BLACKWOOD, Algernon (1869-1951). Pair of First Editions, Including: John Silence Physician Extraordinary. London: Eveleigh Nash, 1908. 8vo. 390 pp. Publisher's full burgundy cloth, gilt. [And:] Incredible Adventures. London: Macmillan and Co., Limited. 1914. 8vo. 366, [10, ads] pp. Publisher's full green cloth, front board and spine stamped in blind and gilt. FIRST EDITIONS OF THESE SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS.

John Silence was an early occult/psychic detective, and a precursor to modern versions such as The X-Files and the film, Sleepy Hollow. One of the stories in this collection, "Ancient Sorceries," was a partial basis for the 1942 film and its 1984 remake, Cat People. Incredible Adventures is one of the finest collections of weird tales; H. P. Lovecraft stated: "In the volume titled Incredible Adventures occur some of the finest tales which the author has yet produced, leading the fancy to wild rites on nocturnal hills, to secret and terrible aspects lurking behind stolid scenes, and to unimaginable vaults of mystery below the sands and pyramids of Egypt; all with a serious finesse and delicacy that convince where a cruder or lighter treatment would merely amuse. Some of these accounts are hardly stories at all, but rather studies in elusive impressions and half-remembered snatches of dream. Plot is everywhere negligible, and atmosphere reigns untramelled."

John Silence spine toned, binding worn, soiled, hinges repaired, endleaves and text toned, foxed, soiled. Very good. Incredible Adventures spine sunned, light offsetting to endleaves. Fine.