The Exploits of Arsène Lupin by Maurice Leblanc

LEBLANC, Maurice; Alexander TRIXEIRA [TEXEIRA] DE MATTOS (translator). The Exploits of Arsène Lupin. New York, Harper and Brothers, 1907.

First US edition of this collection of stories, marking the debut of the gentleman thief Arsène Lupin.

Published in French as Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Cambrioleur in 1907, the book comprises nine short stories which had already appeared in the monthly magazine Je Sais Tout between July 1905 and May 1907. The first UK edition appeared in June 1907 under the title Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar, preceding this US edition by four months. The ninth story, titled ‘Sherlock Holmes Arrives too Late’ in the UK edition, sparked a dispute with the lawyers of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Consequently, in this and subsequent editions, the story’s title was altered to ‘Holmlock Shears Arrives too Late’.

Octavo, pp. 314; some light foxing but generally very good; original dark blue cloth, printed in black and yellow, no dust jacket (extremities lightly rubbed); bookseller’s ticket ‘Chas. E. Lauriat Co. … Boston’ to front flyleaf.