Australian Literature from Gavin de Lacy Rare & Secondhand Bookseller

Octavo, usual cheap paper browning, bright original pictorial wrappers [by Woollett], small patch of abrasion on back cover but uncommonly good. Pulp reprint of Death's Mannikins (1937). Magpie Books, second series, no. 68. 'A Baffling Murder Mystery by a Master Crime Writer'. Very scarce in either format. Max Afford (1906- 1954) was a dramatist & novelist, writing numerous radio plays… Read more about this item

Octavo, edges slightly tanned but an exceptional copy in bright original pictorial wrappers [by Woollett]. Pulp reprint (first published by the Endeavour Press in 1934). Magpie Books, second series, no. 91, with pictorial rather than typographical wrappers and priced at 2/-: 'Pearls mean tears. This well-worn condemnation of the white stones held a special significance for the friendless Sophie when the… Read more about this item

Octavo, discreet contemporary distibutor's stamp on title-page, edges slightly tanned but very good in bright original pictorial wrappers [by Woollett]. Pulp reprint. Magpie Books, second series, no. 71: 'Action and suspence against the exciting background of the mighty Murray.' Scarce.

Octavo, very good in bright original yellow cloth lettered in purple with chipped pictorial dustwrapper (priced at $2.50). First US edition. 'A Red Badge Mystery'. Johnston's first crime novel. Very scarce.

Octavo, tipped-in contemporary bookplate, original Percy Lindsay wrappers (bit worn on spine). First edition ‒ issue in wrappers. Very scarce.

Octavo, contemporary name and date on front free endpaper, some spotting to early leaves but very good in original black cloth lettered in gilt (slight wear at head & foot of spine), publisher's orange top stain. First US edition of Upfield's first novel. Scarce.

Quarto, 48pp., illustrations, neat modern inscription on half-title page, bright original coloured pictorial wrappers. First edition. Very scarce and ephemeral Frank Johnson publication in uncommonly good condition. Wills & Wep's Sydney of the early 1930s, flappers, six-o'clock closing, and the Harbour Bridge &c. Pidgeon's striking illustrations include his useful & important drinking map of Sydney 'With Wep Where it's Wet'.

Octavo, original red cloth with chipped Deco dustwrapper (bit distressed and with some old tape repairs). First edition. Novel set on the coast and cane-fields of northern Queensland.

Octavo, one page advertisements, discreet owner's stamp on endpapers, leaves slightly tanned, but very good in bright original teal blue cloth. First edition. Wallace's second novel. Very scarce. Wallace subsequently published his books in Melbourne under his own imprints, Crime Book Publishing Co. and Popular Publications, also writing as 'Aintree', 'Texas Ranger', and 'Gerald Grantham'.

Octavo, pale foxing on endpapers and preliminaries, very good in original green cloth (sunned on spine). First edition. Signed by the author for the novelist Marjorie Barnard. While the novel was published by A. & R., Mann offered the manuscript first to the short-lived Endeavour Press (1933-35). Out of print and decidedly scarce.

Octavo, original plum cloth (bit faded on spine). First edition ‒ cloth issue. Inscribed & signed by the author. Scarce.

Octavo, foxing on edges and preliminaries, Angus & Robertson bookseller's label on front paste-down, original burgundy cloth lettered in black on spine. Third Impression. A critical & popular success, the novel ran to three impressions in the second half of 1934. Modelled on Henry Handel Richardson's Fortunes of Richard Mahony trilogy, Landtakers was folowed by Inheritors in 1936, but the third volume… Read more about this item

Octavo, [4]pp. publisher's advertisements, very good in bright original green cloth with pictorial dustwrapper (few blemishes including a minor repair on verso of spine) priced at 6/-. First edition. Very scarce especially with dustwrapper. John Wallace was a Melbourne writer and publisher. He also wrote as 'Aintree', 'Texas Ranger', and 'Gerald Grantham', mostly publishing his novels under his own imprints Crime Book Publishing… Read more about this item

Octavo, edges tanned and some pale staining to early leaves, original plum boards lettered in silver on spine with bright William Randell dustwrapper priced at 10s.6d. First UK edition. Scarce pseudonymous George Johnston novel. Out of print.

Octavo, original pictorial wrappers, edges browned. First edition. Horwitz NA 4.

Octavo, pen drawings by Porter, light blue endpapers, original black cloth with pictorial dustwrapper, the cartoonist Les Tanner's copy with his signature. First edition. Inscribed and signed by Porter for Tanner: 'Les — I loveya. HP.'

Demy octavo, original oatmeal cloth with crisp colour silk-screen printed dustwrapper, John Gawsworth's copy with his 'Realm of Redonda' bookplate. First edition. An excellent association copy of Porter's first volume of poetry, inscribed by Porter in the Surrey Hotel (London) for the poet John Gawsworth. Porter writes about drinking at the Surrey and Gawsworth in his third volume of autobiography The… Read more about this item

Octavo, very good in bright original royal blue cloth. January 1950 reprint (first published in December 1949). Novel set in a boot factory in Collingwood during the Depression. Inscribed and signed by Marshall. Scarce.

Crown octavo, [8]pp. publisher's advertisements, contemporary name in ink on front free endpaper, small bookseller's label on front paste-down, very good in original blue cloth lettered in black. First edition. Novel set in western Queensland. Very scarce.

Octavo, [5]pp. publisher's advertisements, small bookseller's label on front paste-down, contemporary inscription on front free endpaper, very good in original orange cloth (bit used) lettered in black on spine . First edition. Scarce adventure novel set in Queensland.