Ellroy, James - The Black Dahlia - Mysterious Press: New York, 1987 - First Edition / First Printing - Complete number line, starting with “1”, present on the copyright page as required in order to denote the first printing of the first edition.
“I never knew her in life. She exists for me through others, in evidence of the ways her death drove them”
The book has some sunning to the edges, light shelf wear, and some rubbing. The boards remain straight, binding is square and firm, and internally there is no writing or other markings. The dust jacket has edge wear, shelf rubbing, and a few small scuffs. A presentable copy of a book which is notorious for showing up well worn. This example is signed with a wonderful full page inscription on the front end page “Beware The Evil Dahlia! James Ellroy”. This was the first of the four novels in Ellroy’s L.A. Quartet— the others being The Big Nowhere, L.A. Confidential, and White Jazz. The most important volume in the author’s most important grouping of work. Basis for the regrettable 2006 adaptation which starred Scarlett Johansson and Josh Hartnett. A high point of Neo-Noir fiction and uncommon signed.