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FRANCIS, SELWYN: : CRACKSMAN ON VELVET

LONDON.ANDRE DEUTSCH LIMITED,1974.

ISBN 0233965998.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.FINE+/FINE+.No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj. Bright,crisp,clean,glossy laminated,wrap-around colour pictorial artwork (non- credited) illustrated front panel and spine of dw/dj with yellow and white lettering,rear panel with black+red lettered facsimile police report to a white background; with negligible shelf- or creasing to edges and corners - no nicks or tears present - in really exceptional bright,crisp and remarkably clean condition - given book's age.Top+ fore-edges bright and clean; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners,appears unread - apart from my own collation. Bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered, publisher's original plain beige/taupe cloth boards with bright,crisp,stamped brown ink printed letters to spine/ backstrip and immaculate plain white endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,9-254pp [paginated] includes 4 parts/sections comprising 21 chapters in total,plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages, contents list/table and parts/sections individual separator pages. Author's debut 'Sergeant Verity' novel. William Clarence Verity (William after the old king,Clarence after the Duke) is a Sergeant in Scotland Yard's 'Private Clothes Detail'.His beat is the underworld of Victorian London - a seething maze of alleys and bordellos,peopled with sneak thieves,thugs,murderers and their doxies. It is a world recreated with superb authenticity in Francis Selwyn's novel. From far off Bengal,as an echo of an obscure scandal,there comes to Verity a tantalising hint of major crime in the making.Despite his superior's instructions,Verity determines to run the plotters down.And there begins a battle between Verity's sturdy resolve and the devilish cunning of his unseen adversary: Lieutenant Verney Dacre,retired officer of cavalry,woman beater and gentleman cracksman (a safebreker).The stakes are Verity's career,indeed his freedom - and half a ton of bullion. Basing his story upon the events and characters of the real train robbery case of 1957,Mr Selwyn has created a rich Victorian drama,alive with the seedy corruption of the stews of Seven Dials and the glamour of the smart gaming-houses and brothels of the Haymarket.He takes us into the world of the 'Other Victorians' with a skill and panache that bring the age alive.Sergeant Verity is an inspired creation,he moves through danger and temptation with the dogged uprightness of a Gladstone and all the worldliness of a Disraeli.Word has it that his next adventure will take him to John Company's India - he should arrive just in time for the Mutiny! Since April 2013,again in March 2015,and in this year too,the UK Post Office has altered it's Pricing in Proportion template,altering it's prices,weight allowances,dimensions and lowered it's qualifying compensation rates too! So,please contact seller,because of the lighter weight and value of this item for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.
Not SIGNED.