first published in Britain by Nicholson
1946 Farrar & Rinehart hardcover, first thus in the US
1947 Dell mapback – cover art by Gerald Gregg, map by Ruth Belew
better image than previously posted
1948 Universal Pictures, directed by Norman Foster
1948 Dell mapback with movie tie-in cover
Field, Temple (pseudonym of Raoul Whitfield). FIVE. New York: Farrar & Rinehart, Incorporated Publishers, [1931]. Octavo, pp. [1-6] [1-2] 3-270 [271-274: blank], publisher’s light orange cloth stamped in brown, top edge stained light, other edges untrimmed. First edition. First of the two novels by Whitfield published in book form under the pseudonym “Temple Field.” First published in BLACK MASK in nine parts as “The Laughing Death,” as by Raoul Whitfield, it was largely rewritten for book publication. The story’s protagonist, a World War I flying ace (Whitfield did fly in WWI but not in combat) whose father, a prosecuting attorney, has been murdered, wreaks vengeance upon the five men involved. Hubin, p. 282. Slight spine roll, mild spine fade, a very good copy in good dust jacket priced $2.00 on the front flap with wear and fraying with shallow loss along the top and bottom edges, mainly spine ends, orange ink on spine panel faded away, soiling to rear panel and water stains with light show through on outer surface. Presents better than it appears from the written description. From the library of a well-known mystery writer with his library stamp on the front paste-down.
Black Mask issues containing the “Laughing Death” series
March 1929: “Out of the Sky”
April 1929: “The Six-Gun Showdown”
June 1929: “Within the Circle”
July 1929: “The Carnival Kill”
August 1929: “River Street Death”
SMB Noir 