FREEMAN, R. Austin

The Red Thumb Mark

[London]: Collingwood Bros. [1907]. From the Bart Auerbach Collection. 8vo. Original black cloth, lettered in white on spine and front cover, red thumb print (from the author's own) on front cover. White lettering on spine and cover rubbed away, as is not unusual. Item #409379

First edition. 'The Red Thumb Mark' marks the introduction of Dr. Thorndyke, the first of the fictional "scientific detectives," and contains generally the first use of identification by fingerprints. 'Queen's Quorum', p. 45; Donaldson 4; Cornerstone 'Detective Fiction' 40; a Haycraft-Queen Cornerstone (and on the original Haycraft Cornerstone list). (BA).

Price: $1,200.00