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Chandler, Raymond : The Big Sleep

The World Publishing Co, 1946

Unclipped DJ in archival cover, edge wear. Stated First Motion Picture Edition first thus., Fine

1st Edition

CHANDLER**, RAYMOND: : THE BIG SLEEP

LONDON.THE FOLIO SOCIETY,1989.

ISBN No iSBN.

UK,Demy 8vo HB,1st thus.[This the first issue of this set - a 2nd imp was also issued in the same year. The first volume of five (of originally a 7-volume slipcased set - THE LADY IN THE LAKE,and last volume PLAYBACK sold and the issued slipcase missing) offered singly,or as a 5-vol set,as is in one purchase @ £70 insured, post paid for the 5.] FINE.Bright,crisp and clean; with bright,crisp,blocked silver gilt lettering to lower edge of front board and to spine/backstrip,publisher's original,sharp-cornered,full grey cloth boards with a dark grey wrap-around silhouette of Philip Marlowe,by David Eccles,visible on both the boards and the spine/backstrip; with negligible shelf-wear to edges and corners given the absence of issued slipcase,a red+grey striped headband,and immaculate plain dark red endpapers. [This was the FIRST time the Society used the device of having a silhouette on the binding, which moves progressively backwards on each volume,so that the same silhouette is visible across the spines of the (issued 7) volumes when correctly placed in the slipcase.] Top edges with very faint,minimal,sporadic foxing/spotting and otherwise generally bright,fore-edges brighter,cleaner and without any foxing/spotting or blemishes; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners - appears unread - apart from my own collation.UK,Demy 8vo HB (222 x 141 x 18-32mm - varying thickness for each individual volume.),1st thus,v-xvpp+1-183pp [paginated] includes an introduction by Frank McShane,32 chapters; plus [unpaginated] half-title with b/w illustrated frontispiece drawing by Sue Bradbury to it reverse,and a title page. Filmset in Linotron Dante (12-pt) with Univers and an adapted version of Kombie for display, type.Typeset by Profile Information,printed and bound in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner Ltd., Frome,Somerset using West One Antique Wove Paper.Author's debut novel. Chandler's debut classic,hard-boiled detective novel,introducing the iconic detective character Philip Marlowe.Of all those considered as the archetypal hard- boiled detective figures, Marlowe possesses a sensitivity underneath his tough exterior that notably distinguishes him from similar detective characters in the genre. Indeed,as he investigates a case of blackmail serving as a red herring for a more sinister crime,Marlowe stands out,as Isaac Anderson writes in his 1939 New York Times Review,"as almost the only fundamentally decent person" in the story. Of the issued volumes,four of his major works: 'The Big Sleep(1939),'Farewell,My Lovely'(1940), 'The Lady in the Lake' (1943),and 'The Long Goodbye'(1954),all of which were made into very popular films. Made into two films of the same name,in 1946 starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall,and in 1978 starring Robert Mitchum and Sarah Miles. The Folio Society’s formula for success is publishing books with exceptional typography, illustrations,paper and bindings.The Society sources new introductions from literary experts to accompany classic texts and uses skilled designers and master printers to produce memorable fine books.Fiction and non-fiction titles are published.The Folio Society also prides itself on producing series of an author's works which regular publishers might not think economic - in several cases it is only possible to acquire forgotten books by major writers in Folio Society editions. Please contact seller for individual or multiples of books (other than 5-volume option) for their correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers,BEFORE ordering through the order page! ** N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always.

UK,Demy 8vo HB,1st thus.
Not SIGNED.

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