Elmore Leonard — Fifty-Two Pickup

New York, Delacorte Press, 1974 . First edition. Cloth. An excellent example of the first edition of Elmore Leonard's hard-boiled detective tale. The first edition, first printing, in the publisher's original first issue dust wrapper, priced $6.95 to the head of the front flyleaf.A thrilling crime novel from Leonard, who at the time was best known for his westerns.In this tale, Leonard follows a respectable Detroit businessman's dealings with a trio of blackmailers who have captured his infidelities on film. In the publisher's original quarter cloth binding, with paper covered boards, and price unclipped dust wrapper. Back strip a touch faded to the head, otherwise externally fine. Edgewear to dust wrapper back strip head and tail, with two small closed tears to back strip head, and one minor closed tear to head of front wrap. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Fine . Ill.: None. Fine/Very Good Indeed.