1st US edition, later printing. 310pp illustrated with line drawings in text. In blue cloth-covered boards with black lettering and decoration, top edge sprayed red, fore-edge has deckled edges. (cloth lightly rubbed and rounded at corners and spine ends, spine a little faded, tiny crack at spine heel). Pencil inscription on front free endpaper, else internally neat, clean, bright and tight. 8vo. James Thorne Smith (born 1892), was an American writer of humorous, supernatural, fantasy fiction, is perhaps most celebrated for his Topper novels. His comic fantasy fiction (mostly involving sex, alcohol and supernatural transformations and often accompanied by risqué� and racy illustrations) sold in its millions in the 1930s - 1950s. This is one of his few comic novels devoid of any element of the supernatural.
