The War of the Worlds
London: William Heinemann, 1898. First edition, first printing. Hardcover. Octavo. viii, 303pp. [+ 16 pp. of publisher's ads at the rear]. Grey buckram boards with black lettering on the front cover and spine. Embossed publisher's device in black, on the back cover.
A beautiful and vibrant copy of the first printing of H.G. Wells' groundbreaking science-fiction classic. This highly influential work serves as the origin of the modern trope of the Alien invasion in fiction and is its seminal work. Although originally serialized in Pearson's Magazine in the UK (and Cosmopolitan in the US), between 1895 and 1897, it was first published in its full and complete form in this single-volume edition by William Heinemann.
Our copy is notable as being the very first state of the first printing as it includes the 16pp. of publisher ads at the rear, dated autumn 1897 [mdcccxcvii] (Currey, state A). A few pages of this section of ads remain unopened. There are also publisher's ads on the verso of the half-title as well. Only the words "all rights reserved" are printed on the verso of the title page.
Binding in wonderful condition with its original grey cloth still very vibrant, and only the most minimal of wear to extremities. A few instances of extremely minor stains and smudges to the covers, with a small section lightly restored on the front cover (hardly noticeable). Edges of book block with a very few minor instances of chipping, resulting from an unsteady hand in the cutting, during the opening of pages. Light abrasion to the center interior edge of both the front of back boards, which is not very noticable. Interior extremely clean, with a very few minor instances of foxing or stains to the margins. Book block tight. Binding in very good+ to near fine, interior in very good+ condition overall. vg+ to near fine. Item #55943
Original bookseller's tiny sticker from the period, at the top left corner of the interior front cover: "R. Ingalton Drake, Eton".
Bibliographic references: Currey, state A.; Bleiler, The Early Years, 2331.
Price: $7,500.00