Inside The Lines : A Charming Love Story

EARL DERR AND ROBERT WELLES RITCHIE BIGGERS

Publication: The Bobbs-Merrilll Company Publishers, 1915, Indianapolis

First edition. 8vo. Author's third book. Olive green cloth with titles in white lettering on spine and front cover, 331 pp. Illustrated frontispiece with tissue guard. In rare color pictorial dust jacket by Z.P. Nikolaki (full name: Nicholas Panoyotti Zarokilli Nikolaki, 1879 - 1945), a Turkish-born Greek illustrator known for his romantic portraits of beautiful women in a soft, idealized style reminiscent of Harrison Fisher or Charles Dana Gibson, for his elegant magazine covers (Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, Modern Priscilla, Woman’s Home Companion, etc.). With $1.25 price printed on spine.

Based on Bigger's earlier Broadway play of the same name, "Inside the Lines" is an early espionage/romance novel written just before he created his popular Charlie Chan series. Set during World War I, the story follows an American woman traveling in Europe who becomes entangled in espionage, deception and shifting loyalties.

A few minor scrapes to the white ink else a near fine bright, tight and square copy with no foxing noted, in a very good lightly rubbed dust jacket with some darkening to spine; a closed tear on lower front cover with small chip loss; light wear to the extremities; short closed tear on bottom of front flap fold. A sharp copy.