Books

Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York. 1962. 220 pages. First Edition stated, first printing. Hand-signed by Dick Francis on an adhesive-backed bookplate loosely laid-in. Also laid-in is an original rare 1962 Rinehart Suspense Novel bookmark with the Running Man logo that lists Dick Francis' Dead Cert as a current title, with other titles as well as titles "coming in February." Book is tight. Binding and hinges are strong and sound. Endpapers are clean with faint toning spots. Small vintage bookseller sticker underneath flap on front pastedown. Minor soiling to page edges. Original DJ with $3.50 price intact on flap. DJ flaps show faint toning spots. DJ shows rubbing along edges. Thin closed tear line upper front edge. DJ rear shows light soiling with faint red marks at base of DJ. Dead Cert is Dick Francis's first novel, published in 1962. Considered by many to be one of the top 100 Must-Read Crime Novels of all time. Dick Francis burst out of the starting gate as Britain's answer to Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. First edition, first printing, of Dick Francis' first novel and mystery, signed on a loosely laid-in bookplate with rare original 1962 promo bookmark listing Dead Cert as a Rinehart Suspense Novel of Distinction; and how right they were. VG/VG-.