First edition, first impression. 256pp. In red cloth-covered boards with gilt lettering on the spine. 8vo. Cloth bumped at corners and spine ends. A little spotting and marking on text block edges. Gift inscription, dated 1971, neatly inked on front free endpaper. Free endpapers have some mild offset tanning. In its original dust wrapper, worn, rubbed and chipped at corners and spine ends, with some loss at head of spine, shelf worn and marked, clumsily price clipped. A good only copy of this classic of crime fiction.