The Case of the Vanishing Artist [Uncorrected Book Proof Copy with Extensive Author Revisions & Archival Ephemera]
Language: English
Published by Printed by B.T. Co., Bristol, for Messrs. Robert Hale Ltd., London, Bristol/London, 1956
- Softcover
- Used
Seller: My Book Shop, Preston, United KingdomMy Book Shop
AbeBooks seller since February 25, 2025
Condition: Used - Very good
£ 995.00
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
THE AUTHOR'S PERSONAL WORKING PROOF WITH SUBSTANTIVE MANUSCRIPT TEXTUAL REVISIONS, THE PRE-PUBLICATION DRAFT JACKET BLURB, AND THE MATCHING 1956 ROBERT HALE ROYALTY ARCHIVE DOCUMENT.Octavo. A singular, historically significant pre-publication working proof copy of Frank King’s 1956 detective thriller The Case of the Vanishing Artist (subsequently translated into European markets as De Sinistere Mr. Brown).EXTENSIVE AUTHORIAL REVISIONS & MANUSCRIPT CORRECTIONS:This is the author's private copy used to finalize the text before it went to the printing presses. It features persistent handwritten editorial corrections, layouts, and proofreading symbols across numerous pages (including pages 8, 9, 24, 25, 148, 149, and 153) executed in blue ink and pencil.Crucially, these corrections are not merely typographic; they include substantial, long-form narrative insertions and dialogue additions in Frank King's handwriting:Page 148: The author has written a critical plot insertion at the head of the page: "Fenning arrived five minutes later."Page 153: Features extensive text deletions and long-form multi-line marginal script adding new narrative text: ".my friend, he will be read out of order. Quite a dark horse, aren't." alongside standard technical layout markings (// and E /).TIPPED-IN BLURB LAYOUT:Pasted directly onto the interior of the front wrapper is the original, raw pre-publication layout draft for the dust jacket summary flap, introducing characters Henry Russell, Sonia, and Superintendent Gloom.ACCOMPANYING ARCHIVAL SALES & ROYALTY RECORD:Preserved alongside the proof copy is the original, authentic typed Robert Hale Limited Statement of Sales & Royalty Account document, dated July 1st, 1956. Addressed to "Frank King, Esq. c/o Messrs Pearn Pollinger & Higham Ltd," this single-sheet statement details the commercial launch of the true first edition. It reveals the exact publication date (March 23rd, 1956), the retail price (10/6), and an exceptionally scarce total print run of 4,379 copies.CONDITION REPORT:The Proof Copy: Very Good. Housed in the original light blue printed paper wrappers. Spine is uncreased and entirely intact; binding is square and completely firm. Light, natural age-toning to the text block edges. Internally bright, serving as a pristine canvas for the extensive authorial handwriting.The Royalty Document: Near Fine. Crisp and clean with original folding lines, completely legible, providing definitive provenance link to the author's literary agency.An unparalleled, museum-quality textual artifact that exposes the intimate, mid-century writing and publishing process of a British crime fiction master.…
Seller Inventory # 000486
Bibliographic details
- Title
- The Case of the Vanishing Artist [Uncorrected Book Proof Copy with Extensive Author Revisions & Archival Ephemera]
- Author
- KING, Dr. Frank (Francis Joseph Henry King)
- Publisher
- Printed by B.T. Co., Bristol, for Messrs. Robert Hale Ltd., London, Bristol/London
- Publication year
- 1956
- Condition
- Very Good (Completely sound;
- Dust jacket
- Not Issued (Features tipped-in
- Signed
- Association Copy
- Binding
- Original Publisher's Softcove
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Pre-Publication Working Master Proof
- Printing
- Pre-First Printing /
My Book Shop
Preston, United Kingdom
AbeBooks seller since February 25, 2025
Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
| Item | 14 to 45 business days | 5 to 10 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 21.93 | £ 31.93 |
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Old, mostly out of print, fiction and nonfiction, hardbacks and paperbacksSeller's business information
My Book Shop
United Kingdom
Terms of sale
Christian Kenny
17 Cavendish Place, Preston
Ckenny1200@gmail.com
+44 7763623608
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