LEONARD POTTS – BRITISH PULP FICTION AT
ASH RARE BOOKS
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UNITED KINGDOM

London : Ralph Stokes for the Gaywood Press, [ca.1952]. First edition. “I was a construction gang foreman, not a private eye or a cop. I’ll admit that my one taste of hoodlums some weeks ago had whetted my appetite for the detecting racket ...” – Ace Capelli was a house name used variously by Geoffrey Pardoe, Stephen Frances (Hank Janson) and Norman Lazenby. Although over thirty Capelli titles are known, only fourteen or so are represented in major collections.
Crown 8vo (19cm). [iv],9-132pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a sprightly design by Leonard Potts (1902-1978); a little chipped at foot; some mild creasing; staples rusted; text lightly tanned, but still overall a very good copy of a scarce and fragile item. No copy located in any major library worldwide.

£85

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London : Ralph Stokes for the Gaywood Press, [ca.1952]. First edition. “I was a construction gang foreman, not a private eye or a cop. I’ll admit that my one taste of hoodlums some weeks ago had whetted my appetite for the detecting racket ...” – Ace Capelli was a house name used variously by Geoffrey Pardoe, Stephen Frances (Hank Janson) and Norman Lazenby. Although over thirty Capelli titles are known, only fourteen or so are represented in major collections.
Crown 8vo (19cm). [iv],9-132pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a sprightly design by Leonard Potts (1902-1978); a little chipped at extremities; covers a little marked; some creasing; staples rusted; text lightly tanned, but a reasonable copy of a scarce and fragile item. No copy located in any major library worldwide. `

£50

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 44503 – or simply click on the button

London : Edwin Self & Co., [ca.1953]. First edition. Country-bred innocent gets a job in Paris – “the fascinating world of beautiful artists’ models and dangerous demi-mondaines”. Ostensibly a translation of “Les Affaires de Paris” by “one of the most exciting and glamorous” of modern French authors – but Delmaine appears to be unknown to the Bibliothèque Nationale.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a stylish and saucy but unsigned design, probably by Leonard Potts (1902-1978); a few very minor signs of age and use, but overall a very good copy indeed – clean, bright and sound. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

£50

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 43217 – or simply click on the button

London : Edwin Self & Co., [ca.1953]. First edition. “One of the most exciting and glamorous authors to depict life in modern Paris ... the fascinating world of beautiful artists’ models and dangerous demi-mondaines ... a new and glamorous world where excitement and passion rub shoulders with the treacherous apache and the shady boite de nuit”.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a stylish but unsigned design, almost certainly by Leonard Potts (1902-1978); somewhat worn and creased; chip at head of upper wrapper; back wrapper a little marked; text tanned; staples rusted; a few spots, but a serviceable copy of a scarce title. No copy located in any major library worldwide.

£25

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London : Modern Fiction (London), [1953]. First edition. “Master-spies, gunhawks, mobsters, hoods, all the unsavoury characters of the underworld ... A young scientist is kidnapped. He carries badly wanted secrets in his brain ... the secrets of that most despicable of all forms of death ... germ warfare!”. Mark Freeman of the FBI is on the case. The “Griff” house name here being used by David Boyce.
Crown 8vo (18cm). 127,[i]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by Leonard Potts (1902-1978) – redhead dragged into gunfight; a little worn and chipped; price inked on upper wrapper; staples rusted; text tanned; a few slight marks; a reasonable copy of an elusive and fragile title. Only the British Library copy located in any of the major libraries worldwide.

£25

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 32867 – or simply click on the button

London : Modern Fiction (London), [1952]. First edition. “Abruptly he stopped dictating. His dark eyes were suddenly amused. He said: “Will you have dinner with me tonight, Jennifer?” She nearly dropped her pencil and pad in amazement. Even her chin sagged, and then she snapped her mouth shut as she quickly recovered ...”.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 127,[i]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – brunette and redhead come to grips – a design by Leonard Potts (1902-1978); chipped at foot; a few nicks and short tears; some chipping, creasing and wear; one leaf poorly trimmed; a reasonable copy of a scarce and fragile item. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

SOLD

London : Modern Fiction (London), [1952]. First edition. “Almost out-Zolas Zola” – “Girls disappear from their Paris homes; in many cases they are never traced ... enticed, on one pretext or another, by glib promises of a film, dance-hall, or cabaret career” – Ben Sarto with an “on-the-spot study” of a typical victim of the white slave trade.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 126,[ii]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a design by Leonard Potts (1902-1978); a little worn and creased; some short nicks and tiny chips; a few slight marks, but a good copy of a scarce and fragile production. Just a single copy (British Library) traced in major libraries worldwide.

SOLD

London : Modern Fiction (London), [1952]. First edition. Rena falls for a European, but “she hadn’t seen anything of the world further east than Minneapolis”. Sarto “tears the veil from the activities of the army of White Slavers”.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 127.[i]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – unsigned, but evidently a design by Leonard Potts (1902-1978); spine chipped, darkened and split; wrappers a little marked and creased; edges a little spotted; text a little tanned; a serviceable copy of an uncommon title. Just a single copy (British Library) located in major libraries worldwide.

SOLD

London : Modern Fiction, [1952]. First edition. “As usual with Sarto books, it is the result of personal observation, plus access to police records and secret news files ... an innocent young girl from the country finds herself caught up in the toils of a Manhattan exploiter – with tragic results. One big, breath-catching thrill from first word to last, but shot with sadness and regret”.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 127,[i]pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers – a design by Leonard Potts (1902-1978); slight wear at tips; creases, a short tear and some slight discolouration to rear wrapper; text a little tanned, but still overall a very good copy. Just two copies (British Library and Monash) located in major libraries worldwide.

SOLD

London : Edwin Self & Co., [ca.1952]. First edition. “A fascinating story of the modern Paris underworld with all the romantic and glamorous aspect of life with artist’s models and midinettes”. One of the earliest “Valois” titles and frankly hilarious in its Franglais – “The température inside the room seemed to leap hundreds of degrees! The air was électrique, so that even Danielle Javenne could feel it in the garde-robe ...”.
Crown 8vo (19cm). 128pp. Original pictorial stapled wrappers in a design by Leonard Potts; a little worn, creased and slightly chipped; text lightly tanned; staples slightly rusted, but a good copy. No copy located in any major library worldwide.

£25

To purchase, call us or e-mail us at books@ashrare.com quoting stock number 33094 – or simply click on the button