Joseph Shearing (Marjorie Bowen) - Moss Rose - First UK Edition

Moss Rose by Joseph Shearing (pen-name of Marjorie Bowen). Published by Heinemann, London, 1934. First edition. Original dark pink cloth with gilt titles to the backstrip, 340 pages, with one further leaf of advertisements at the rear.

A fictionalised account of the unsolved murder of a prostitute in 1872, with the author’s own theories as to the perpetrator. One of Marjorie Bowen’s most compelling works under the Shearing pseudonym, and an extremely scarce title.

Book: Very Good. Minor lean; reading crease along the backstrip. Binding firm, corners fairly sharp; minor bumping to the tips and some loss of colour at the extreme lower tip. Top edge of the block slightly dusty, remaining edges clean. Text block remarkably fresh and completely free from foxing, spotting, or previous owner names. An excellent-condition copy.

Dustjacket: Unclipped, original price 7/6 Net at the front flap. Normal minor shelf-wear to edges and corners commensurate with age; some loss of laminate at the spine tips. Rear panel shows some crease-lines and minor print-soiling. Very Good with faults.

Extremely rare in the dustjacket - a splendid example of a scarce title.