SCOTT, Eleanor (pseudonym of LEYS, Helen Madeline, 1892-1965). Randall's Round. London: Ernest Benn Limited, 1929. 8vo. [1]-255, [1, imprint] pp. Publisher's black cloth with spine lettered in gilt with original unclipped ("7s. 6d.") dust jacket. EXTREMELY SCARE FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING OF THIS OBSCURE SHORT STORY COLLECTION.

Written by Helen Madeline Leys under the name "Eleanor Scott," the stories were inspired by a series of dreams, and have since "gained an almost mythical but perfectly justifiable reputation as one of the greatest—but least known—ghost story collections of all time" (Dalby). "The Room" first appeared in The Cornhill Magazine in October 1923, before the publication of her controversial first novel, War Among Ladies. She published several more works of non-fiction as "Scott" as well as two mystery novels under the pen name Peter Redcliffe Shore, but she never returned to the horror genre. This volume has rarely been seen at auction. Housed in custom clamshell box. 

Boards lightly rubbed and soiled. Jacket toned throughout, with discoloration to spine, moderate chipping to extremities, paper loss to bottom spine block, and tape repairs at reverse. Hinges starting. Text block bright and clean with occasional minor edge wear. Very good.