MISSING MEN: THE RETURN OF CHÉRI-BIBI
New York: The Macaulay Company, 1923. First American Edition. Item #7827
First Printing. Octavo (19.25cm); light grey cloth, with titles stamped in black on spine and front cover; dustjacket; [8],9-314,[6]pp, with a black & white frontispiece illustration by George W. Gage. Base of spine gently nudged, vintage bookseller's ticket to lower rear pastedown, with some offsetting to endpapers; a fresh, very Near Fine copy. Dustjacket is unclipped (priced $1.75), showing light wear to extremities, a touch of dust-soil, and a few tiny tears; still bright, Near Fine, and unrestored.
The second of five novels featuring Leroux recurring character Chéri-Bibi – French convict and all-around hard man. Having escaped a convict ship sailing the China Sea, here he has exchanged identities and is masquerading as the Marquis du Touchais, about to return to France and step into another man's shoes – wife, riches, title. He finds he must contend with his old compatriots, thought dead. Hubin, p.246. 7827.
Price: $1,000.00