Donovan Dick Preston Muddock (47 results)

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Illus. by Nicholas Bentley, 7.5 x 5", cloth, 232pp, covers rubbed with some spotting, spine sunned and soiled, extremities bumped and fraying, spine cocked, pages toned with some spotting to preliminaries, in a rubbed, lightly edge-worn dustjacket. FIRST EDITION. Written by brothers Peter and Anthony Shaffer- Peter later wrote such plays as EQUUS and AMADEUS. SCARCE. …

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. 1st edition, hardback, 8vo, 122pp, frontispiece and 2 maps, slight foxing, otherwise clean and tight, no inscriptions, glazed fawn cloth, black titles, covers slightly brown-spotted, Very Good / no dustwrapper.

Autobiography of the Scottish author of mystery, horror and science fiction. 2nd edition. Blue cloth with gilt titles and decoration. VG.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. First edition, small format hardback, 122pp. There are a few markings to the front and back boards. Small tear on the inside front ends at the spine. Fading on the endpapers. There is a pull out section with two maps in good condition.

Hardback. Condition: VG-. No DW. 2nd Impression. Dark blue cloth lettered in gold. Clean tight text but top edge bit dusty. Cloth on spine has a wrinkle just below titling. Front cover has a few marks.

Red cloth lettered in gilt. Cloth torn along front hinge, clear tape repairs to spine and inner hinges, a good copy. Internally sound & decent. An uncommon novel, dealing with abduction by Gipsies, murders and inheritances. Not listed in Hubin, but it should be. A rough copy of a scarce book.

Paper. Condition: Good. First Edition. A Rare Original Handwritten and Signed Letter Base by Crime Writer James Edward Preston Muddock whose Pseudonym was Dick Donovan. Undated. James Edward Preston Muddock also known as "Joyce Emmerson Preston Muddock" and "Dick Donovan" 1843 - 1934, was a prolific British journalist and author of mystery and horror fiction. For a time his detective stories were as popular as those of Arthur Conan Doyle. Between 1889 and 1922 he published nearly 300 detective and mystery stories. Most of Muddock's stories featured his continuing character Dick Donovan, The Glasgow Detective, named for one of the 18th Century Bow Street Runners. The character was so popular that later stories were published under this pen name. Muddock also wrote true crime stories, horror, and 37 novels, most as "Dick Donovan". His stories were used by The Strand Magazine in months when there were no Sherlock Holmes stories available. Size is 185mm x 90mm. Condition is good. Light folding crease. More images can be taken upon request. Ref18816. Signed by Author(s).…

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. BOUND IN CREAM COLOUED CLOTH WITN BRIGHT BLACK TITLES TO FRONT BOARD, THIS DATED 1920 HARDCOVER FIRST EDITION IS VG. 122pp WITH TWO MAPS, PREFACE AND 14 CHAPTERS. CONDITION VG.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. 1st Edition. First UK edition, with 1909 to the title page and no later date, Pp. 320. Original red boards, light staining to the boards, gilt lettering to front panel and spine, tight binding. New front end page, pages clean, spotting to edges and a sprinkle within. A good example of a very uncommon title.…

Condition: Very Good. First edition hard back publisher's original strawberry cloth covers, gilt stamping to spine [oxidised], and upper panel, lower edge untrimmed. Crown 8vo 7¾" x 5¼" vi, 258, 4 [pages] catalogue. Touch of foxing to page edges. In Very Good square and clean condition. Member of the P.B.F.A. DETECTIVE | CRIME FICTION.…

First edition. Octavo, pp. [1-5] 6 [7] 8-312 + 32-page publisher's catalogue dated "October, 1902" inserted at rear, original pictorial blue cloth, front panel stamped in red, white and black, spine panel stamped in gold, publisher's monogram stamped in blind on rear panel, bottom edge untrimmed. A historical romance in which a witch's curse appears to be fulfilled. [Reference: Wilson, Shadows in the Attic, p. 193. Not in Bleiler (1948; 1978) or Reginald (1979; 1992)]. Front hinge cracked, end papers browned, inked name to front free end paper,foxing throughout, corners soft, spine edges rubbed, a good, sound copy. (31100).…

The hugely prolific author of Mystery, Detective,and Horror stories in the Strand who for a time rivalled Sherlock Holmes, turns his attention to Derbyshire Bakewell and the history of Haddon Hall. It was followed in 1907 with "Did Dorothy Vernon elope ?" a rejoinder to G Le Blanc Smith 's book on Haddon Hall [1906] A particularly nice copy.…

Small octavo, pp. [1-8] 1-304 + [1-2: chromolithograph/ad leaf] and 32-page publisher's catalogue dated "Jan. 1898" inserted at rear, publisher's pictorial white boards printed in tan and black, ads on endpapers. Later edition. Most of the stories are cases of the celebrated Russian detective related to fellow detective Dick Donovan. The last story, "The Clue of the Dead Hand," features detective Peter Brodie who investigates a murder and a simultaneous mysterious disappearance in Scotland at Corbie Hall, "a strange, weird sort of place . [with] an eeriness about it that was calculated to make one shudder." This story belongs as much in the (rationalized) ghost story genre as the detective story. It also involves a case of male impersonation. Glover and Greene, Victorian Detective Fiction 111. Queen, The Detective Short Story, p. 34. Hubin (1994), p. 240. Topp, Victorian Yellowbacks & Paperbacks, 1849-1905 III, p. 253. Boards worn at edges, a very good copy. An uncommon yellowback. (#171208).…

8pp cata. (March, 1904). Partially uncut in orig. red pictorial cloth, blocked & lettered in black & white, spine lettered in gilt; spine a little dulled, extremities rubbed, a bit marked, hinges starting but sound. Pictorial bookplate of Frank Seton on leading pastedown. Not in Glover & Greene. Hubin 123. The cover art depicts a cityscape background with a smoking gun front and centre. An account of the life of Irish journalist and forger Roger Pigott, 1835-1889, Muddock has 'carefully traced the man's eventful career almost from his very cradle in the Irish capital to his disgrace in that far-off foreign city of Madrid, and the information in my possession enables me to present my readers with a story of human life as startling as anything the fictionist could evolve.' Pigott forged letters that suggested Charles Stewart Parnell of the Irish National Land League was sympathetic to the murders of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke - when the letters were shown to be fake, Pigott fled to Madrid where he shot himself in a hotel room. Joyce Emmerson Preston Muddock, 1843-1934, also known as James Edward Preston Muddock was a journalist and prolific writer of mystery and horror fiction; for a period he was as popular as Conan Doyle. Muddock travelled extensively while working as a journalist, including to India, China, the US and Australia. His most popular fictional character was Glasgow detective Dick Donovan, who he had named after an 18th century Bow Street Runner - as the detective's popularity grew, the stories were published under that name rather than Muddock's. …

Cloth. Condition: Good. First Edition. 304, 8, 32 pp. Original publisher's cloth with silver lettering & decoration to front cover & spine. Covers marked. Corners and spine ends worn. Patterned endpapers. Publisher's lists at rear. Binding firm. Uncommon. Good condition. 8vo.

Later issue with an undated titlepage. 8vo., orig. tan cloth stamped in black, gilt and silver, (8), 320pp. With illustrations. Name, spine slightly darkened o/w a fine copy. Green & Glover 116.

Half title, front., plates & illus. Publisher's embossed maroon cloth, spine lettered in gilt; extremities sl. rubbed, spine a little worn at head & tail, but still a nice bright copy. Booksellers ticket of Vale's Library, Stamford Hill on leading pastedown. See Glover & Greene 116, this edition in an attractive remainder binding, but in the same sheets as the undated 1893 edition in grey pictorial cloth. This is a collection of twelve short stories featuring Donovan, including 'The Chamber of Shadows', 'The Jewelled Skull', 'The Silver Dagger', and 'The Secrets of the Haunted House'. Joyce Emmerson Preston Muddock, 1843-1934, also known as James Edward Preston Muddock was a journalist and prolific writer of mystery and horror fiction, for a period he was as popular as Conan Doyle. Muddock travelled extensively while working as a journalist, including to India, China, the US and Australia. His most popular fictional character was Glasgow detective Dick Donovan, who he had named after an 18th century Bow Street Runner - as the detective's popularity grew, the stories were published under that name rather than Muddock's.…

Condition: Very Good. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original Oxford blue cloth covered boards, elaborately blocked and lettered silver decoration to the spine and front cover, publisher's green and cream leaf patterned end papers. 8vo. 7½'' x 5¼''. Contains (xvi), 304, 8, 32 pp ads dated May 1897. Ink name verso front free end paper 'S. Gardner - August 1898', minor rubbing across the spine ends and in Very Good bright condition. Member of the P.B.F.A. DETECTIVE | CRIME FICTION.…

Hard Cover. Dust Jacket. First Edition. "All Clear": A Brief Record of the Work of the London Special Constabulary 1914-1919 (Everett 1920). First UK Edition. A VG copy in a chipped and worn D/W. Both maps present. Rare.

Half title, front., plates & illus.; small corner tear to leading f.e.p. Orig. light grey cloth lettered in brown & black, blocked in silver gilt & black, spine lettered in gilt; extremities sl. rubbed, spine a little darkened, two faint marks to boards. Glover & Greene 116, this edition does not have a dated title but is in grey cloth. This is a collection of twelve short stories featuring Donovan, including 'The Chamber of Shadows', 'The Jewelled Skull', 'The Silver Dagger', and 'The Secrets of the Haunted House'. Joyce Emmerson Preston Muddock, 1843-1934, also known as James Edward Preston Muddock was a journalist and prolific writer of mystery and horror fiction, for a period he was as popular as Conan Doyle. Muddock travelled extensively while working as a journalist, including to India, China, the US and Australia. His most popular fictional character was Glasgow detective Dick Donovan, who he had named after an 18th century Bow Street Runner - as the detective's popularity grew, the stories were published under that name rather than Muddock's.…

Octavo, pp. [1-5] 6 [7] 8-312 + 30-page publisher's catalogue dated "March, 1903" inserted at rear, original pictorial blue cloth, front panel stamped in red, orange, white and black, spine panel stamped in gold, publisher's monogram stamped in blind on rear panel, bottom edge untrimmed. First edition. A historical romance in which a witch's curse appears to be fulfilled. Wilson, Shadows in the Attic, p. 193. Not in Bleiler (1948; 1978) or Reginald (1979; 1992). Cloth worn at spine ends and corner tips, cloth runned along outer joints, a very good copy. (#170612).…

Original gray pictorial cloth, designed in black, brown, and beige. Spine lettered in gilt & brown, with handcuff design in brown. Publisher's device in black on the rear cover. Floral patterned end papers. Catalogue at the rear dated October, 1891. Frontispiece & five plates by Gordon Browne. Some wear & soiling of cloth, old stains to fore-edge of lower covers, a few page corners folded, a generally very good copy otherwise. A very scarce title.…

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. First edition. 8vo. Pp. 287, no publisher's catalogue. Blue decorated cloth with white lettering to the front cover, gilt spine lettering. Some loss to white picture to the front cover, dulled spine, with light rubbing to the spine ends, light foxing throughout but overall clean and the binding tight but slightly cocked. Nice copy overall, scarce.…

Half title, front., plates & illus. Orig. light brown cloth lettered in brown & black, blocked in silver gilt & black, spine lettered in gilt; extremities sl. rubbed, spine a little darkened. Glover & Greene 116; this edition does not have a dated title, but is in a variant brown cloth rather than grey. This is a collection of twelve short stories featuring Donovan, including 'The Chamber of Shadows', 'The Jewelled Skull', 'The Silver Dagger', and 'The Secrets of the Haunted House'. Joyce Emmerson Preston Muddock, 1843-1934, also known as James Edward Preston Muddock was a journalist and prolific writer of mystery and horror fiction, for a period he was as popular as Conan Doyle. Muddock travelled extensively while working as a journalist, including to India, China, the US and Australia. His most popular fictional character was Glasgow detective Dick Donovan, who he had named after an 18th century Bow Street Runner - as the detective's popularity grew, the stories were published under that name rather than Muddock's.…

First edition. Octavo, pp. [1-6] 1-304 + 8-page undated publisher's catalogue and 32-page catalogue dated "Feb. 1897" inserted at rear, original decorated dark blue cloth, front and spine panels stamped in silver, all edges untrimmed. Most of the stories are cases of the celebrated Russian detective related to fellow detective Dick Donovan. The last story, "The Clue of the Dead Hand," features detective Peter Brodie who investigates a murder and a simultaneous mysterious disappearance in Scotland at Corbie Hall, "a strange, weird sort of place . [with] an eeriness about it that was calculated to make one shudder." This story belongs as much in the (rationalized) ghost story genre as the detective story. It also involves a case of male impersonation. [Reference: Glover and Greene, Victorian Detective Fiction 111. Queen, The Detective Short Story, p. 34. Hubin (1994), p. 240]. Several small stains to front and rear cover, an attractive, nearly fine copy (28924).…

FIRST EDITION. Half title, front., plates & illus. Orig. light brown cloth lettered in brown & black, blocked in silver gilt & black, spine lettered in gilt; extremities sl. rubbed. A nice copy. Glover & Greene 116, but in a variant brown cloth, other early editions are undated. This is a collection of twelve short stories featuring Donovan, including 'The Chamber of Shadows', 'The Jewelled Skull', 'The Silver Dagger', and 'The Secrets of the Haunted House'. Joyce Emmerson Preston Muddock, 1843-1934, also known as James Edward Preston Muddock was a journalist and prolific writer of mystery and horror fiction, for a period he was as popular as Conan Doyle. Muddock travelled extensively while working as a journalist, including to India, China, the US and Australia. His most popular fictional character was Glasgow detective Dick Donovan, who he had named after an 18th century Bow Street Runner - as the detective's popularity grew, the stories were published under that name rather than Muddock's.…

First Edition. [Literature] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[8] 304; 8; 32. Publisher's ribbed navy cloth, silver titles and decoration to upper board and spine. Advertisements to rear. Green floral endpapers, edges untrimmed. A few unopened leaves in the advertisements. Moderate spotting throughout, mostly to preliminaries. Advertisements toned due to cheaper paper stock. A handful of neat closed tears and two small open ones to flyleaf and title-page. Gutter visible to pp.176-177. Cloth fine but for some gentle edgewear and marking to lower board. Very good. An espionage mystery featuring one of Donovan's returning characters Michael Danevitch; writing prolifically in the mystery and detective fiction genre, Donovan's works at one point rivalled Arthur Conan Doyle's in popularity.…

Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. First edition. Spine repair with new cloth under original, endpapers renewed. A solid copy of a scarce title by this prolific author. Appears to be lost race novel. The opening chapter "The Lake of Mystery" begins: "In one of the loneliest and most inaccessible parts of the Rocky Mountains of America is situated a strange lake or tarn.".…

First Edition. [Crime fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.vi; 345 [1]. With numerous halftone plates throughout, including a frontispiece. Publisher's green cloth, designs and titles in gilt and dark brown to upper board and spine. Top edge gilt. Interior clean but for some light, infrequent spotting - mostly to preliminaries. Endpapers gently toned. Textblock edges spotted. Patch of light discolouration to lower board. Mild edgewear. Very good. A romance based on the life of the fascinating Eugene Vidocq - a criminal who later became a police official. …

Hardcover. Condition: Very good. No jacket. First edition. First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. A mystery novel built around inheritance, secrecy and family conflict. A solid example of a novel from the late Victorian and Edwardian tradition of popular mystery fiction that bridged sensation novels and early detective stories. Some light foxing; covers a little rubbed and marked, spine slightly dulled. Book.…