PLOT IT YOURSELF. A Nero Wolfe Novel.

First edition, first printing. Signed by the author. Inscribed presentation copy. Publisher's original light green cloth with red titles to the upper board and spine, in the Bill English designed dustwrapper. Top edge red. An excellent near fine copy, the binding square and firm with a little bumping to the spine tips and fading to the extreme edge of the boards. The contents are clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the lightly rubbed and spine faded dustwrapper that is otherwise without loss or tears. Not price-clipped ($2.95 to the upper front flap).

Inscribed by the author, four days before publication, in blue ink on the front endpaper "10.26.59 / For 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 biblio-mystery. Published 30 October 1959. The first UK edition, published by Collins, The Crime Club, followed in August 1960. (Hubin).