Published

1939 February (7s 6d)

Notes

First edition was published by Newnes in February 1939 at 7/6 (TECB).

Red boards with titles in gilt to spine only. Priced at 7/6 to front flap only.

‘FIRST PUBLISHED . . . . February 1939’ to rear of title page.

Octavo, 7.5’ x 5’, pp252. One front free endpaper. One rear free endpaper.

The dustjacket was illustrated by ‘abbey’. No illustrations to text.

First cheap edition was published by Newnes in September 1939 at 3/6 to spine only. Mid-green boards with black titles to spine only.

Octavo, pp252, 7.5’ x 5.0’. One front free endpaper and one rear free endpaper.

The rear advertisement lists Arthur Hardy’s The Swordmaster at 3/6 rather than 7/6 seen on first edition dustjacket.

Newnes probably reprinted for several years from an unchanged text block. All editions seen have an unchanged printing statement. There is a more common 2/6 edition that adds to the usual Newnes confusion as The Swordmaster is priced at 7/6. Where does that fit in?

Newnes only published one Fergus Blane title. The blurb to the front flap of the dustjacket states ‘Written by a well-known fiction author under a pseudonym.’ Well-known in 1930s doesn’t necessarily mean much today but so far have been unable to identify the true author.

Any further information would be gratefully received - Contact.