Dr. Thorndyke Intervenes - R. Austin Freeman 1933 - Dodd, New York - First American Edition A fine copy in nice example of this rather delicate dust jacket.   Richard Austin Freeman (1862-1943), expert bookbinder, a capable wax and clay modeller, and an amateur painter of the academic school, as well as his own laboratory technician. To prospective interviews he invariably replies: ‘I have no desire for personal publicity’. By all accounts, something of a cross between a genius and a nutcase, he built a bunker in his own back garden as a hobby, and was an innovator of forensic technique. He is best known for his John Thorndyke novels and short stories.

First American edition, copyright page stating ‘Copyright 1933’ and no mention of additional printings. Published the same year by Hodder & Stoughton, London.

References: Reilly, ’
Twentieth-Century Crime and Mystery Writers’ (1980), 612. Cooper & Pike, ‘Detective Fiction’, 140. Book and Magazine Collector, 2006, Issue No. 272, 39. Hubin, Crime Fiction, 157.

Octavo (book size 19.2x13.7cm), pp. v [3] 344. In publisher’s orange cloth, black lettering to spine and upper board, top edge with orange tint, foredge untrimmed, others trimmed. Dust jacket priced ‘$2.00’ to upper corner of front flap.
  Condition: Fine in very good dust jacket without fading, spine with two vertical creases, smaller creases to base of spine and lower edge of front panel around a short closed tear, small amount of wear to corners.   Ref: 110634   Price: HK$ 3,000