JOHN RUSSELL FEARN – BRITISH PULP FICTION AT
ASH RARE BOOKS
43 HURON ROAD
LONDON SW17 8RE
UNITED KINGDOM

Llandudno : Kaner Publishing Co., [1947]. First edition. The dystopian twenty-eighth century and the peoples of earth hypnotised into servitude, the Ebon Sphere of Surrey, etc.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 80pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers; some very minor wear and a tiny chip on lower wrapper, but a very good copy. Just two copies (British Library and Liverpool) located in the major UK libraries.

£40

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [ca.1951]. First edition. Gangster client of ruthless defence attorney Stab Kelly is shot dead through his office window – two beautiful but wholly contrasting women are immediately involved. “Spike Gordon” was one of the new set of fictitious authors introduced by the Turveys at the height of their success – it is believed to mask the identity of John Russell Fearn.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 126,[ii]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – elegant redhead looks concerned about the dead man; a little rubbed, nicked, creased and very slightly chipped; staples rusted; text a little brittle and tanned, with a few chips; one leaf torn and slightly defective, with the loss of a handful of letters, but overall a good copy of a rare title. No copy traced in any major library worldwide.

£75

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London : Scion Distributors, [1954]. First edition. The half-title has been excised by the publishers and the Scion Distributors imprint pasted over the earlier Scion Ltd. on both title-page and final leaf – presumably a reflection of Scion’s internal wrangles and legal difficulties at that time. Strangely dressed stranger comes calling on a cold and wet February night on the outskirts of London – and sits down with a dictionary. Although the first two Volsted Gridban novels had been written by E. C. Tubb, subsequent Scion titles under this name all seem to have been written by the indefatigable John Russell Fearn.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 126pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by Ron Turner; light wear; some creasing; lower wrapper a little marked; a few minor marks, but otherwise a very good copy. Just two copies (Bodleian and Liverpool) located in the major UK libraries.

£25

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London : Scion, [1950]. First edition. Based on an earlier story called “Four Shall Avenge” – and the fourth of the Vargo Statten series. “‘Time does not really exist’, Professor Einwold had said ...”.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – an unsigned but a futuristic design by Ron Turner; a few minor marks and small flaws, but overall a very good copy. Just two copies (Liverpool and National Library of Scotland) located in major UK libraries.

SOLD

London : Scion, [1950]. First edition. Originally titled “Fool’s Paradise” and the second in the Vargo Statten series. The summer of 1980 has been the hottest in history and Ken is working on increasing the capacity of the Channel Tunnel. Addressing a convention in 1952, Fearn claimed this as his best novel (Harbottle & Holland A125).
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – an unsigned rocket design by Ron Turner; some very minor wear at tips; a hint of bruising; text a little tanned, but a very good copy. Just two copies (Bodleian and Liverpool) located in major UK libraries.

£40

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London : Scion, (1951). First edition. Venus and its mighty scientific civilisation are dying, plans are made to take the air and the water from a neighbouring planet populated by strange creatures who “walk upright on two legs and possess round-shaped bodies crowned with queer furry mats.”
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by Ron Turner; a little worn; somewhat creased and bruised; marks, chips and short tears to lower wrapper; text a little browned and soiled; a reasonable copy. Three copies (Bodleian, Liverpool and National Library of Scotland) located in the major UK libraries.

£20

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London : Scion, (1953). First edition. A still-living specimen of a giant Martian moth threatens destruction on earth. Originally published under Fearn’s own name as “Winged Pestilence” in “Star Weekly” earlier in 1953 (Harbottle & Holland A129).
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a famous design by “Rix” (John Richards); some very mild wear and light repair; staples a little rusted; text slightly tanned, but a very good copy. No copy of this edition located in any major UK library.

£40

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London : Scion, (1951). First edition. Young provincial Martin Clegg has long suspected he has a twin in the constellation of Orion – girlfriend and psychiatrist are sceptical.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by “Zero” (Philip Montague Mendoza); described as being in “near fine bright condition” by the Long Island “specialist” from whom I bought it – but it’s not: spine tanned and worn; faint price over-stamped on upper wrapper; lower wrapper and title-page discoloured at edges by badly rusted staples; text a little tanned; a serviceable copy only. Three copies (Bodleian, Liverpool and National Library of Scotland) located in the major UK libraries.

£20

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London : Scion, (1951). First edition. Scott and Nancy Andrews, chief investigators of the interplanetary deeps, pioneers of both Mars and Venus, now in 1980 encounter an inhospitable Mercury – except that it is covered in diamonds. They bring back a small cinder rock, “not knowing that it is a catalyst which will turn water to gold. It is lost in the sewers of London and earth is threatened” (Harbottle & Holland A132).
Crown 8vo (19cm). 112pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by Ron Turner; spine lightly worn and a little browned; a few faint creases; staples a little rusted, but otherwise a very good copy. Only the Bodleian copy located in any major UK library.

£25

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London : Scion, (1951). First edition. Scott and Nancy Andrews, chief investigators of the interplanetary deeps, pioneers of both Mars and Venus, now in 1980 encounter an inhospitable Mercury – except that it is covered in diamonds. They bring back a small cinder rock, “not knowing that it is a catalyst which will turn water to gold. It is lost in the sewers of London and earth is threatened” (Harbottle & Holland A132).
Crown 8vo (19cm). 112pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by Ron Turner; spine lightly worn and a little browned; a few faint signs of age and use, but a very good copy. Only the Bodleian copy located in any major UK library.

£30

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London : Scion, (1951). First edition. It is the year 2060 and a massive meteorite hits Pluto head on, threatening the equilibrium of the solar system – Captain Mark Rapier is sent to investigate. “A desperate race against time and human nature ensues as the crew rebels against the iron discipline of the ship’s captain” (Harbottle & Holland A135).
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a typical design by Ron Turner; staples a little rusted; a couple of tiny nicks and faint creases, but overall a very good copy. Just two copies (British Library and Liverpool) located in the major UK libraries.

£25

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London : Scion, (1952). First edition. Brilliant scientist has a car accident on the way to London from Godalming – and meets a tramp who knows too much and issues a warning. “Esau Jones was just a wandering tramp who loved his beer and the country air. But Esau also had the ability to work miracles, which led to problems ... one of the best Statten novels” (Harbottle & Holland A136).
Crown 8vo (19cm). 96pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by Roger Davis; a few minor signs of age and use, but a very good copy. Just two copies (Liverpool and Trinity College, Dublin) located in major European libraries.

£40

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London : Scion, (1952). First edition. The elders of Mars covet the planet Earth. They have failed twice (1914-1918 and 1939-1946) to persuade humanity to destroy itself – time to unleash the Gravity Bomb.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 112pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a Ron Turner design; somewhat rubbed, worn, creased and slightly split; chipped at head; inked figures to upper wrapper; one leaf chipped, but a reasonable copy. Aside from the Liverpool copy and a microform at the Bodleian, no copies located in any major UK library.

£20

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London : Scion, (1950). First edition. A lone space machine returns to earth with the single survivor of the exploration fleet – his colleagues all dead on the desolate wastes of Pluto.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – an unsigned rocket design by Ron Turner; some wear at tips; a few faint marks; staples rusting, but otherwise a very good copy. No copy located in any major UK library.

SOLD

London : Scion, (1952). First edition. Meteorites with rivets light up a Sussex night, a curious stranger rescues sparky young journalist Glenda Carlyle from unwanted attentions in an alley off Fleet Street.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 112pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by Ron Turner; spine a little tanned, worn and slightly torn; some rubbing and scuffing; lower wrapper a little discoloured; staples rusted; a poor copy. Aside from the Liverpool copy and a microform at the Bodleian, no copies located in any major UK library.

£20

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London : Scion, (1953). First edition. Playboy millionaire with a demanding girl-friend has an alien doppelganger.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by John Richards; shallow and tiny chip at foot; some very minor creasing; staples lightly rusted, but a very good and otherwise clean copy. No copy located in any major UK library.

£40

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London : Scion, [1953]. First edition. London department store salesman gets struck by freakish lightning in the Lake District – with curious effects.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by Ron Turner; a little worn, rubbed and slightly split; upper wrapper creased, nicked and a little chipped; lower wrapper a little discoloured, with two short tears; staples lightly rusted, but a reasonable copy of a scarce title. Aside from the Liverpool copy and a microform at the Bodleian, no copies located in any major UK library.

£25

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London : Scion, (1950). First edition. On a dull November day in London Ward Benson works on the Immortality Machine – his assistant Fay Denham has doubts.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a stylish design by Ron Turner; short tear at head; chipped at foot; a little marked and creased; text lightly tanned, but a presentable copy. Only the Bodleian copy located in all the major UK libraries

SOLD

London : Scion Distributors, (1954). First edition. Research biologist develops cellular human duplicates – even Scotland Yard is powerless, save for one man.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by Ron Turner; some wear; wrappers nicked and creased; short tears to lower wrapper; mild spotting of edges; a reasonable copy of an uncommon title. No copy located in any major UK library.

£25

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London : Scion, (1951). First edition. The planet Mercury disintegrates, the solar system starts breaking up – and then the moon turns red.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 112pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – unsigned but a stylish spaceman design by Ron Turner; some very minor signs of age and use; mild tanning of text, but overall a very good copy. Just two copies (Bodleian and National Library of Scotland) located in the major UK libraries.

£25

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London : Scion, (1951). First edition. Married couple return from a maiden voyage to Venus to find the Earth stopped in time – “A well-written and fascinating exploration of the ‘frozen time’ theme, usually confined to short stories” (Harbottle & Holland).
Crown 8vo (19cm). 112pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a design by Ron Turner; minuscule chipping to spine; a few trifling signs of age and use, but a very good copy. Aside from a microform at the Bodleian, no copy located in any major UK library.

£30

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London : Scion, (1951). First edition. “At first it was only a smudge on the face of infinity ...” – a runaway star threatens the solar system.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 112pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – an unsigned design by Ron Turner; cheap paper-stock lightly spotted in places (as always), but a very good copy of an uncommon title. Just two copies (Bodleian and Liverpool) located in major UK libraries.

£50

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London : Scion, (1952). First edition. “Set in a future when time travelling is commonplace ... the story of a population in deadly peril from a Jovian super scientist who has vowed vengeance on Humanity for the destruction of his home world” (Harbottle & Holland A163).
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by Philip Mendoza; spine lightly tanned and puckered; some creasing; one short tear to wrappers; erasure from front wrapper; text lightly tanned, but otherwise a good copy. Receipt stamps on verso of front wrapper and first page of text. Just three copies (Bodleian, Liverpool and Trinity College, Dublin) located in the major European libraries.

£40

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London : Scion, (1952). First edition. In the near future of June 1963, a wedge of stars suddenly becomes too bright to observe with the naked eye – “an endless day gets under way” (Harbottle & Holland A164).
Crown 8vo (19cm). 112 pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a striking design by Ron Turner; some minor wear and light creasing; tiny chip to lower wrapper; a few slight marks, but a very good copy of a fragile and ephemeral item. Just three copies located in major UK libraries.

£25

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London : Scion, (1950). First edition. An attempt to make a model artificial sun for the London Planetarium (now at Greenwich in the year 2,000) has unexpected consequences “in a strange invasion from the fourth dimension” (Harbottle & Holland A165). Partly based on Fearn’s pre-war story “Metamorphosis”.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a powerful design by Ron Turner (signed with initials); a very good copy, clean and bright. Just two copies (Bodleian and Liverpool) located in major UK libraries.

£25

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 30144 – or simply click on the button

London : Scion, [1950]. First edition. Anchored between Mars and Jupiter in the year 2150, the royal space cruiser Starwind awaits a royal event. Queen Maylion of Earth is about to give birth to a future king or queen.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design attributed to Ron Turner; some wear; some creasing; shallow chips to upper wrapper; staples rusted and discoloured; a few small internal flaws, but a reasonable copy. Aside from a microform at the Bodleian, no copy located in any major UK library.

£25

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London : Scion, (1953). First edition. Dr Royd needs a guinea-pig to try out his Brain Scanner – a device to strip away the past to achieve a vision of the future. “Could it be possible to avoid death by knowing of fatal accidents in advance? ... brilliantly plotted” (Harbottle & Holland A175). Originally published as “Deadline” under Fearn’s own name in “Star Weekly” the previous year.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a striking design by Ron Turner; some wear; short nicks and splits; some marking and creasing, but a good copy. Just two copies (Bodleian and Liverpool) located in major UK libraries.

£25

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 41448 – or simply click on the button