GARDNER, ERLE STANLEY. The Case of the Velvet Claws.

FIRST BOOK, WITH A FABULOUS INSCRIPTION GARDNER, ERLE STANLEY. The Case of the Velvet Claws. 8vo, black cloth lettered in red, some moderate soiling and rubbing. New York, 1933

first edition of gardner's first book and first appearance of perry mason. inscribed and signed to black mask editor joseph shaw: "To Capt. Joe Shaw who is one of the few editors I know who can make a bunch of writers get the enthusiasm of a team spirit and be willing to burn the midnight oil trying to maintain the quality of their joint work - whose steadfast faith in my ability to turn out good detective fiction has meant a hell of a lot to me. Sincerely, E. S. Gardner / February 1933."