‘One Hundred and Seventy-Fifth Thousand’. First printing in the UK (preceding the American edition of 1888). Small 8vo., 230 pp. original black and white pictorial wrappers. London, The Hansom Cab Publishing Company. N.d. [ca. 1887]. A sensational novel set in Melbourne about a homicide where a corpse is discovered in a horse-drawn hansom cab. First published in Melbourne in 1886 and then in Britain the following year, it was an astronomical success, outselling Conan-Doyle’s first Sherlock Holmes novel, and has been called Australia’s first international bestseller. “Truth is said to be stranger than fiction . . . A crime has been committed by an unknown assassin, within a short distance of the principal street of this great city, and is surrounded by an impenetrable mystery.” This edition with several advertisements, 4 pages within, one to verso of front cover, and one on the back cover. Largely all advertising rather questionable cures to various ailments, including: Dr J. Collis Browne’s Chlorodyne (a pain killer consisting of a mixture of Chloroform and Morphine), and The Medical Battery company’s cure to female ailments, hysteria, sleeplessness… spasms… nervous Affections &c., being an electric belt, to be worn around the waist: “Harness’s Electropathic Belt, Promotes Health, Overcomes Weakness.” Internally browned, with some tears to preliminaries not effecting the text, wrappers browned with some tears and folds to the front cover, split to the lower portion of the front joint, and lower portion of spine torn off, losing W and A from ‘Warner’s “Safe” Cure".