THE RED THUMB MARK

New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1924. Attractive copy of Freeman's first novel, introducing the public to Dr. John Thorndyke, whose scientific approach to detection was something of a departure in the genre during this period. Thorndyke attempts to clear the name of a young man who stands accused of stealing diamonds from a safe; a fingerprint near the scene of the crime is the only evidence against him, but proves decidedly damning. More than likely the only jacketed edition of this Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone title one is likely to encounter; we have never seen either the 1907 Collingwood or 1911 Newton editions in dustjacket. Hubin, p.153. First Printing of the Dodd, Mead edition, preceded in the U.S. by the 1911 edition published by Newton. Octavo (19.25cm); black cloth, with titling and decorations stamped in red on spine and front cover; dustjacket; x,305,[5]pp. Spine ends gently nudged, top edge slightly dusty, with a few old pencil notations to front pastedown, else clean throughout; Near Fine. Dustjacket is unclipped (priced $2.00), gently spine-sunned and lightly dust-soiled, with a few tiny nicks and tears, and a small, shallow loss at upper right corner of spine panel; a substantially complete and unrestored example; Very Good+.