T.E. Grattan-Smith — The Cave of a Thousand Columns

London, Hutchinson & Co, 1938 . First edition. Cloth. A bright first edition of this thrilling adventure novel about giant monsters who live in caves beneath Australia, in a vibrantly illustrated dust wrapper. The first edition, first impression of this work, in the very scarce publisher's original clipped dust wrapper, retaining the price.An Australian ventriloquist, journalist and children's author, Grattan-Smith's work features two young adventurers who encounter monsters, giant serpents and non-human species in vast underground caverns beneath Australia.Illustrated with a frontispiece and four further monochrome plates. Collated, complete.With a former owner's inscription, dated 1941, to the front free endpaper. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with publisher's original clipped dust wrapper, retaining the price. Bumping to back strip head and tail, with a further bump to the fore edge of the rear board. Inscription to front free endpaper. Handling marks and light discolouration to back strip and rear wrap. Chipping and minor losses to back strip head and tail. Edgewear and loss to head of rear wrap. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good Indeed/Very Good.