The Singing Bone by FREEMAN, R. Austin (1862-1943)

London: Hodder and Stoughton, n.d. [1912]. [Crime Fiction] SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.248. Publisher's red cloth lettered in black and gilt. Contents clean, binding rather bright with light rubbing to rear. Autographed by Freeman on the title page, for his local library. This copy has one discreet stamp, tag to rear e.p., neat 'withdrawn' notice to f.e.p. and shelf number to foot of spine. Institutional marking aside, this is a clean, bright copy. A Dr. Thorndyke detective story collection. Dr Richard Austin Freeman lived in Gravesend, Kent, where at least one of his novels was based. He served on the Library Committee and as footpaths expert for Gravesend Historical Society, and signed their holdings of his books. In 2007 these were sold off to a friend of the Library, to raise funds (replacements were donated, Kent County Council redacted letter of provenance provided). A rare signed copy with guaranteed authenticity. Cooper and Pike; Detective Fiction p137-141.