Michael Jaffe — Death Goes to a Party

New York , Phoenix Press, 1942. First edition. Cloth. The scarce first edition of this American detective novel, retaining its striking and scarce original unclipped pictorial dust wrapper. In the publisher's original beige cloth binding.  First edition.  Complete with the original unclipped dust wrapper.  A mid-century American murder mystery in which a social gathering provides the setting for intrigue and death, written in the brisk, dialogue-driven style characteristic of contemporary popular detective fiction.   In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally, generally smart. Slight rubbing and bumping to extremities. Spine faded. Slight offsetting and light scattered spotting to endpapers. Hinge strained after the front free endpaper, with webbing exposed, front board slightly loosened but holding. Ten ink date stamps to the rear free endpaper, dated 1942-1951, suggesting institutional use; no other ink markings present. Dust wrapper, worn. rubbing, creasing and several substantial chips and losses, particularly at the head and foot of the spine and upper edge of the front panel. Tape repairs to extremities of verso. Light soiling to wraps, more apparent to pale rear panel. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages bright and clean with one or two light spots to fore edge of first and last few leaves. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good/Good Only.