Leaves from the Note-Book of a New York Detective. The Private Record of J. B.

NY: Dick & Fitzgerald (1865). 1st ed., 1865. 8vo. 186 pp. + [2] pp. ads. Original printed orange wrappers, with ads front verso and rear recto and verso. Seminal in the development of modern American detective fiction, John Brampton Williams' Leaves from the Note Book of a New York Detective is considered to be the first instance of American detective fiction. This collection of 29 short stories opens with the title piece which recounts the meeting between a medical doctor, John Babbington Williams (the actual author of the stories), and detective James Brampton. They become acquaintances, and after Brampton has retired after twenty years of service, he sends his case notebooks to Dr. Williams to be edited and published. In each of the stories private investigator Brampton uses his superior powers of deduction and penetrating observation to solve the crimes and anticipates by twenty years 19th century's most famous sleuth, Sherlock Holmes. The stories include: "The Silver Pin," "The Mysterious Advertisement," "The Struggle for Life," "A Satanic Compact," "A Terrible Night in Baltimore," et al. Bottom inch of spine chipped away (not affecting title or author), wear along rear spinal fold, shallow edge chips and dust soil. The cover, however, is intact and still attached, remarkable for such a fragile book. The text is complete and bright. Overall very good. Presented in a black cloth slipcase with an inset gilt stamped black leather spinal label. A rare book at the beginning of the American mystery/detective fiction genre.. 1st Edition. Soft cover. Very Good.