The Nameless Man (Une Affaire Mystérieuse)

Du Boisgobey, Fortune (Fortuné Hippolyte Auguste Abraham-Dubois) / author of "The Felon's Bequest"

Published by Arthur Westbrook Company, Cleveland, 1920

About this Item

A very good "digest-sized" paperback. The attractive wraps with full-color front panel illustration (Polynesian-clad lass doesn't look overjoyed to be in the gentleman's embrace) were clearly glued in place (by original publisher) after the text block had been secured with two staples. Four-inch diagonal crease to top right corner of front wrap. Text pages are moderately browned; still flexible enough to read, but obviously not of the highest quality stock to begin with. While these Westbrook products are generally referred to as "dime novels," ad to rear wrap for the 40 titles of the "Great American Detective Series" (most of which appear to actually be British, Australian, or French in origin) prices said books at 20 cents each, six for $1.00, "Postage stamps taken same as money." Du Boisgobey (pen name of Fortune Abraham-Dubois) was the chief disciple of French pioneer of the detective genre Émile Gaboriau, with whom his name is generally associated. He even wrote a sequel, "La Vieillesse de M. Lecoq" (1877-78), using Gaboriau's character Monsieur Lecoq. The novels of Du Boisgobey deal with crime, the police, and the Parisian scene. This title was originally published in France in 1878 as "Une Affaire Mystérieuse." This later American reprint is undated. Most Westbrook stand-alone titles seem to cluster 1906-1914, though this volume could be as late as 1930. (Our listed date of publication, 1920, is an estimate.) 239 pp. followed by a 13-page "teaser" for the same author's "The Temple of Death / Sequel to 'The Coral Pin.'" Reduced from $450. Seller Inventory # 009178

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Nameless Man (Une Affaire Mystérieuse)

Publisher: Arthur Westbrook Company, Cleveland

Publication Date: 1920

Binding: Soft cover

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket