THE BASELESS FABRIC by Simpson, Helen - 1925

London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1925. Octavo, pp. [1-8] 1-245 [246-248: blank] [note: first and last leaves are blanks] + 8-page undated publisher's catalogue inserted at rear, original dark green cloth, front panel ruled in blind, spine panel stamped in gold, Heinemann windmill device stamped in blind on rear panel. First edition. The author's only collection of short fiction. Eleven strange stories: madness ("Grey Sand and White Sand"), murder ("The Pledge"), horror, paranormal abilities ("Young Magic"), ghosts ("As Much More Land"), etc. Most of the stories are dark and/or morbid. Simpson, raised in Australia, moved to England right before the outbreak of WWI and served in the WRNS. She was a Renaissance woman, with impressive musical and linguistic abilities in addition to her writing, which addressed multiple subjects and genres. She became a friend and collaborator of another successful Georgian author with an interest in the fantastic, Clemence Dane. Not in Bleiler (1948; 1978), Day or Reginald (1979; 1992). Not in Hubin (1994). Neat owner's signature dated 1931 on front free endpaper. Some light foxing to page edges, but a bright, fine copy in a very good 3/6 reprint jacket advertising Heinemann's "new titles for 1928" on the front flap. A very scarce book. (#152326)