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HALE**, CHRISTOPHER: : WITCH WOOD

LONDON.T.V. BOARDMAN AND COMPANY LIMITED,1946.

ISBN No ISBN.

UK,slim 12mo wraps,p/back Original,1st edn.[BOOK PRODUCTION WAR ECONOMY STANDARD' - This book is produced in complete conformity with the authorized economy standards' advice/notification,and stated 'First published in 19' to recto of title page.] VG-.No owner inscrptn and priced ONE SHILLING NET to foot of front cover. Matt,slightly grubbed red background with 3 black outlined white panels with black lettering comprising title+author,'DEATH AND DEDUCTION' and publisher's initialled (TVB) device,wrinkled,creased (due to glue drying/shrinking) and lightly grubbed spine/backstrip with b/w lettering and 3/4" missing portion of backstrip at its foot - some missing publisher's letters, rear panel with white background and black lettered story precis with an accidental, but small closed tear+crease to lower fore -edge which has also caught and torn the last six pages (pp155-59) in the corresponding area.Some negligible shelf-wear,with bumping,creasing - no other major nicks,splits or tears present and approx. 99% complete.Top+fore-edges lightly toned but without foxing/spotting; contents bright,tight,clean,solid - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners,would appear unread - apart from my own collation.UK,slim 12mo wraps,p/back Original,1st edn,5-159pp [paginated] includes 24 chapters,plus [unpaginated] a story precis page,title page,and a PELMAN INSTITUTE advert to inside of rear cover. Christopher Hale's series detective was Lt. Bill French of the Michigan State Police.She published around 11 novels (1935-1949).Her real name was Frances Moyer Ross Stevens. A very scarce title from this author and an uncommon example in a book of its age,and given it's period of production, i.e. 1940-1947 - with wartime paper-rationing,and the poor quality of cheap paper stock generally used and survival rates of air-raids on domestic and commercial properties i.e publishers+ printers.With war-time paper rationing and conservation of that and other materials, pulping was actively encouraged,so publishers with restricted and limited quantities for publishing,opted towards highly acidic and therefore cheaper paper, allowing for more books to be produced. Books made with this cheaper material tend to degrade faster,exhibiting several faults,blemishes,foxing/spotting etc.,and subsequently are uncommon and harder to find in a particularly fine condition.This example has survived exceptionally well, particularly and unusually,without the usual major discolouration and other imperfections usually encountered or expected in a paperback of this age and era. The pulp novel genre which peaked in popularity in the 1950s - it's ingredients of hard-boiled detective,sultry blondes, women as sex-kittens,murdered husbands et al - and of course,the lurid cover art - had little of literary merit.A term used to describe trashy story magazines produced on cheap,rough paper and by the 1930s,when their first paperbacks appeared,it was synonymous with fast-paced thrillers of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. A UK publisher from 1930s to 1960s,Thomas Volney Boardman founded his London-based company Boardman Books (a.k.a T. V. Boardman Ltd.) in the 1930s and was responsible for first British hardcover printings of Rbt. E. Howard's 'The Coming of Conan.' as well as introducing several American newspaper strips into the UK, thereby pioneering British reprinting of US comics.During WW2,British import restrictions prevented US comics being officially imported,but Boardman arranged permission to to produce abridged British printings of a couple of US comic titles. After the war they produced new titles through their Popular Press imprint, starring amongst others space hero Swift Morgan and secret agent Roy Carson, as well as annuals 'Buffalo Bill True West', 1961 and the last annual the company produced being one example.The company stopped producing comics in 1961 and finally finished publishing in 1967. It published paperback,hardcover books, pulp magazines,and comic books,and besides mystery,fantasy and sci-fi,the company also published other genres of both fiction and non-fiction.Particularly well-known for the long-running monthly series of hardback 'Bloodhound Mysteries with it's distinctive logo,and most with Denis McLoughhlin illustrated dw/djs. Please contact seller,because of the lighter weight and the value of this item, for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page. ** UK,buyers please note,p/backs' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if p/back is offered P/p free. ** N.B. US customers please be aware: US standard AIR postage from UK to US can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. 2/3rds of standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving long before the quoted 42 days - but not always.

UK,slim 12mo wraps,p/back Original,1st edn.
Not SIGNED.

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