Published

1939 (February) @ 7s 6d [1xFFEP, pp252, 1xBFEP, Octavo 7.5’x5’]

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.

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

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

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

Newnes probably reprinted for several years from an unchanged text block. All editions seen have an unchanged ‘first edition’ 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 a single 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 known today but so far unable to identify the true author.

Any further information would be gratefully received - Contact.