DRINK TO YESTERDAY

First edition, first printing. Signed by the author. Inscribed presentation copy from the author to her brother. Publisher's blue cloth with black titles to the spine, in the Bip Pares illustrated dustwrapper. A better than very good copy, the binding square and firm, the cloth bright and fresh. The contents, with some spotting to the prelims and closed text block edge are otherwise clean throughout. Complete with the lightly rubbed and nicked dustwrapper that is a little toned to the rear panel. Not price-clipped (9/- net to the lower front flap). Scarce in presentation state.

Inscribed in blue ink on the front free endpaper, in the hand of Adelaide Manning "W. O. Manning / from / Manning Coles / 4.9.40." The recipient, William Oke Manning, the author's elder brother, was a pioneering figure in British aeronautical design. This is the debut novel of the crime-writing partnership of Adelaide Manning and Cyril Coles, published under the pseudonym 'Manning Coles'. It introduces the master spy Tommy Hambledon, who would go on to appear in a further twenty-five novels over the next two decades. A Haycraft–Queen Cornerstone title.