased, but a reasonable copy of a fragile production.

£40

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London : Modern Fiction, [ca.1945]. First edition. “Corner of Gamm-street, Bowery. Dusk. December day; snow atop distant skyscrapers; awful squelcy slush underfoot; overhead railway smashing flashes of electricity from ice-hard rails. Everything around furtive, glum, anti-law, on account of the cold douche of Prohibition”.
Crown 8vo (19cm). (128)pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a design by H. W. Perl; wrappers a little worn, slightly creased and a little frayed; acid-free tape repair at head; text a little spotted, mainly to prelims and edges; a reasonable copy of a difficult title. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£50

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London : Modern Fiction, [1948]. First edition. Man returns to Idaho from the mountains of Chile to find his sweet young wife has killed herself having become a dope addict: an exposé of the American morphine, heroin and cocaine rackets. “Then there was Jacqueline; tall, slant-eyed, raven-haired, fiery, dynamic; packing a flashlook that would burn up almost any guy with desire. They called her ‘The Duchess of Dope’ ...”. One of the most successful of all the Modern Fiction titles.
Crown 8vo (19cm). (128)pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a wide-eyed, leggy and blood-stained Jacqueline in a design by H. W. Perl; some wear; short tears to upper wrapper; lower corner chewed; a few minor marks, but a good copy of a difficult title. Only the British Library copy located in all the major UK libraries.

SOLD

London : Modern Fiction, [1947]. First edition. A murder in the Otis Restaurant – a revenge killing by a strange young man.
Crown 8vo (18cm). (128)pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a typical H. W. Perl design; some minor wear and creasing; a few slight marks; staples rusting; text faintly tanned, but overall a very good copy of a scarce and fragile item. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£75

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London : Modern Fiction, [1947]. First edition. A murder in the Otis Restaurant – a revenge killing by a strange young man.
Crown 8vo (18cm). (128)pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a typical H. W. Perl design; some minor wear and creasing; lower wrapper lightly marked; text slightly tanned, but a very good copy. Stamps of Simonite’s Book Exchange Service of Cannock Market on first few leaves and (very faintly) on upper wrapper. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£75

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London : Modern Fiction, [1948]. First edition. Playing with his own name, Fawcett gives us cheapstore dressmaker Frank Driffield Tawfitt, who has taken a shine to the mysterious and alluring new partner in Manhattan’s Paradise Restaurant – Miss Otis has gone incognito.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 124,[iv]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – woman, gun, allure – a design by H. W. Perl; just a touch of wear to tips; a couple of tiny creases; staples rusted and discoloured, but otherwise a very good and clean copy. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£75

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London : Modern Fiction, [1952]. First edition. “As usual with Sarto books, it is the result of personal observation, plus access to police records and secret news files ... an innocent young girl from the country finds herself caught up in the toils of a Manhattan exploiter – with tragic results. One big, breath-catching thrill from first word to last, but shot with sadness and regret”.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 127,[i]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a design by Leonard Potts (1902-1978); slight wear at tips; creases, a short tear and some slight discolouration to rear wrapper; text a little tanned, but still overall a very good copy. Just two copies (British Library and Monash) located in major libraries worldwide.

SOLD

London : Modern Fiction, [1948]. First edition. “These ‘spivs’, as they are named, have no identity cards, no ration books, no clothing or other coupons of legal acquisition. They are, in a civic sense, outlaws”. Post-war London memorably evoked as swell-looking “Yorkshire Alice”, popular with thieves and con-men, is knifed to death in a Soho alley. Correspondence from 1947 between Fawcett and his publisher, Edwin Turvey, reveals that the original manuscript was mislaid for a time, but that Fawcett was paid £33 for this “very good Sarto indeed” and Perl probably £5 for the cover.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a redhead in blue by H. W. Perl; slightly chipped and somewhat creased, with a few short nicks and tears; failed tape repair to front wrapper; text lightly tanned, but a reasonable copy of an uncommon title. Just a single copy (British Library) traced in major libraries worldwide.

£50

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [1954]. First edition. “Meet again that crashing, smashing heel, Kinsey Target, relating his own paralysing experiences in the shocking style that has made him famous” – we also meet Peach Dolfin, Pingpong Rizetti, and other surprising characters.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 110,[ii]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – brunette in red is offered a drink; some minor wear and short nicks; text a little tanned, but overall a very good copy of an uncommon late title from Modern Fiction. Only the British Library copy located in any of the major UK libraries.

SOLD

London : Modern Fiction (London), [1954]. First edition. One of at least ten titles put out under Modern Fiction’s “Hank Spencer” house-name towards the end of their publishing career. Set in Chicago as tough, honest, guy seeks justice and revenge – master criminal, mysterious dame – “something you'll have to read for yourself. It got too exciting for me!” says the cover.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 126,[ii]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – blonde shocked by man with gun, a design by Kris; staples slightly rusted; a few minor marks, but overall a very good copy. Only a single copy (British Library) located in all the major UK libraries.

SOLD

London : Modern Fiction, [1949]. First edition. Pretty secretary Claire Norton, orphaned in the war, sexually harassed from her last job, lands a new position with celebrated author “John Mallory” – who turns out to be a Joan Mallory, with a handsome artist nephew. Passport required for a new world of Biarritz, Cauterets, Pau and the Pyrenees.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 64pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – an H. W. Perl blonde seemingly inspired by Marlene Dietrich; lightly rubbed; tiny chip at foot; 3cm chip to the slightly dusty rear wrapper, with the loss of a few letters; text lightly tanned, with some faint spotting to the outer leaves; but a good copy of an uncommon title. Just a single copy (British Library) traced in major libraries worldwide.

£50

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 45704 – or simply click on the button