Richard Keverne [Clifford James Wheeler Hosken] — The Sanfield Scandal

London, Constable & Co Ltd , 1929 . First edition. Cloth. A scarce first edition presentation copy of Keverne"s Golden Age mystery, inscribed and signed by the author in the year of publication and retaining the original unclipped pictorial dust wrapper. In the publisher's original red cloth binding.  First edition.  Complete with the original unclipped dust wrapper.  An authorial presentation copy, inscribed and signed by Keverne to the front free endpaper with Christmas wishes, dated 18 December 1929. An intriguing mystery centred on the long-suppressed Sanfield scandal. Papers revealing the truth behind the theft of a valuable diamond necklace disappear from a solicitor"s safe, reopening events surrounding an old country house.  Richard Keverne was the pseudonym of Clifford James Wheeler Hosken (1882-1950), a journalist and prolific interwar crime novelist. The Sanfield Scandal was his fourth crime novel under the Keverne name.  An appealing association copy of this early Golden Age mystery,  In the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, sound. Spine faded. Slight cocking to spine. Light fading to perimeters of boards. The odd mark to front board. Slight shelf wear to extremities. Author's contemporary signed ink presentation inscription to the front free endpaper. Dust wrapper, generally smart. 2.5" closed tear running vertically from lower front joint. Edge wear to extremities resulting in the odd chip, crease, and closed tear, more so to spine ends and corners. LIght famp staining to front panel apparent to verso. Slight soiling and rubbing to wraps. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean, if slightly age toned, with the odd light spot to fore edge. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good/Very Good.