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Traditional crime authors still collected
In May this year I noticed that the books sold in the Scorpion Press series of signed limiteds were mainly by the stalwarts of crime writing. The American James Lee Burke and Ruth Rendell
The Ruth Rendell story is over
For crime fiction fans it is a sad day. Ruth Rendell passed on at the beginning of May aged 85. Unique among British crime writers her influence and respect from fellow writers was unbounded.
VE70, flyers and Len Deighton’s Bomber
Less than two weeks before the Victory in Europe Day on Friday, May 8 I met with a 91 year old former Lancaster bomber airman. He had been based at Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire and did
Influences in Modern First Edition Collecting
This is a tribute to those that influenced me as a collector, bookseller and publisher over the last 30 years. Long before I began publishing in 1991 I was a dealer in modern first
Lionel Davidson hailed as the best spy novelist you probably have’nt read
Jake Kerridge in a Daily Telegraph article has discovered the merits of Lionel Davidson (died 2009). In a broad and beautifully empathetic article Jake paints a picture of the British thriller writer who was
Collecting Robert Stone
American literary writer Robert Stone has passed away aged 77. He wrote only eight novels in fifty odd years. Yet they had the intellectual depth and power to illuminate that his readers felt they
2014 Edgars – 2 out of 6 are Scorpion books
The final short list of six mystery novels for the 2014 Edgars has been announced. The winner will receive the Edgar for best novel on 1st May at a banquet at the Grand Hyatt
Ian Rankin sells in 2013
Excluding our new books the best selling author for Scorpion Press in 2013 was Ian Rankin. All the Rankin titles issued continued to sell. These included the anthology No Alibi (1995), short story collection,
James Lee Burke, Light of the World is best Western novel
James Lee Burke’s novels have become more expansive of late, conjuring up ever more evil opponents and becoming ever more reminiscent of the battles of the Old West. It’s not surprising then that Light of
Louise Penny mystery sells
Louise Penny’s latest Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novel has had a terrific take up with a No 1 slot on the New York Times bestseller list. The Scorpion Press edition with the impressive marbling
Scorpion Press Blog Posts
- Crime Writers as hoarders of Knowledge
When I joined the Crime Writers’ Association and attended social functions I perceived that many writers led interesting lives as people other than writers. Aside from the obvious fact that crime writers convey in there …
- Robert Richardson – tribute to the writer and exponent of crime
It was during the mid eighties – the period when the newspaper headlines were full of stories of Britain on strike – that broadsheet journalist Robert Richardson chanced upon writing his first detective novel. It …
- The Collectibility of Leather Rebinds or collecting rare books
The Collectibilty of Leather Rebinds
In Centuries past libraries in great houses were lined with leather bound volumes. They provided accessibility to knowledge, exuded learning and gave satisfaction to the owner – who had given time … - McDermid’s ‘Distant Echo’ dramatised
Val McDermid’s first DC Karen Pirie novel is to be dramatised in a new ITV drama series. Outlander star Lauren Lyle will play the lead character – the young fearless Scottish detective – to be …
- Reginald Hill (1936 – 2012) Prolific literary crime writer
Reginald Hill, prolific British author best known for his 24 idiosyncratic, but highly elegant crime novels featuring the Yorkshire police detectives Andrew Dalziel and Peter Pascoe, is perhaps one of the most admired and influential …
- George Blake: Epitaph for a Spy
George Blake (1922 – 2020) was one of the most enigmatic of the unmasked spies. Could he have been an unlikely perfect spy with a conscience; a man of principle or a blatant schemer? Accounts …
- R Wilson, A Small Death in Lisbon – spy thriller – rebinding
Robert Wilson, A Small Death in Lisbon (1999); winner of the CWA Gold Dagger. 1/12 signed limited of twelve copies rebound in leather with handmade marble sides; signed on limitation page with a new introduction …
- Spy Fiction Collectables
The first book in the Scorpion Press series of Signed Leather bound editions was a spy thriller – The Year of the Scorpion by Michael Hartland. Nine books with a war-time or Cold War espionage …
- 20th Century Classic 1/1 Leather French Lieutenant … by John Fowles
To mark 50th years since the original publication of John Fowles’ The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1969) this is a rebinding run of 12 lettered copies with additional material and the facsimile autographs of Fowles and …
- G MacDonald Fraser, Flashman Omnibus leather rebinding
George Macdonald Fraser created one of the great English fictional characters with Flashy or Harry Flashman. This is the original first edition issued by Barrie & Jenkins entitled Flashman’s First Omnibus (1979). Forty years on …
- Early Inspector Morse rebinding – Colin Dexter
Colin Dexter, The Riddle of The Third Mile, 1st edition Macmillan 1983. Rebound with five raised bands with maroon leather with an Author Profile approved by the Dexter family. Twelve deluxe lettered copies only.
This project … - Classic Peter Lovesey Gold Dagger book fine binding
Peter Lovesey, The False Inspector Dew 1st London ed., 1982
A sumptuous leather rebinding with five raised bands with marble sides, additional page approved and signed by the author.
1/12 deluxe issued by the Scorpion Press.
A …