Dead Cert | 1962, fine uncorrected proof, signed by Dick Francis with brilliant provenance.

An excellent uncorrected proof copy of Dead Cert, signed by Dick Francis and inscribed to the famous rare book collector Clive Hirschhorn:

"To Clive Hirschhorn / Very best wishes to / a very keen supporter / & fan / Dick Francis"

Octavo. Original plain printed wrappers. An excellent example, with the signed proof copies being rarer than a 100/1 outsider making it past the post. With a custom book box.

The earliest state of Francis’s first mystery novel, marking the beginning of his celebrated career in crime fiction. A true collector’s piece.

Clive Hirschhorn, one of the most respected rare book collectors pf the past fifty years, amassed a remarkable collection beginning in the mid-1980s, focusing on the works of notable 20th-century authors, including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Graham Greene, William Faulkner, and John Steinbeck. In October 2012, he made headlines when a significant portion of his collection was auctioned.