RED HARVEST by HAMMETT, Dashiell:

New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 1929. First edition, first printing. First edition, first printing. Inscribed presentation copy of the author's first book. Publisher's original red cloth with yellow skull and crossbones to the upper panel and titles blocked in black and yellow to the spine, without the rare dustwrapper. A very good copy, the binding firm, the spine slightly rolled with a little rubbing, bumping and minute fraying at the spine tips. The contents are entirely complete, without loose or torn pages or previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Housed in a purpose made cloth solander case. Inscribed by the author in blue ink on the second blank endpaper "Billy Greer Hobson, keep / a notebook and pencil - / the story of the other / fellows' crime pays. / Dashiell Hammett". With the bookplate of the recipient to the front pastedown. A superb presentation copy of the author's debut novel, a landmark in hard-boiled crime fiction and rare in inscribed state. We are aware of just two other examples: the Joseph T. Shaw dedication copy, also lacking the dustwrapper (sold twice: Swann Auction Galleries, 25th May 2006 ($66,7000 inc premium) and Sotheby's New York October 20th, 2011 ($74,500 inc premium); and a copy in jacket inscribed "To Nora" sold privately. Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.