Stated First U.S. Edition, with full number line on copyright page. Clean unfaded black boards with bright gold lettering on spine. Nice sharp corners, hint of bumping to spine corners. Binding is tight & square, no cracking. Pages and edges are clean and bright. Clean endpapers; no names, writing or marks. 288 pp. Clean dustjacket is unchipped, no tears, not price clipped. Enclosed in new archival quality removable mylar cover. Gash's inimitable character Lovejoy,always involved in solving mysterious crimes related to the world of antiques, is on board a cruise ship, running from a bounty hunter.