THE DOUBLE FOUR. London, New York, Toronto, and Melbourne: Cassell and Company, Ltd, 1911. Octavo, inserted frontispiece with color illustration by Cyrus Cuneo, original decorated pinkish brown cloth. First edition. Ten linked stories featuring Peter Ruff, "the detective and criminal in turn, the man who knew both worlds and made use of both." - Oppenheim. Although published in 1911, this group of stories appears to follow those appearing in PETER RUFF, published in London by Hodder and Stoughton in 1912. The Double-Four is a secret organization, involved in crime and international politics, a sort of forerunner of SMERSH. See Queen, The Detective Short Story, p. 78 (who does not record this earlier printing of THE DOUBLE FOUR). Hubin (1994), p. 616. Cloth lightly worn at spine ends and corner tips, some uniform sunning to spine panel, free endpapers tanned, a very good copy. This first printing is uncommon. (#113641).
Price: $75.00
No statement of printing.