The Devil to Pay

SIGNED & INSCRIBED FIRST EDITION. Water-stained boards on a good square copy happily without any of the foxing usually seen on this elusive title. Better than very good dust jacket is clipped (though not the price), shows only moderate creasing and just three relatively minor chips: two to spine extremities and one to lower rear panel. Book is from library of famed multi-millionaire bibliophile Edward T. (Ned) Guymon, intimate of Dannay & Lee, Hammett, Chandler, Christie, etc., (and the many whom Fred Dannay credits as being his guide & predecessor). On the front pastedown is Guymon's own weirdly fascinating bookplate. Book is a PRESENTATION COPY from Fred Dannay to Guymon's secretary Gertrude Larson, and bears this inscription penned in the bold cursive hand of Dannay: "To / Ned Guymon's / secretary -- / Gertrude Larson -- / with the best wishes / of the author / "Ellery Queen"." A highly fascinating association copy. This is also an advance copy which has the slip laid in.