Books

"The Big Sleep" by Raymond Chandler. London: Hamish Hamilton, [1939]. First English edition, first printing. Octavo. [10], 301, [3] pages. Publisher's black cloth ruled on covers and lettered in reddish orange. Spine slightly dulled, minor wear to extremities; some occasional foxing. Very good. And "Farewell, My Lovely" by Raymond Chandler. London: Hamish Hamilton, [1940]. First English edition, first printing. Octavo. 320 pages. Circulation Library card pasted, spine darkened and leaned, front panel of original dust jacket mounted on front cover, front flap mounted on pastedown, circulation and other forms mounted on front free endpaper and half-title; some spotting internally. Fair. Rare combination of the first UK editions of Chandler first two Marlowe detective novels.

The Big Sleep is a hardboiled crime novel by Raymond Chandler, the first in his acclaimed series about detective Philip Marlowe. The story is set in Los Angeles and follows Marlowe as he investigates a complex case involving blackmail, mystery, and murder, which begins with a wealthy general who is being blackmailed and needs Marlowe's help.