Bell, Neil (pseudonym of Stephen Southwold, a pen name for Stephen H. Critten). One Came Back. London: Collins Publishers, 1938. First edition, first binding. Octavo, pp. [1-8] 9-10 [11-12] 13-416. Original navy blue cloth, spine panel stamped in gold, bottom edge untrimmed. Faint foxing to edges of text block, and a few leaves near the endpapers, else a fine copy in fine dust jacket. #306. $45. The jacket bears no price, nor has anything been clipped from the jacket. The rear flap gives notice of "The Southwold Edition," a new uniform edition of Bell's novels priced at 5s each, listing five titles but not this one. The absence of a price on the jacket is mysterious, but the preponderance of evidence still points to this being the first edition, first issue. The 5-shilling remainder issues are generally marked as such and, like all cheaper issues, are usually bound in cheaper cloth with all edges trimmed and no gilt stamping. "Episodic political and religious fantasy; blind politician dies and is seemingly resurrected, replete with visions of Heaven, which he endeavors to realize on earth as a new messiah. Investigation reveals the resurrection to be natural, the visions subconscious memories of literary imagery." - Robert Knowlton. "One Came Back might well be reckoned the best of all Bell's novels were it not for its particular theme ." Stableford, Scientific Romance in Britain 1890-1950, pp. 225. Bleiler Checklist (1978), p. 19. Reginald 01051. Seller Inventory # 306

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Bibliographic Details

Title: One Came Back

Publisher: Collins Publishers, London

Publication Date: 1938

Binding: Hardback

Condition: Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: Fine

Edition: First Edition.

Store Description

When I began my bookselling business in 1996 I called it "Eldritch Books" because that adjective at least partly covered the type of material I offered (and because its similarity to my own surname seemed so -- eldritch). "Ghost stories" would be another handy, if somewhat reductive, term. Most of it is fiction from the 19th and early 20th century with a strong emphasis on the fantastic. Since the most familiar and relevant genre terms in use today -- "science fiction," "fantasy," "supernatural," "horror" -- were not so much in use when these books were first published, pegging them that way can be anachronistic. But that should give you the general idea. I don't have much in the way of American pulp (either in magazine or specialty press book form) but otherwise my interests range widely from high-brow to middle-brow to low-brow to amateur/eccentric. You're more likely to find rare and obscure works here than high spots. (Or at least they're obscure now, whatever their status was when first published.) In 2001 I went to work for L. W. Currey as cataloguer and general assistant. Since 2014 I've been back working on my own. I have exhibited at convention fairs (such as WFC and Readercon) in the past. I began collecting and studying antiquarian fantasy around 1980. Some of my essays have appeared in genre publications such as NYRSF, Wormwood and F&SF. I tend to carefully research my inventory and write extensive notes. (If another dealer wishes to make use of any of these notes, I'd appreciate the courtesy of putting such excerpts in quotes and giving proper attribution to me. That's what I do when I quote from any of my reference works.) I will be gradually listing my inventory on ABE over the coming years. I hope you find something of interest.

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Robert Eldridge, Bookseller
NY, U.S.A.

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Robert Eldridge
P. O. Box 293
Elizabethtown NY 12932
USA.
Tel: 518-873-9966.
Email: rfx51@charter.net.

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I ship only by U.S. Postal Service. All shipments are packed carefully and mailed with insurance and (for domestic shipments) tracking information. Except where specified for extra large items, rates are: Domestic (within USA) Media Mail: $5. Domestic Priority: $10. International First Class (must be under 4 lbs.): $25. International Global Priority (...

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