Dr Frank King (40 results)

Condition: Acceptable. Item in acceptable condition! Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc.

Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority.

paperback. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority.

Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.

Paperback. Condition: As New. No Jacket. Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.

Condition: acceptable. Fairly worn, but readable and intact. If applicable: Dust jacket, disc or access code may not be included.

Condition: Very Good. Very Good Condition. Five star seller - Buy with confidence.

paperback. Condition: Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used textbooks may not include companion materials such as access codes, etc. May have some wear or writing/highlighting. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority.

Trade Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Paperback (No jacket). Some signs of wear but no defects. Light rubbing to bottom textblock.

Condition: Good. First. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.

Condition: Very Good. First. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.

Paperback. Condition: New.

Condition: New.

Condition: Very Good. First. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Prompt Shipment, shipped in Boxes, Tracking PROVIDEDvery good little creased though clean copy.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.

Hardcover. Condition: Fair. No Jacket. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.

Condition: New. King, Frank (illustrator).

Condition: New. King, Frank (illustrator).

Condition: New. Satisfaction Guaranteed or your money back.

Condition: Very Good. First post-war edition, new impression, hard back binding in publisher's original nutmeg cloth covers, green title and author lettering to the spine. 8vo. 7½'' x 5¼''. Contains 234 printed pages of text. Foxing to the closed text block edges and front end papers. Very Good condition book in Very Good condition period artwork dust wrapper with minor rubbing to the spine tips, not price clipped, 6s. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Member of the P.B.F.A. DETECTIVE | CRIME FICTION.…

Original Publisher's Softcove. Condition: Very Good (Firm binding; feat. Dust Jacket Condition: Not Issued (Features tipped-in. Pre-Publication Working Proof / Internat. THE AUTHOR'S/AGENCY'S PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS MASTER PROOF—MARKED FOR EUROPEAN RIGHTS DISTRIBUTION WITH COMPREHENSIVE ASSOCIATED EPHEMERA, HAND-PENCILED INTERNAL TEXT CORRECTIONS, AND DUAL 1957 & 1959 ROBERT HALE PUBLISHING DOCUMENTS.Octavo. A unique pre-publication working proof copy of Frank King's 1957 Clive Conrad "Dormouse" mystery thriller The Empty Flat, printed prior to the commercial first edition run by the Bristol Typesetting Company.INTERNATIONAL PROVENANCE & MOHRBOOKS ARCHIVE:This copy served as a vital master document for managing the author's international literary footprint. Pasted directly onto the inside front wrapper is a unique, pre-publication typed layout draft of the book's dust jacket synopsis flap. Crucially, this blurb is boldly stamped by the legendary European rights firm: "MOHRBOOKS / Literary Agency Rainer Heumann / Aschbach-Zürich", establishing this volume as the exact scouting copy used to negotiate mid-century continental translation rights. The front wrapper bears the neat matching archival inventory number "D1113".HANDWRITTEN EDITORIAL MARKINGS & BIBLIOGRAPHY REVISIONS:This proof contains active pre-publication corrections, including critical bibliographic and multi-chapter interior textual modifications:The Bibliography: The internal facing bibliography leaf features deliberate, active handwritten ink checkmarks (\(\checkmark \)) and elimination marks (X) next to listed titles in King's famous Doctor Frank King Investigations and Dormouse Books series, utilized to audit the author's active backlist inventory for international publishing contracts.The Interior Text: Sequential, granular proofreading marks appear deep within the text block. Pages 48 and 49 (Chapter VI) display hand-penciled paragraph indicators (¶) and layout brackets. Pages 60 and 61 (Chapter VII: "Sandy Topham") feature further active editorial interventions, including distinctive vertical pencil brackets and marginal tracking marks isolating critical lines of narrative dialogue.COMPLETE ARCHIVAL DUAL-DOCUMENTATION PROVENANCE:Preserved alongside the proof copy are two original, authentic typed publisher's statements tracing the entire financial history of the work:1957 Statement of Sales: Dated 1st January, 1958, tracking the initial launch period for the six months ended 31st December, 1957. Addressed via Pearn Pollinger & Higham Ltd, it explicitly notes the exact publication date as 13th February, 1957, the retail price of 10/6, and precise initial inventory carry-forwards (389 copies in stock).1959 Royalty Statement: Issued for the six-month period ending 31st December, 1959. Addressed via David Higham Associates Ltd, mapping the late-stage commercial tail and charting the mid-century transition of the author's agency representation.CONDITION REPORT:The Proof Copy: Very Good. Bound in its original light blue printed paper proof wrappers. The spine is uncreased, tight, and completely intact. The binding remains square and solid. Interior pages show minor, completely natural uniform age-toning but are exceptionally crisp and clean.The Ephemera Documents: Near Fine. Both single-page publisher's sheets are exceptionally clean and crisp with original folding lines, remaining entirely bold and flawlessly legible throughout.An extraordinary, irreplaceable crossover archive of mid-century detective fiction and post-war international publishing history.…

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. THE AUTHOR'S PERSONAL COPY — AN UNRIVALED CRIME FICTION ASSOCIATION ARTIFACT Linking A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION DIRECTLY TO HIS INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING LEGACY.Octavo. First hardcover printing of the Dutch translation of Frank King's 1957 espionage thriller, originally published in the UK as The Case of the Vanishing Artist.PROVENANCE & ASSOCIATION EPHEMERA:This museum-grade volume possesses ultimate authorial provenance, preserved intact with its original typed literary agency presentation slip from the historic London firm Pearn, Pollinger & Higham, Ltd. (76 Dean Street, Soho, London, W.1.).Crucially, the slip is explicitly addressed directly to the author at his personal residence and medical practice: "Dr. Frank King, 3 Rhodes Street, Halifax, Yorks."Dated 16 May, 1958, the typed memo reads in full:"3 presentation copies of the Dutch edition of THE CASE OF THE VANISHING ARTIST published by Van Kersen under the title DE SINISTERE MR. BROWN at f.3,75 paper bound, and f.4,50 per hard bound copy."This specific volume represents one of those three pristine, deluxe hardcover copies delivered straight into the author's hands upon international publication.CONDITION REPORT:The Book: Very Good. Bound in the publisher's original teal cloth boards, featuring a sharp, unrubbed gold-gilt stamped silhouette of a man in a wide-brimmed hat on the front cover. A remarkable, premium production feature of this copy is the uniform, vibrant green publisher's stain applied to all three page edges (top, fore, and bottom), which remains exceptionally bright, clean, and free from moisture fading. Spine ends show minor, light pushing; corners remain sharp and unbumped. The binding is tight, square, and completely solid. Internally crisp and bright throughout. Title page notes the original English title with copyright by A. L. Van Kersen, 's-Gravenhage. Entirely free from subsequent ownership inscriptions, bookplates, or library stamps.The Dust Jacket: Very Good. Housed in the original illustrated dust jacket featuring the summary flap in Dutch. Crucially, the jacket is completely intact and unclipped, proudly displaying the original publisher's dual price point (Ingenaaid f 3,75 / Gebonden f 4,50) matching the presentation slip perfectly. The white spine panel remains exceptionally bright, clean, and unfaded, with bold, crisp blue lettering. Shows just a tiny nick at the head of the spine and minor, expected light edge rubbing.The Presentation Slip: Near Fine. The typed slip remains clean and crisp with original folding lines, completely legible and perfectly preserved alongside the volume.A singular, unrepeatable association copy linking a founding pillar of mid-century British detective fiction directly to his international publishing history. Uniquely suited for institutional display or the cornerstone of an advanced crime fiction collection.…

Loose Sheets / Unbound Archite. Condition: Very Good / Archival Stable. First Edition / Unique Archival Documen. KING, Dr. Frank (1892-1958). Original 1939 BBC Correspondence and Complete 22-Page Typewritten Literary Treatise/Manuscript: "THRILLERS".Halifax & Manchester, March 1939. An exceptionally rare, unique primary resource pairing an authentic administrative piece of mid-century broadcasting history with the full, complete text of a Golden Age mystery novelist's theoretical lecture.Archive Composition & Collation:The Official BBC Correspondence: One page, quarto, typed on official British Broadcasting Corporation letterhead (Head Office: Broadcasting House, London; regional markers for Piccadilly, Manchester). Dated 23rd March, 1939. Addressed to Dr. Frank King at 3 Rhodes Street, Halifax, Yorkshire. Explicitly references the enclosed speech, textually stating: "I think your speech should be very entertaining. I read it with much pleasure. I shall remember it if ever we need anything of this kind." Signed by initials block DFB/DR in crisp blue fountain ink.The "THRILLERS" Title Enclosure Page: One page, explicitly bearing the author's credentials typed upper left: Frank King, Halifax.The Complete Lecture/Treatise Manuscript: Twenty-two consecutive pages, typed on period-accurate carbon-copy paper stock. Paginated 1 through 22, presenting the entire, continuous analytical layout of King's text.Scholarly & Literary Content Highlights:Dr. Frank King was a remarkably prolific British physician and Golden Age detective novelist best known for his long-running "The Dormouse" detective series. This exhaustive 22-page document forms a comprehensive, insider critique on the structural mechanics of the interwar thriller genre:The Dormouse & Alice Character Mechanics (Pages 21-22): King provides a deep, multi-page defense of his iconic series leads, responding directly to public criticisms. On page 21, he addresses complaints regarding Alice's weapon concealment, noting she "always carries a tiny revolver tucked beneath her garter." He humorously details the logistics of 1930s women's fashion, responding to fans who state "girls don't wear garters nowadays" by suggesting Alice wears a garter solely for her firearm while relying on standard suspenders for her stockings.The Tension of Domesticity vs. Crime (Pages 21-22): King explains the emotional dynamics between his characters, revealing that while Alice's love seems unrequited, The Dormouse secretly knows she loves him and loves her in return. He notes the structural constraint of the series: "marriage would mean the end of his criminal career. He'd have to settle down and become respectable." On page 22, he underscores this creative challenge, stating that if his protagonist ever fully settles down, he will face the ultimate writer's challenge of creating a brand-new character.The Philosophy of Crime Writing (Page 14): King analyzes the high moral demands of the audience, contrasting the legal real-world loop with fiction: "There is no such thing as acquittal for want of sufficient evidence in the thriller world. It is very much more moral than real life." He further maps the popular genre trope of the brilliant amateur investigator outsmarting the "stupid police" due to a private eye being entirely unfettered by institutional red tape.The Edgar Wallace Lore (Page 2): Provides extensive contemporary anecdotes tracking the phenomenal writing speeds and editorial legends surrounding the titan of the industry, Edgar Wallace, including a humorous incident detailing an editor from the Manchester Guardian attempting to commission a piece from Wallace while he was actively penning a fresh novel.Condition Report:Archive presents in overall Very Good vintage condition. Paper stock is structurally sound, clean, and has been meticulously stored flat. Natural uniform age-toning and historic fold lines present from original 1939 posting. The top margin of the BBC letterhead exhibits a localized, superficial vintage paperclip rust imprint, adding to its authentic archival character. Text remains sharp. (Reference to the BBC authoriz.…

Original Publisher's Softcove. Condition: Very Good (Completely firm an. Dust Jacket Condition: Not Issued (Features tipped-in. Pre-Publication Working Master Proof. THE AUTHOR'S PERSONAL WORKING PROOF FEATURING SIGNIFICANT MANUSCRIPT TEXTUAL REVISIONS BY FRANK KING, ACCOMPANIED BY THE ORIGINAL 1954 ROBERT HALE SALES STATEMENT DETAILING DEFINITIVE INITIAL PRINTING RUN STATISTICAL METRICS.Octavo. A singular, highly important pre-publication working proof copy of Frank King's 1954 classic noir/mystery thriller Big Blackmail, printed prior to the commercial first edition run by B.T. Co., Bristol.MANUSCRIPT CORRECTIONS IN THE AUTHOR'S HAND:This is Frank King's private copy used to finalize the dialogue and text flow before the final print run. It displays multiple handwritten editorial interventions in ink and pencil deep within the text block:Pages 36 & 37: Features a deletion margin symbol (d) paired with specific text layout modification bars on page 36. On page 37, the author has utilized a prominent caret symbol (\(\land \)) to handwrite a critical dialogue modification ("object") directly into the left-hand margin, altering the text block mid-sentence.Page 64: Features a substantial and highly important line-level text modification. The author has struck through a print formatting error and utilized an insertion caret (\(\land \)) to handwrite the colloquial dialogue word "bibful" directly into the right margin ("Quite a bibful," muttered Alice.), modifying the line before final publication.Pages 68 & 69: Marks the transition into Chapter X ("Attack in the Dark"). Features active text-block tracking with a distinct hand-penciled margin stroke (/) flagging a critical segment of investigative dialogue concerning the post-mortem results of George Haldane.ACCOMPANYING ARCHIVAL SALES & ACCOUNT RECORD:Preserved alongside the proof copy is the original, authentic full-sheet Robert Hale Limited Statement of Sales & Account document (No. 1609), dated 28th October, 1954, for the six-month period ended 30th June, 1954. Addressed to "Dr. Frank King c/o Messrs Pearn Pollinger & Higham Ltd," this archival ledger reveals unprinted, highly critical bibliographical data:Definitive Publication Date: Officially recorded as 19th May, 1954.Launch Retail Price: 9/6 net.Exact Initial Print Statistics: Confirms a strictly limited initial printing of exactly 3,750 copies, with a meticulous breakdown mapping domestic sales (2,255), export sales (887), review/presentation copies (84), and ending stock on hand (449).CONDITION REPORT:The Proof Copy: Very Good. Housed in the original publisher's buff-colored printed paper proof wrappers. The spine is uncreased, tight, and completely intact; the binding remains square and solid. Interior pages show a minor, natural uniform age-toning but are exceptionally crisp and clean, highlighting a beautiful woodcut firing-revolver publishing vignette on the title page.The Sales Document: Near Fine. The single-page publisher's ledger sheet is remarkably clean and crisp with original folding lines, remaining completely bold and flawlessly legible with all original accounting tick marks.A premier, museum-tier archive that captures the complete genesis and publishing lifecycle of a mid-century British detective thriller.…

Original Publisher's Softcove. Condition: Very Good (Completely sound. Dust Jacket Condition: Not Issued (Features tipped-in. Pre-Publication Working Master Proof. 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. Association Copy.…

Hardcover. Condition: Good+ / Very Good (Note: Front. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. A MAGNIFICENT WARTIME DETECTIVE FICTION SURVIVAL. INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR AT THE EXACT TIME OF PUBLICATION AND ACCOMPANIED BY THE PUBLISHER'S OFFICIAL ARCHIVAL STATEMENT OF SALES EPHEMERA.Octavo. First Edition, First Printing of Frank King's 1940 classic detective thriller featuring his red-headed almoner-sleuth, Molly O'Rourke.AUTOGRAPH INSCRIPTION & UNIQUE PROVENANCE:This exceptional copy features a contemporary handwritten inscription by the author in blue ink: "Halifax. Feb. 1940." This date perfectly aligns with the book's official launch week of February 12th, 1940. The inscription is penned on the verso side of the remaining lower portion of the front blank flyleaf stub.ARCHIVAL STATEMENT OF SALES EPHEMERA INCLUDED:Accompanying the book is the original, authentic typed Robert Hale Limited Statement of Sales document, dated January 1st, 1941. Addressed to "Dr Frank King c/o Messrs Pearn, Pollinger and Higham Ltd," this archival document outlines the exact sales and printing history for Molly on the Spot up to December 31st, 1940. It reveals a highly limited print run of just 2,000 copies, with 756 copies remaining in stock at the end of the year, alongside a meticulous breakdown of review copies, library sales, and royalties payable to the author.CONDITION REPORT:The Book: Good+ to Very Good. Bound in the publisher's sharp, original black cloth boards. The spine features striking, crisp red stamped lettering and a clean silver-and-white graphic of a firing revolver. The cloth remains clean, unfaded, and firm with sharp corners. The binding is remarkably tight, square, and structurally sound. Internally, the front blank flyleaf (the blank sheet immediately preceding the half-title page) has been roughly torn out horizontally, likely by a previous owner or the author to remove a highly personal dedication name. Crucially, the lower portion of this torn flyleaf sheet remains securely bound into the gutter, flawlessly preserving the author's handwritten ink, location, and date. The actual printed half-title page ("MOLLY ON THE SPOT"), title page, and the rest of the text block are 100% complete, untouched, and free from any missing text. Pages show minor uniform age-toning but are otherwise clean and firmly bound throughout.The Dust Jacket: Very Good+. An astonishingly well-preserved example of a fragile wartime jacket. The vibrant front panel artwork remains bright and striking, and the white jacket spine is exceptionally clean with no heavy browning or sun-fading. Shows only a minute touch of rubbing to the head of the spine. Crucially, the jacket is completely intact and unclipped, proudly retaining its original front-flap price of 8s. 3d. net.The Sales Statement Ephemera: Near Fine. The single-page publisher's document is clean and crisp, retaining its original folding lines with all ink stamps and typewriter text bold and flawlessly legible.An absolute museum-tier rarity for collectors of Golden Age and mid-century British detective fiction. A tighter, more comprehensive package of authorial and publisher provenance is impossible to find. …

Condition: Very Good. Second edition hard back binding in publisher's original strawberry cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back and smoking gun motif. 12mo. 7½'' x 5¼''. Contains 248 pp. Spine sun faded. Very Good condition book in Very Good condition dust wrapper, not price clipped, 6/-. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Member of the P.B.F.A. DETECTIVE | CRIME FICTION. …