The Red Mark And Other Stories.

JOHN RUSSELL

Publication: Alfred A Knopf, 1919, New York

First edition. 8vo. Signed by the author, "John Russell, "Toleafoa Fusitala" 1921." A note inscribed on verso of dust jacket's rear flap fold advises that "Fusitala" is a Samoan word that means, "teller-of-tales." Half-title page darkened by newspaper clippings that are no longer present, else a near fine, tight copy in a lightly rubbed dust jacket with light wear to spine ends, two small chips at top and bottom of rear panel, and one small chip to bottom edge of front panel. Queen's Quorum 62 says, "Many of the tales written by John Russell, famous for his colorful stories of the South Seas, deal with crime and the police. A superlative collection was first published as THE RED MARK. Conan Doyle called this volume,"the best book of short tales by any debutant since Kipling's PLAIN TALES," and Harry Hansen described the book as containing "marvelous tales, full of life in the raw, full of primitive emotions and melodrama." A scarce book and seldom found in the elusive dust jacket.

Inventory Number: 51970