The Devil Held the Aces (Only Signed Copy)

Patrick Doncaster

Published by W.H. Allen, London, 1944

Condition: Used - Very good Hardcover

Save for Later

Sold by Rareeclectic, Pound ridge, NY, U.S.A.

AbeBooks Seller since 16 January 2015

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars

View this seller's items

View all copies of this book

Used - Hardcover

Condition: Used - Very good

Price:

� 99.67

Free Shipping
Ships within U.S.A.

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Save for Later

About this Item

This book is extremely rare. The presence of its dust jacket makes it singularly unique. And once listed, it will also be the Only signed copy for sale on the Internet. This was the author's first novel. There isn't a date of publication in the book, but a bit of research revealed that it was published in 1944. The signed inscription, on the first front end paper, is dated 1947. The inscription reads: 'With all good wishes to Elliott B. Macrae-- Patrick Doncaster, London, 27 Feb 1947.' Happily, the book is in very nice shape. You can see the green covers in the photos. There isn't any conspicuous staining of soiling. The black lettering on the spine is reasonably bright and quite legible. The corners have only a bit of mild rubbing. The spine ends a tiny bit of color fade. The edges look very good. The book is solidly bound from cover to cover with nicely tight pages throughout and nicely tight covers as well. The interior of the book is in very nice shape. The first page of each chapter has a small square illustration (the illustrator is not identified). The pages are very clean. I saw one very tiny spot just off the top edge of two sides of the same page, far from the print. I didn't see any conspicuous creasing. There are no markings. No attachments. And with the exception of the author's signed inscription, no one has written their name or anything else anywhere in the book. I've had the dust jacket in a fitted protective cover for as long as I've owned the book. You can see the jacket in the first few photos. It's held up pretty nicely. There are a few tears off the front bottom edge. There is a thin bit of loss across the top edge of the spine. There's some color fade off the front top and bottom edges. The lettering and design looks good. The flaps are in quite solid condition and very clean. The jacket is NOT price-clipped, not clipped at all. From the dust jacket: 'Publishers Note: Soon after the war began, we decided as a matter of policy, to publish no fiction unless, and until, we happened across a work that would really justify our debut into this rather overcrowded field. It seemed probable that the war itself would provide all the thrills and adventure that most readers could usefully absorb, and in any case it would need a mighty fine piece of imaginative writing to compete with the high drama of unfolding events in everyday life. But the outstanding effort we were looking for seemed to elude us. Then one day recently our chief reader passed on a manuscript to which he attached the trenchant comment: "This looks like it." The writer was a young English journalist (serving in the armed forces) and this was his first novel. It was rather short as novels go and it was written in the clipped conversational style that American novelists do so well and which English authors imitate, as a rule, so feebly. But this work stood up to all the tests for story-value, originality, emotional content, suspense and the other things by which a book is appraised. Here was a taut, impressive narrative set against the vivid background of the historic traek across Flanders to the beaches of Dunkirk. It was stark; it was colourful; it was shatteringly frank in parts, but it all rang true. It sounded too real to be fiction. Yet it wasn't merely another tale of the battle and the glory. Fact had been blended with romance for throughout the tangled pattern of war and misery and heartache the author had deftly woven the silken threads of the tender and tragic love story. The chief merit of this excellent first novel lies in its simple sincerity. It is a story of a soldier's deep and abiding faith in something beyond the crudities and vexations of ordinary life. Amid the horror of war he found his soul; it was sublimated by a great love-- a "love that will outlive all the world's and all the wars." '.

Seller Inventory # 003396

Contact seller

Report this item

Bibliographic Details

Title

The Devil Held the Aces (Only Signed Copy)

Publisher

W.H. Allen, London

Publication Date

1944

Binding

Hardcover

Condition

Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition

Good

Signed

Inscribed by Author(s)

Seller catalogs

Store Description

Many of the books I will be selling can accurately be described as ranging from somewhat rare to very rare. In some cases there won't be another copy for sale anywhere on the Internet. There doesn't seem much point, for you or me, in offering something that so many others are already offering. Subject matter will range very widely, creating the possibility for people with very different interests to find something that excites them. As regards pricing, my primary goal is to sell the book. Most often I would expect my book to be the least expensive option on the Internet taking into account an appropriate comparison(what is the condition, is the dust jacket present, is the book signed, is it a first printing, etc.). More important than selling the book I want to make sure that you know, as much as is possible, exactly what you are getting. To that end, you'll notice that my descriptions of condition tend to be lengthy, and that there will always be photographs to help you draw your own conclusions. Please feel free to contact me with any questions about a given book. As regards international shipping, the first class or standard rates I charge are based on a package weight between 2 and 3 pounds. If the book is on the thin side there is a possibility that I can securely pack it up under 2 pounds in weight. If so, the shipping price will drop by around $11.00 or $12.00 to $26.00-27.00. Canada, which is less expensive drops to $18.00. You can contact me before purchasing a book for an estimate on the shipping cost. If you buy the book and it weighs in below 2 pounds you'll get a Reduced Shipping message and amount with the invoice and you'll see the lowered final cost before you make your payment.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Rareeclectic
NY, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the AbeBooks web sites. If you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date. If you've changed your mind about a book that you've ordered, please use the Ask bookseller a question link to contact us and we'll respond within 2 business days. This does not affect your statutory consumer rights includ...

More Information

Right of cancellation

If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION

Statutory Right to cancel

You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, Rareeclectic, P.O. 155, 10576, pound ridge, New York, U.S.A., 1 347-675-2712, of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.

Effects of cancellation

If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or Rareeclectic, PO Box 155, 10576-0092, Pound Ridge, New York, U.S.A., 1 347-675-2712, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of cancellation

The right of cancellation does not apply to:

the delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
the supply of digital content (including ebooks) which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not cancel it once delivery had started.

Model withdrawal form

(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)

To: (Rareeclectic, P.O. 155, 10576, pound ridge, New York, U.S.A., 1 347-675-2712)

I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),

Ordered on (*)/received on (*)

Name of consumer(s)

Address of consumer(s)

Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)

Date

* Delete as appropriate.

Shipping Terms

Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	3 to 10 business days	2 to 6 business days
First item	� 0.00	� 9.68

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Payment Methods

Add to Wants