THE HEADLESS LADY

First UK edition, first printing. Original red cloth with black titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. Publisher's review copy. A very good or better copy, the binding square and firm with a little bumping at the spine tips and corners, the cloth bright and without fading. The contents with the publisher's small oval "Collins review copy" blind stamp to the blank lower margin of the last text page. Complete with the price-clipped dustwrapper which has small chips at the spine tips and the bottom edge of the rear panel (none affecting the text or illustration), and a few short closed tears to the extremities. A scarce title, especially so in the dustwrapper.

Although stated copyright 1940 on the reverse of the title page, the UK first edition was not issued until February 1941 (hence the advert for Ngaio Marsh's Surfeit of Lampreys on the rear panel of the dustwrapper). (Hubin; Curran: The Hooded Gunman).