New York: Metropolitan Syndicate, Inc., [1908]. Hardcover. First edition. First issue with integral title leaf. Scarce copy of author’s first book. Inscriptions on the front free endpaper: “Robert W. Jones, / Jan. 1. 1909” and just below it in a different hand: “Presented by the Author, / who did not sign his name herein--durn him.” A collection of short stories that “deal with grim incidents of life in the big city. In one story a drunken hotel waiter beats his wife to death with a chair, in another an Italian pickle dealer stabs a saloon keeper who will not pay his twelve dollars, and yet another story tells how a cab driver took a drunken man into his cab and after driving to a secluded section stabbed him in a fight that followed an attempt to rob him. Each story is one incident, a crisis, told in a style both unusual and interesting. Lyon’s style is clear, effective, and unaffected” (unidentified newspaper review, pasted in). Bound in the original green cloth titled in red on spine and front cover. A few chips to cloth at foot of spine, minor sunning to spine, small stain to spine, and light wear to corners, otherwise a bright, attractive copy. Clipping from newspaper review of the book pasted to the rear pastedown with offsetting to endpapers. 225 pages. LIT/30119. Very Good.

Item #30119

Price: $600.00