THE DAIN CURSE by HAMMETT, Dashiell:

New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 1929. First edition in book form, first printing. First edition in book form, first printing. Publisher's original yellow cloth with titles, decoration and borders in red and brown to the upper board and spine, in the F. H. Horvath illustrated dustwrapper. Brown top-stain as issued. An excellent near fine copy, the binding firm, the contents with a single light finger mark to the front endpaper are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the rubbed and nicked dustwrapper which has a few short closed tears and chips, most notably at the foot of the lightly faded spine affecting a couple of letters of the publisher's name. Housed in a bespoke cloth folding solander case by the Dragonfly Bindery. The author's second book and the final Continental Op novel. As with Red Harvest before it, The Dain Curse was originally serialised in Black Mask magazine (November 1928 to February 1929) and at the suggestion of Alfred Knopf, revised by Hammett for publication as a novel. Attractive examples in the stylish Ferdinand Horvath dustwrapper are notoriously difficult to acquire in original condition. Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.