The Hands of Orlac

New York: E.P. Dutton, 1929. First Edition in English and first edition in hardcover, preceded by the French edition "Les mains d'Orlac," in 1920. With the publisher's wraparound band.

A seminal horror novel, rare in dust jacket, written by one of the most important French genre fiction writers of the early twentieth century. The basis for several films, including the classic German silent film starring Conrad Veidt, "Orlacs Hande" [The Hands of Orlac] (1924), and its American rival, the sound version starring Peter Lorre, "Mad Love," directed by emigre Karl Freund for MGM in 1935, and today considered one of the greatest horror films of the 1930s.

Near Fine in a Very Good dust jacket, with the publisher's wraparound band ("The Dutton Prize Mystery for November"). The jacket's deco design is bright and striking, with some toning to the spine (jacket and band), a chip at the crown affecting a portion of the title ("The Ha" and part of "n"), a portion of the publisher name at the heel (the "Du" in "Dutton"), and a few tiny chips, nicks, and closed tears.

Barron (1999) 4-125. Bleiler (1948) US. Clute & Nicholls US. Hubin (1994) US. Locke US. Reginald 12140. Senn US.

[Book #133042]