Search Results: Titles starting with C from Uncommon Sense

An early example of a police novel with a female protagonist, Assistant Commissioner Palmyra Pym of the (London) Metropolitan Police. Things always happen around her...First British edition, in original (price-clipped), plastic-protected jacket with several closed tears and a few chips missing. Book is clean, slightly bumped at corners, otherwise a very nice copy. Sticker from Sidney Kramer Books in DC on front free endpaper, All in all, a perfectly respectable copy of an uncommon book -- and if ordered within the US, shipping is much cheaper than the other copies listed online.

New York: The American Mercury/Jonathan Press, 1947. First edition. Trade Paperback. Very Good/no dustjacket (as issued). A collection of short stories following Allingham's serial detective Albert Campion. These digest-magazine sized original collections have become quite difficult to find. This copy has a faded spine, light rubbing and the usual discoloration of the paper. there is a very small indentation near the middle of the front cover that can be felt to about 14 pages in, it's difficult to notice.Seven stories and an introduction by Ellery Queen. tw

Shiras' 1953 novel (actually a fixup of related short stories) was a touchstone for a whole generation of disaffected SF fans. Quite dated in terms of gender politics, it's still a strong story about not fitting in. Pennyfarthing Press (Michael Kurland, Alva Rogers and others) reprinted both this and Fredric Brown's WHAT MAD UNIVERSE with new covers and illustrations. This one has an Afterword by Marion Zimmer Bradley attempting to place the book in its social context. This is one (#183 of 200 numbered and signed copies with a three-piece binding. The book is tight and clean, the jacket slighly edge-worn and faded on the spine. A quite acceptable copy of the only signed edition of this classic.

Spine browned, boards slightly discolored. Engraved bookplate of E. F. Armstrong (by Harry Morley?) on front pastedown; previous owner's discreet signature and date of purchase (1954) on front free endpaper. Top edge gilt. Slight smell of smoke from a 1968 house fire. Tissue paper at all plates, somewhat browned. Egdes slightly bumped. A nice example of work from this celebrated small press.

Sauk City WI: Arkham House, 1963. First edition. Hardcover. Fine/fine. A selection of Lovecraft poetry, with probably the best of his horrific poems. One of 2013 copies. This copy is signed by Frank Utpatel, the illustrator, with a "Sincerely" above it -- not personalized. Light browning to spine of jacket, very light bumping to top and bottom of book spine. Book appears unread. In Gaylord jacket protector. A nice copy. TW

A nice copy in a price-clipped jacket with minor wear at the spine. Inscribed by Ley to Nathan Weinberg, dated Sept 1 1949 (book publication is listed as Sept 1949 on verso of title page). No mention of later printings, as was standard for Viking first printings of this period. Tissue inserts present protecting the color endpaper illustrations. Jacket in mylar protector. Very uncommon signed, particularly in the month of publication.

London: Jonathan Cape, 1969. First UK edition. Hardcover. Fine/very fine. An odd collection of tales about the creation of the universe and of human beings. Quirky fun. Calvino is one of the European Magic Realists who are generally treated as "too good to be science fiction". Ah well. This is a very nice copy, with the only notable flaw being a discreet previous owner's name and date/place of purchase on the front free endpaper. Top edge stained blue, jacket slightly sunfaded on spine (unclipped). A clean, nice copy of a modern classic. TW from WFW

First Johnny Dixon mystery/horror./suspense YA novel. This book is where Bellairs really hit his stride with his YA books set in the 1950s -- the first of his mysteries featuring Johnny Dixon and Professor Chlldermass. Gorey had illustrated his earlier THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS, but they become inextricably connected here: Gorey continued to illustrate Bellairs' books even after he died. This is a one-owner copy (until you buy it) -- I'm a fan of both author and artist, and bought this when it came out. Jacket has original price of $11.95; lower jacket corner is clipped, where the library price would have been. The jacket shows very slight wear and small closed tears on the spine and back cover. Spine is lightly bumped, consistent with it having been in a bookstore and not meticulously preserved: hey, I read my books! A scarce book, as well preserved a copy as one is likely to find.