For the Defense: Dr. Thorndyke - R. Austin Freeman 1934 - Dodd, New York - First American Edition Superb example in bright sharp 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 1934’ and no mention of additional printings. First published the same year by Hodder and Stoughton, London.

References: Reilly, ’
Twentieth-Century Crime and Mystery Writers’ (1980), 612.

Octavo (book size 19.2x13.6cm), pp. vii [1] 310 [1 (publisher’s ad)] [1]. In publisher’s pale blue cloth lettered in black to spine and upper panel, top edge tinted blue, fore-edge untrimmed, cream ‘Red Badge Detective’ endpapers illustrated in red. Dust jacket priced ‘$2.00’ to upper corner of front flap, slightly shorter than book, as seen with other copies. Jacket with very small amount of colour touch up along edges of front panel and spine.
  Condition: Near fine, some spotting along upper edge of cloth, in near fine toned dust jacket, a little fading to blue lettering of spine, and very small unnecessary amount of colour touch up along edges of front panel and spine.   Ref: 110323   Price: HK$ 3,500