Vingt Mille Lieues Sous Les Mers
Paris: Hetzel, ND [ca 1905-1910]. Later printing. Hardcover. Quarto. [4], 434, [2]pp. Elaborately decorated publisher's binding of red cloth, stamped in gilt and printed in black and green on the front and spine. (The head of an elephant in the upper left corner of the front panel with pictorial scenes in three ruled inset blocks entwined by a long sprig of green leaves; a fan device at the center has a stylized title motif with "Jules Verne" and "Voyages Extraordinaires" in a scroll below it.) The back panel has a central medallion with the publisher's monogram printed within a frame of Greek-style decoration, printed in black. All edges gilt. Blue-grey coated endpapers. Engraved frontispiece protected with a tissue guard. Title page vignette. "Vingt Mille Lieues Sous Les Mers" (English: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea) is a classic science fiction novel by French writer Jules Verne published in 1870. It tells the story of Captain Nemo and his submarine Nautilus as seen from the perspective of Professor Pierre Aronnax. The original edition had no illustrations; this copy is identical to the first illustrated edition which was published in 1871. 111 illustrations by Riou (24) and Alphonse de Neuville (86), engraved by Hildibrand. Includes 6 chromotypographs and 2 full-page b/w maps. Some age wear on binding with upper spine somewhat rippled and moderate rubbing along edges. Book poorly recased with glue remain along gutters. Tissue guard and title page slightly foxed. Minor and sporadic foxing throughout. Slight age toning along paper margin. Text in French. Binding in overall good, interior in good to good+ condition. g. Item #30841
Price: $600.00