The Tiger in the Smoke (The Franklin Library of Mystery Masterpieces)

[xii], 288pp [ii]. Bound in full buckram, blocked, lettered and embellished in gilt gold, three raised bands to spine. All edges gilded with 22 karat gold. Decorated endpapers. Double spread frontispiece illustration by Scott W Hunt. Printed on high quality, acid free paper (so the pages will not brown over time) and pages sewn in rather than glued. A truly, gorgeously handsome volume, designed to become an heirloom. The Franklin Library designed and bound books with unsurpassed skill in achieving a premium-quality product: each is 'a wonder', in the finest traditions of bookbinding. The Franklin Library, before its demise in 2000, produced books to various different standards in various different series: it can be hard, for instance, to distinguish between its genuine leather and faux-leather bindings, and some volumes came with silk moire endpapers rather than paper. We see may dealers' listings giving incorrect or ambiguous information (or none), so advise Franklin Library collector's to be care. There's a guide to Franklin Library editions and their identification on our blog.