Two first editions: Maugham, Ashenden, 1928; Cain, The Postman Always Rings Twice, 1934

Crime and Genre Fiction

Two first editions:

i) Maugham, W. Somerset. Ashenden. Or the British Agent. London: William Heinemann, 1928. 8vo, FIRST EDITION, half-title, fly-title, original gilt-stamped green cloth, DUST-JACKET, collector's cloth slipcase with printed label on spine,

ii) Cain, James M. The Postman Always Rings Twice. New York: Alred A. Knopf, 1934. 8vo, FIRST EDITION, half-title, original orange cloth blocked in blue, top edge blue, DUST-JACKET, collector's blue-folding box, dust-jacket worn at extremities

ASHENDEN WAS A HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL COLLECTION OF SPY STORIES WHICH INSPIRED A WHOLE GENERATION OF WRITERS, including Ian Fleming, John le Carre and Eric Ambler. The Postman Always Rings Twice, Cain's first novel, was a key early example of a hard-boiled American thriller. 

LITERATURE:

i) Stott A37a

PROVENANCE:

i) Stuart B Schimmel (his bookplate)