Hard-boiled Crime Fiction from Royal Books, Inc.

New York: Simon and Schuster, 1941. First Edition. First Edition. The author's second mystery, basis for the 1942 film noir "Street of Chance," starring Burgess Meredith and Claire Trevor. Near Fine in an about Near Fine dust jacket. Jacket spine panel lightly faded, with minor rubbing at the spine ends and a couple of corners. … Read more about this item

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1937. First Edition. First Edition. In the green-and-purple variant of the jacket, one of three color designs issued simultaneously. The author's bleakest noir, and his final masterpiece, the tale of an opera tenor who runs to Mexico to flee from professional disgrace, meets a girl there, and then attempts a triumphant return… Read more about this item

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1949. First Edition. First Edition. Basis for the 1950 film noir directed and adapted for the screen by John Huston, starring Sterling Hayden, Sam Jaffe, and Marilyn Monroe. Very Good plus in a Very Good plus dust jacket. Board edges lightly rubbed and toned. Jacket lightly edgeworn, with a short closed tear on… Read more about this item

Greenwich, CT: Gold Medal, 1965. First Edition. No. K-1502. First Edition, a paperback original. Cover art by Barye Phillips, who drew many important covers during the vintage paperback era for Avon, Dell, Pocket Books, and after 1955, Bantam. Very Good plus in wrappers. Slight lean, with creases along the spine. Holroyd, p. 285.

New York: Crown Publishers, 1972. First hardcover edition, preceded by a paperback original published by Chicago Paperback House in 1962. Basis for the 1972 Monte Hellman film, for which Willeford wrote the screenplay and played a key supporting role, and starred Warren Oates in a little-known but brilliant performance as Mansfield. Fine in a Near… Read more about this item

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1956. First Edition. First Edition. INSCRIBED by the author to noted book dealer, editor, and publisher Otto Penzler on the front endpaper: "Santa Barbara, Calif. / Sep. 8 1977 / To Otto Penzler / whose interest in this and other books of mine is a source of keen pleasure to me / Warmest regards… Read more about this item

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1961. First Edition. First Edition. Presentation copy, INSCRIBED in the month and year of publication to philosopher and writer Marshall McLuhan and his wife Corinne by the author, under his real name (Kenneth Millar), on the front endpaper: "May 1961 / For the Marshall McLuhans, who have been so kind to these Archer books,… Read more about this item

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1960. First Edition. First Edition. SIGNED on the front endpaper. An attractive copy of this non-Lew Archer thriller, featuring young California lawyer Bill Gunnarson. Fine in a Very Good plus dust jacket. Jacket has two pinholes on the bottom flap folds, and offsetting on the flap corners from old tape,… Read more about this item

London: Cassell, 1958. First UK Edition. INSCRIBED by the author on the front endpaper: "To Jake Zeithlin / with best wishes / Ken Millar / (Ross Macdonald)." The seventh book in the Lew Archer series. Generally considered the turning point in Macdonald's writing, where the author eclipsed the influence of Hammett and Chandler and found a distinctive… Read more about this item

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1964. First Edition. First Edition. INSCRIBED by the author to noted magazine editor and music critic Paul Nelson on the front endpaper: "New York / Apr. 27, 1976 / For Paul Nelson / in friendship / Ken." Paul Nelson worked as a music critic, magazine editor, and record executive for over five decades.… Read more about this item

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1950. First Edition. First Edition. SIGNED by the author on the title page. The second Lew Archer novel, basis for the 1975 film, the second of two Lew Archer adaptations featuring Paul Newman in the lead role (renamed "Harper"). Very Good plus in a Very Good plus dust jacket. Boards… Read more about this item

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1976. First Edition. First Edition. SIGNED by the author on the front endpaper. The 18th Lew Archer novel. Board edges lightly faded, else about Near Fine in a Near Fine dust jacket.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954. First Edition. First Edition. The fifth Lew Archer novel. Very Good plus in a Very Good plus dust jacket. Corners and spine ends lightly worn and bumped. Jacket spine panel lightly faded, with a few scratches on the bottom portion of the front panel. Scarce.

London: Collins Crime Club, 1965. First UK Edition, preceded by the First US Edition published by Knopf the same year. SIGNED by the author on the endpaper. Near Fine in a lightly edgeworn, about Near Fine dust jacket. Bookplate of noted collector Adrian Homer Goldstone on the front pastedown.

New York: E.P. Dutton, 1951. First Edition. First Edition. The fifth Mike Hammer novel. Very Good plus lacking dust jacket. Slight lean to the spine, with light rubbing to the extremities, with silver title block on spine bright and unaffected. A very presentable copy.

New York: Appleton-Century, 1947. First Edition. First Edition. David Goodis' fourth book, one of five hardcover titles published prior to the author's permanent switch in preference to the world of paperback originals. Near Fine in an about Very Good dust jacket. Jacket has a small chip on the top left corner of the front panel and a… Read more about this item

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1934. First Edition. First Edition. The author's seminal first novel, a cornerstone of hard-boiled fiction that was filmed twice: first in 1946 with John Garfield and Lana Turner, and more nihilistically, with a David Mamet screenplay, in 1981 with Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange. James M. Cain's initial title for the book… Read more about this item

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1930. First Edition. First Edition. Perhaps the most influential single work in solidifying the conventions, style, and character of hard-boiled fiction, both a cornerstone and highlight of any collection of twentieth century fiction. Basis for three film adaptations between 1931 and 1941-the 1941 groundbreaking adaptation by John Huston starring Humphrey Bogart legendary… Read more about this item

New York: Julian Messner, 1947. First Edition. First Edition. Basis for the 1956 film directed by Jacques Tourneur, starring Aldo Ray, Anne Bancroft, and Brian Keith. Near Fine in a Near Fine, price-clipped example of the fragile dust jacket. An exceptional copy, with only a bit of rubbing to the spine ends and a hint of fading… Read more about this item

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1966. First Edition. First Edition. Dedication Copy, INSCRIBED by the author to the book's dedicatee, writer and environmental activist Robert Easton, on the dedication page a month prior to publication: "King Kondor! / and a man I consider myself fortunate to know / Ken / Santa Barbara / December 1965." Easton and Kenneth… Read more about this item