The Red Box: A Nero Wolfe Mystery by Rex Todhunter Stout (1886-1975) - 1937

[iv]+298+[5 introducing The Rubber band pages. Small octavo (7 3/4" x 5 1/2") bound original publisher's gray cloth, front cover and spine printed with red, rear cover blank in original second printing jacket. (April 2006, Firsts) First edition which has the publisher's monogram logo on the copyright page.

The Red Box is the fourth Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout. Prior to its first publication in 1937 by Farrar & Rinehart, Inc, the novel was serialized in five issues of The American Magazine (December 1936 – April 1937). Adapted twice for Italian television, The Red Box is the first Nero Wolfe story to be adapted for the American stage. Wolfe and Archie investigate the death of a model who ate a piece of poisoned candy. One of the suspects begs Wolfe to handle his estate and especially the contents of a certain red box. Wolfe is at first concerned about a possible conflict of interest, but feels unable to refuse when the man dies in his office before telling Wolfe where to find the red box. The police naturally think that he told Wolfe somewhat more before dying. This novel presents the series' first instance of a murder taking place in Wolfe's office.

Condition:

Spine leaning slightly with shallow ridge down the back-strip; back-strip faintly dulled; corners gently bumped; spine ends, corners and joints lightly worn. Text block sagging very slightly; binding a little shaken; a few faint splashed to the top stain; end-papers lightly discolored; faint marginal foxing to first few leaves. Jacket spine panel lightly dulled, edges lightly worn with some minor chipping to the spine ends, rear panel faintly soiled, light offsetting to flaps. Still, a very good copy in like jacket.