New York: Payson & Clarke, 1928

8vo, pp. 299. Original floral quarter boards, lettered in gilt to black spine. Top edge black. Illustrated dust jacket. Wraparound band. A fine copy in a dust jacket with just the lightest of wear to corners and spine ends, and some professional reinforcement to reverse of spine.

First English-language edition. First published in Paris the same year with the title La Gondole aux Chimères. This edition translated by Neal Wainwright.

Ernest-Maurice Tessler [1885-1973] was a French journalist who, as Maurice Dekobra, became a best-selling writer of fast-moving thrillers set in exotic locations. The 13th Lover is typical of his output, featuring speedboats, spies and dastardly Turks, all set against the backdrops of Egypt and the Venetian court.

Many of Dekobra's books became films: The 13th Lover was filmed as The Phantom Gondola in 1936 with Marcelle Chantal and Henri Rollan in the leads.

A fine, unread copy, in the extremely scarce wraparound band.

HUBIN, p. 115