Manhattan Love Song (First Edition) by Woolrich, Cornell - 1932

New York: William Godwin, 1932. First Edition. First Edition.

Woolrich's sixth book, and the scarcest. This copy, as does every copy we have seen of this title (a total of 4 including this one in 15 years) has had its jacket flaps glued to the pastedowns as well as a 1/16-inch trim, leading most collectors and dealers (including Otto Penzler) to suppose that the short-lived publishing house of William Godwin may have issued the book only to libraries, and that indeed the publisher may have affixed the flaps prior to issuance.

Listed in Hubin as a crime novel, as it does have crime elements, though it is still essentially a romance novel, one of 6 "jazz age" titles penned by the noted author at the beginning of his career before turning to the crime fiction that would mark his fame.

Fair to Good in a Good dust jacket. "Globe Library" stamps on the endpapers, as well as a generic stamp reading "THIS BOOK NEVER SOLD" on the rear pastedown (supporting our supposition regarding the book's issuance). Apart from the aforementioned affixed flaps and 1/16-inch trim to the top edge of the jacket, this particular jacket has been affixed to a Globe Library card backing that reads on its verso: "READERS OF GOOD FICTION LOOK FOR THE / [logo for Globe Circulating Library]" (opposite the jacket front panel) and an illustration of a silhouetted couple holding hands in a window (opposite the jacket spine panel and rear panel).