AND FOUR TO GO. A Nero Wolfe Foursome.

First edition, first printing. Signed by the author. Inscribed presentation copy. Publisher's original blue cloth with red titles to the upper board and spine, in the Bill English designed dustwrapper. Top edge red. With a black and white plate. A better than very good copy, the binding square and firm, the cloth bright and fresh, with a little rubbing and bumping to the spine tips and extremities. The contents, with some toning to the closed text block, are otherwise clean throughout, and without previous owners' inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the very good, rubbed and nicked dustwrapper that has tiny chips at the head and tail of the lightly faded spine and a couple of short closed tears. Not price-clipped ($2.95 to the upper front flap).

Inscribed by the author 6 days before publication in blue ink on the front endpaper "8.2.58 / To Nick and Peggy - / with love - / Rex". The recipients are Hungarian-born American photographer and former Olympic fencer, Nickolas Muray (1892-1965) and his fourth wife Margaret (Peggy) Schwab, an amateur pilot. Hailed as one of the greatest fencers in American history and the master of the three-colour carbon print in commercial photography, Muray's professional successes, while highly impressive, have been somewhat eclipsed in the public eye by his prolific ten-year love affair and enduring friendship with Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. His colour photographs of Kahlo remain the most iconic and recognisable images of the artist, second only to her painted self-portraits. A collection of four Nero Wolfe novellas, comprising 'Christmas Party', 'Easter Parade', 'Fourth of July Picnic', and 'Murder Is No Joke'. Published on 14 February 1958. The first UK edition, published by Collins, The Crime Club, followed in May 1959. (Hubin).