Dr. Sam:Johnson, Detector (Association copy with Signed Letter by Ellery Queen)

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1946. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Fine/Very Good. Small 8vo., 257pp. Sharp Stated First Edition of this anthology of historical mystery tales featuring the eminent Doctor and his scribe, James Boswell. Bound in brown cloth with gilt lettering and decoration. Square, tight and clean throughout with little or no wear save some softness to spine ends. Spine gilt a touch dulled. Equally attractive unclipped dust-jacket, ($2.75), has few short closed edge-tears and a couple of shallow creases on the rear panel. Light rubbing to hinges. Still bright, complete and quite presentable. Laid in is a holograph note in the hand of Richard Dannay, and signed "Ellery Queen", (the other half of Ellery Queen is Manfred Lee), to the father of Lillian de la Torre, Jose de la Torre Bueno In it, he is wishing him a happy birthday and praising him because he also knows his daughter, presumably because she frequently contributed stories to Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. Torre-Bueno himself was a noted author and expert on entymology who first published in 1937 his still widely used and influential Torre-Bueno Glossary of Entomology. Not perfect but a presentable copy at a great price.