Hardback. Vintage crime fiction. First edition. Black cloth with gilt titles to spine is slightly faded and slightly softened to head of spine as dust jacket is slightly short for the book. Dust jacket is very slightly faded with occasional light spotting to cream panels to front and more significantly to cream back panel. Dust jacket is tanned to spine. The dust jacket has had a paper backing added. This has happened quite some time ago and this backing has aged with the book. This backing has disguised a tear to the fore-edge of the dust jacket front flap - see photos. The backing is sound and stable and is not peeling or disfiguring from the front of the dust jacket. Clean and sound.