King Solomon's Mines
Cassell, 1885.
First edition. First state with all textual misprints and adverts dated 5G.8.85. Original red cloth with gilt titles to the spine and black design to the covers. Colour fold out map frontispiece. A very good copy with the spine faded and worn to ends. Internally, hinges cracking and some looseness between sections. Scattered foxing to preliminary pages and occasionally in the text, repaired tear to map.
Rare. Due to the relative obscurity of the author, Cassell issued only 1000 copies in September 1885. The novel was fantastically well received by the public, with four reprints before Christmas and 12,000 copies sold in the first year. Although supposedly inspired by the success of Treasure Island, King Solomon's Mines is a flight of fancy that is quintessentially Victorian in outlook, yet goes beyond the scope of its immediate predecessor in establishing itself as a prototype for the modern adventure novel.
Whatmore F3; McKay 4
Stock ID: 34015
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