TOPPER: AN IMPROBABLE ADVENTURE.
New York: Robert M. McBride & Company, 1926. Octavo, pp. [1-12] 1-292, jacket illustration by C.V. Farrow, original brick red cloth, front and spine stamped in gold, top edge stained yellow, fore edge uncut, bottom edge rough cut. First edition. The first Cosmo Topper adventure. Mired in his middle class life Cosmo Topper purchases a used car, in which George and Marion Kerby were driving when they died in an accident. In visiting the spot of the crash the ghosts of the Kerby's appear and "torment" Topper in a farcical manner (from an online entry by David Langford on Thorne Smith). Basis for the 1937 film starring Cary Grant and Constance Bennett as the Kerby's and Roland Young as Topper. [Reference: Barron (ed), Fantasy Literature 3-328. Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 1494. Survey of Modern Fantasy Literature IV, pp. 1958-62. Bleiler (1978), p. 182. Reginald 13395]. From the library of a well-known mystery writer with his library stamp on the front paste-down, rear corners bruised, a nearly fine copy in a very good dust jacket with small closed tears to the upper front and rear panels, a 60 mm diagonal closed tear to the lower front panel, wear with loss at corner tips, wear with fraying and shallow loss at head of spine panel, overall rubbing to black ink background and soiling to rear panel. Still a presentable copy. (33870). Item #33870
Price: $1,500.00