THE MARBLE FOREST - SIGNED BY 11 CONTRIBUTORS

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1951. First Edition. Attractive copy of this collaborative novel, written by the Northern California chapter of the MWA, under the direction of Anthony Boucher. "Each author was to write a chapter for the book. As the book was handed off to the next author, the challenge was to use the material that had already been written and add to it in a meaningful way to continue the mystery...The book opens with a mysterious phone call announcing that Dr. Barratt's daughter Midge has been kidnapped and placed in a coffin. She has no more than five or six hours worth of air before she dies. Each chapter in the book is titled with the exact time, so the reader is constantly aware of how much time remains for Midge to live" (Marks, Jeffrey. Anthony Boucher: A Biobibliography, p.99). Basis for William Castle's 1958 film Macabre, starring William Prince. Hubin, p.127. First Printing. Octavo (19.75cm); patterned paper-covered boards; blue topstain; dustjacket; x,235,[5]pp. Signed on the front endpaper by the following 11 of the 12 contributors: Terry Adler, Anthony Boucher, Eunice Mays Boyd, Florence Ostern Faulkner, Allen Hymson, Cary Lucas, Dana Lyon, Lenore Glen Offord, Richard Shattuck, Darwin Teilhet, and William Worley. Subtle fading to topstain, tiny abrasion to lower front cover, else Near Fine. Dustjacket is unclipped (priced $2.50), gently spine-sunned and lightly edgeworn, with a few small tears and attendant creases, and a few faint splash marks to spine panel; Very Good+.