WALLACE, Edgar. The Four Just Men. London: The Tallis Press, 1905.
8vo. Folding frontispiece and original solution competition entry form on perforated stub in the rear. Original orange cloth, front board and spine lettered in black (with contest rules stamped on front board; spine sunned and soiled, boards rubbed and lightly soiled, endleaves foxed, some light foxing in text, a few gutters over-opened, previous owner’s signature on ffep).
FIRST EDITION IN THE FIRST ISSUE BINDING WITH THE RARE CONTEST ENTRY FORM. As a sales gimmick, the publisher began a contest to award 500 GBP to anyone who could solve the murder of the British Foreign Secretary. Unfortunately, there were numerous correct solutions submitted, and the enormous cost to the publisher wasn’t covered by any profits.