The Four Just Men

London: The Tallis Press, 1905. First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 7.5" by 5". Not Stated. The first edition of this unique mystery novel by Edgar Wallace which allowed the reader to win a cash prize if they could solve the mystery correctly. A detective thriller by Edgar Wallace about four wealthy gentlemen who decide to track down and punish criminals in a stroke of vigilantism. The first edition, first impression of this work. Written by Edgar Wallace, a British war correspondent and author. Containing an illustrated folding frontispiece. Collated and complete. This unique novel was published as a competition in which the reader could win prize money if they guessed the murder method correctly. Wallace advertised the cash prizes as £250 for a first prize winner, £200 for a second prize winner, and £50 for a third prize winner. Unfortunately, due to his poor managerial skill, he failed to include a limitation clause stipulating one winner for each prize, so he was obligated to pay the cash prize to the number of people guessing the first, second, and third prize correctly. Though this publishing gimmick worked, and the novel was a bestseller, correct entries flooded in and Wallace was unable to pay prize-winners due to the sheer number of them. To make matters worse, those who guessed correctly knew it, due to Wallace publishing a later impression of the novel with the solution to the mystery bound in. In the end, the prize competition, though a brilliant marketing scheme, was carried out poorly, and Wallace resounded to selling the rights to the novel to George Newnes for £75. This copy still includes the unused competition slip in the rear, as issued. In the publisher's original orange cloth binding. Externally, very smart, with some light shelf wear to the boards and bumping to the head and tail of the spine and extremities. Some darkening to the spine. Internally, firmly bound. Light spotting to the first and last few pages, which are otherwise generally bright and clean. Very Good