Recollections of a Policeman

New York: Cornish, Lamport & Co, 1852. First Edition/Pirate Edition. Hardcover. Good+ [Textblock Very Good]. No DJ.. First Edition/Pirate Edition. Hardcover. Unusual little tome of early crime fiction and one of only 5 or 6 known copies bound in red boards [typically found in brown boards]. "Waters" was the pseudonym for William Russell, one of the earliest crafters of detective fiction in the UK. The first "official" printing was in London, under a slightly different name, in 1856 and then in the US later that year. This printing was apparently a pirate edition, preceding the official by an inexplicable 4 years [Waters, Recollections of a Detective Police-Officer. London, J&C Brown, 1856. (Queen's Quorum 2. Hubin (1994), p. 843)]. Noted flaws notwithstanding, a rather handsome copy of this very scarce title, rare in red boards. Moderate shelf/edge wear (fraying at head and tail, tips through), light toning at spine, minor soiling to boards, corners gently bumped, light foxing at preliminaries, minor cutting error at 181/2 (edge only), else tight, bright and unmarred. Red cloth boards, gilt lettering, in blind decorative elements, decorative/advert endpages (blue ink, decorative borders and ads for various Cornish titles). Small 8vo. 238pp.