TITUS, Eve (1922-2002). A group of 7 “Basil of Baker Street” titles.
Including: Basil of Baker Street. Illustrated by Paul Galdone. New York: McGraw-Hill, [1958]. 8vo. Publisher’s full brown cloth, front board and spine stamped in dark brown (some rubbing, light soiling to binding, some offsetting to endleaves); publisher’s printed dust jacket (price-clipped, some wear, toning, a few tears). FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST “BASIL OF BAKER STREET” BOOK, noted bibliographer Adrian Goldstone’s copy with his bookplate. -- Another copy. Hornsby: Hodder and Stoughton, Australia, [1974]. 8vo. Illustrated by Paul Galdone. Publisher’s full green cloth, spine lettered in gilt (minor bumping to binding, some light offsetting to endleaves); publisher’s printed dust jacket (some light rubbing, occasional creasing). FIRST AUSTRALIAN EDITION. -- Basil and the Lost Colony. Illustrated by Paul Galdone. New York: McGraw-Hill, [1964]. 8vo. Publisher’s full blue cloth, front board and spine stamped in black and red (light toning, rubbing to boards); publisher’s printed dust jacket (price-clipped, some rubbing, occasional soiling to jacket). FIRST EDITION. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY TITUS on the front free endpaper: “Sincere wishes from B A S I L (signed) and Eve Titus (Dr. Dawson’s literary agent) 1976”. With the bookplate of Doyle scholar and bibliographer John Michael Gibson laid-in. -- Another copy. Sydney: Hodder and Stoughton, [1975]. 8vo. Illustrated by Paul Galdone. Publisher’s full yellow cloth, spine lettered in black (some wear, soiling to binding, ownership signature and bookstore stamp on front endleaves, occasional soiling in text); publisher’s printed dust jacket (some wear, chipping, several large creased tears, some soiling). FIRST AUSTRALIAN EDITION. -- Basil and the Pygmy Cats. Illustrated by Paul Galdone. New York: McGraw-Hill, [1971]. 8vo. Publisher’s full yellow pictorial cloth (light rubbing, soiling, skewed); publisher’s printed dust jacket (married to the British dust jacket; bookseller’s price sticker on front flap, some edgewear, soiling to jacket). FIRST EDITION. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY TITUS on the front free endpaper: “For Kate Karlson may you enjoy this masterpiece Best Wishes from Eve Titus October 1976”. -- Basil in Mexico. Illustrated by Paul Galdone. New York: McGraw-Hill, [1976]. 8vo. Publisher’s full orange pictorial cloth; publisher’s printed dust jacket (spine a bit toned, headcap chipped, some rubbing, soiling to jacket). FIRST EDITION. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY TITUS on the front free endpaper: “With Sherlockian sentiments and best Basilian wishes from Eve Titus to Marvin Epstein April 1976”). -- Basil in the Wild West. Illustrated by Paul Galdone. New York: McGraw-Hill, [1982]. 8vo. Publisher’s yellow pictorial cloth (light rubbing); publisher’s printed dust jacket (spine sunned, some light rubbing). FIRST EDITION. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY TITUS on the front free endpaper: “For the Illustrious Tom Stix, head of the BSI. ‘Tis an honor to inscribe this book to you. With all good wishes, Eve Titus (Dr. Dawson’s Literary Agent) Feb ‘91”.
A superb collection. Titus was herself a dedicated Sherlockian, and a long-time member of the Baker Street Irregulars and the Mystery Writers of America. These books were the basis for the critically-acclaimed Walt Disney Studios film, The Great Mouse Detective (1992).