Room to Swing

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1957. Very Good/Very Good. The 1957 stated 1st edition of this Edgar Award-winning detective novel, purportedly the first work of detective fiction starring an African-American lead private eye, in this case Toussaint Moore. A solid, prefectly serviceable copy. Tight and VG, with light lean at the spine and the removal of a bookplate at the rear endpaper, showing the remnants of glue. And in a crisp, price-intact ($2.95), VG dustjacket, with very light chipping and creasing along the spine ends and the panel edges, light rubbing to the front panel and a bit of soiling at the rear panel. Still though, an appealing copy. Octavo, the stylish jacket design by Boill Hughes. From the front dustjacket flap: "If you're a Negro private eye from up North, you find it tricky sledding in a small Ohio town, close to the Kentucky border.